Getting Started in RGTR 0198, Spring 2006

1. Print out this page, the schedule, the syllabus, and the directions for entering the course.

2. Check your browser if you are using an off-campus computer.

Technology Requirements: Before you log into your course, you should check your browser to make sure that you can access all of the content and functionality of WebCT Vista by going to http://www.webct.com/tuneup and following the directions. The "Browser Check” will determine what browser (and browser version) you are using to access the course, and it will show you whether or not you have Java installed. If you are a Windows user, you should be using Internet Explorer 6 , Netscape 7.2, (Netscape 8 does not work with Vista ) or Firefox. If you are a Macintosh user, you should be using Netscape 7.2 or Firefox. Safari is not yet compatible with Vista .

Java is necessary to access features of Vista , including narrated PowerPoint shows. If the “Browser Check” shows that you are using Microsoft's version of Java, you will need to download Java from this WebCT page under Plug-Ins.

Other plugins may be required to access content in your course, and they can be downloaded for free from the WebCT support page under Plug-Ins: • QuickTime (audio/video player) • Real Player (audio/video player) • Flash (audio/video player) • Adobe Acrobat Reader (to view documents created in .pdf format).

3. Log into the course using the directions.

4. Look over the My WebCT page.

The My WebCT page comprises several items, including the following: Calendar Day, To Do List, My Grades, Course List (in the middle of the page), Personal Bookmarks, Campus Bookmarks, Campus Announcements, and Calendar Week. Any of the items with the pencil icon can be edited.

 

• Calendar Day: A place where you can enter calendar information for upcoming events
• To Do List: Create your own “to do” list.
• My Grades: New grades are announced.
• Course List: A list of your courses
• Personal Bookmarks: Add your own bookmarks, such as Google and my homepage.
• Campus Bookmarks: These are quick links to Bainbridge College Homepage, GIL (library catalog), BannerWeb, Student Webmail. and GALILEO.
• Campus Announcements: Campus news and events
• Calendar Week: Your personal calendar in a weekly view.

5. Navigate your course.

COURSE HOMEPAGE: After you click the course title on your My WebCT page, you will enter your course homepage. The Course Homepage and Course Toolbar provide the links to all of the content in the course. You can get online help for these links by clicking on HELP in the upper-right corner.

In the main section of the webpage, you'll see greetings from me, links for your syllabus and schedule, and Learning Modules for the course.

Each Learning Module will open to a page with two frames of information.The left frame contains a table of contents--a list of hyperlinks to each page or tool contained in the module. The right frame will display the selected content. Modules will include a narrated PowerPoint show, quizzes, and tests.

Above the content frame is a toolbar that contains the Action Menu. The Action Menu is used for navigating forward and backward through the pages of content using the left and right arrows. Also located on the Action Menu are the Add Bookmark and Add Notes icons. When you add a bookmark or a note, it will be displayed on your My WebCT page.

COURSE TOOLBAR: The Course Toolbar is located in the upper right corner of the page and contains links to the main pages of these tools:

MAIL: The Mail tool in Vista is an email program is internal and is designed for course communication.It cannot be used to exchange messages with external mail accounts over the Internet. You cannot send an email from an external email account to your Vista mail account, nor can you send mail from one course to another. When you see a green envelope above the normal envelope, you know you have mail!

Mail includes features common to most standard email programs, including
• Compose messages with carbon copy or blind carbon copy
• Add a priority indicator to messages
• Save a draft of a message
• Add attachments to messages
• Search, compile, and organize messages into folders

Managing Mail Folders: The Mail tool provides a single page on which you can view and manage folders and all of your messages. Folders are listed in the left frame of the Mail view. The number in parentheses is the total number of messages in that folder. The number outside the parentheses is the number of unread messages in that folder.

Viewing Message List: Messages are viewed by clicking on the message title in the Subject column. Unread messages appear in bold and are indicated with a closed envelope icon to the left of the message title. Messages that have been read appear in a lighter typeface and are indicated with an open envelope icon to the left of the message title. When replying to or forwarding a message, the Compose Message window opens and you can edit any of the fields. (See the "Compose Message” section below for details.)

Composing a New Message: As with most email programs, you can send messages to one or more recipients. Click the Create Message button and then Browse for Recipients, and click in the boxes next to the names you want to receive your message. Click ON for the HTML Creator to add text attributes, such as bold, italics, and underline, as well as images, hyperlinks, and tables. And, before you send, you can spell-check your text. You can also add attachments, preview your message before sending, or save your message as a draft to edit later.

MY GRADES: Your grades will be posted on an on-going basis, along with your current average.
CALENDAR: Click "Add Entry" to post. Your entries will be private--no one else will be able to read them.
WHO'S ONLINE: If you'd like to chat with someone, click "Send Chat Invitation."
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Read important notices from me.
NOTES: Here you can create general notes, edit notes, create a printable view of notes, print notes, and delete notes.
SEARCH: Look for a specific word or phrase in the course.
ASSESSMENTS: Your assessments will appear in the Table of Contents for each Learning Module as well as the Toolbar.

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