Unit 1 - Getting to Know You

Discussion

Let’s be sure we understand how to use the technology and get to know each other as individuals.

After you have read this Overview:

Go to the discussion board for your group using the Groups button on the main menu.

I’ve started a “thread” there called “Getting to Know You.”

Post a brief note about yourself and your interests.

First names only are fine and you can use an alias if you wish. Tell us where you live, what kind of work you do, your career goals, your reason for taking this course. I’d like to know what you’d like to get out of it.

Later in the week, go back and ask a question of one of your classmates.

You can ask about the weather where they live or about their hobbies or what other distance education courses they have taken. You can also ask me a question if you wish. By the time we’ve posted, asked a question, and answered one, we should be prepared to deal with the course material next week.

Click on the Group's button in Blackboard and scroll down to find, read, and participate in this Unit's discussion. To read the Discussion Threads efficiently, follow these instructions:

Open a forum.
- Click Show Options.
  - Use the check boxes to select the messages you want to view.
  - Click Collect in the options.
Read the text from all the selected messages.

Print them if necessary.

Respond to posts individually.

I will assess your contributions on their relevance, thoughtfulness, and degree to which they reflect an engagement with the reading and not just with unsubstantiated opinions.

Each graded comment should be 100 to 300 words. One graded comment per Unit is intended as a bare minimum. Of course you may linger in the discussion boards and enter as many comments as you like. Incidentally, you may enter "extra" comments under the same topic. That is what makes discussion and interaction possible.

Participation in each week's discussion is worth up to 10 points plus an additional 10 if you are the Group Leader for that week.