SUMMER QUARTER 2010 BEGINS 6/21/10

You can log in  to your Blackboard course at 9:00am on 6/21/10

All Orientations Will Be Online Orientations as noted below IMPORTANT!!!  IMPORTANT!!! - PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:  The OFFICIAL Orientation Information, Software Setup Instructions and Syllabus & Objectives will be posted in your Blackboard course information on your Course Content Home Page!!!! You must be able to access your Blackboard Course Content Home Page for very important critical information concerning your courses!!!   ALL ORIENTATIONS WILL BE ONLINE ORIENTATIONS and will be available when you log into your Blackboard class as on the first day of the quarter - Monday, June 21, 2010 If you are enrolled in: 1. CSCI-101-Computer Keyboarding 2. OFIT-106-Keyboarding I 3. OFIT-107-Document Processing 4. OFIT-261-Transcription DO NOT INSTALL THE SOFTWARE that came with your textbook until you read your Software Setup Instructions as noted in your Course Content Homepage in your Blackboard course. This is critical!!! If you already installed the software, you need to contact your instructor at jbasham@sscc.edu so I can send you instructions on how to completely uninstall the software because chances are it was not setup correctly and you will be able to upload your files and I will not be able to download your files for grading and evaluation purposes. The Keyboarding Pro Software we use will only work on PC computers and will not work with a MAC according to the publishers. If you received software with your textbook - DO NOT INSTALL THE SOFTWARE UNTIL YOU LOG INTO YOUR BLACKBOARD COURSE THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS!!!  THIS IS MOST CRITICAL THAT YOU FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS IN YOUR COURSE FOR SETTING UP THE SOFTWARE CORRECTLY!!!

You can access your textbook list for all classes by clicking on this link which is an Adobe PDF file: Bookstore Information

You can go to http://www.sscc.edu/students/bookstore.htm and fill out a form to have your textbooks mailed to your closest campus location. Look for the link that reads, "STUDENT BOOK REQUEST FORM"     You can click on the link to the left of this website for Blackboard Orientation to actually see the tools you will be using in Blackboard for your online classes and how to login to your Blackboard online classes. This document will be the Online Orientation Document for logging into your Blackboard Online Course and for the tools you will be using in your Blackboard Online Course. Your course information will be provided using Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx files) or Adobe Reader Format (.pdf files). You can download Adobe Reader at: http://www.adobe.com/ or you can open your course document files at any SSCC campus location. Microsoft Word 2007 will be available if you have Microsoft Office 2007. A web link will be provided in your courses to purchase Microsoft Office 2007 (The Ultimate Steal) as a student for $59.95. This is a $700.00 software package and is being offered by Microsoft for $59.95 for students. The link to the Microsoft Office 2007 website is: Microsoft Office 2007   You first need to make sure your computer is setup and ready for the Blackboard Course Management System. Click on the link below:

http://pollux.sscc.edu/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct The direct login link is: pollux.sscc.edu (you can just type this in your browser address bar)

Click on the link for Check Browser. This will check to make sure you will not have any problems or issues uploading and downloading your assignments and attachments within your Blackboard environment.

This link will take you to the My SSCC Portal website. Click on the My Blackboard - More Info link https://portal.sscc.edu/index.htm

Enter your Blackboard ID and your Password. You should now see your class. If you do not know how to log in - click on the link that says, "How do I login?" or go back to my faculty website and click on the link for Blackboard Tools.

If you cannot log into My Blackboard - or you do not see your course in the course list window after you log in - call 1-800-628-7722 Ext. 2800 to speak to the Helpdesk. The helpdesk is there to help you with login issues. If you have contacted the helpdesk and still are not able to login to your online course, you can contact me at jbasham@sscc.edu You are to only ever use this email address if you cannot log into your online course. All other course communications MUST BE DIRECTED THROUGH YOUR BLACKBOARD MAIL SYSTEM IN YOUR ONLINE COURSE!

Online orientations will be available when you log into your Blackboard course on Monday, June 21, 2010. You have until Wednesday, June 23, 2010 by midnight to get logged in and stay enrolled in your Blackboard online class. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR STUDENT ID NUMBER TO BE ABLE TO LOG INTO YOUR Blackboard CLASS!!  If you cannot log in from home, you need to make it to a SSCC Campus location and login to your Blackboard class no later than Wednesday, March 29, 2010 by midnight, or you will be dropped from your class for nonattendance. If you cannot log into your Blackboard course - contact your the Help Desk as noted above. Once you have contacted the help desk you need to notify me at jbasham@sscc.edu if you are not able to log into your course

YOU MUST HAVE MICROSOFT WORD 2007 OR ADOBE READER (PDF) INSTALLED ON YOUR HOME COMPUTER IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP YOUR COURSE DOCUMENTS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MICROSOFT WORD 2007 OR ADOBE READER INSTALLED, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE OPEN YOUR ORIENTATION DOCUMENT, YOUR SYLLABUS DOCUMENT OR YOUR SOFTWARE SETUP INSTRUCTION DOCUMENT. THIS IS CRITICAL FOR YOUR SUCCESS IN ONLINE LEARNING!!! IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED SOFTWARE FOR READING YOUR COURSE DOCUMENTS, YOU NEED TO GO TO CAMPUS OR A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND OPEN YOUR COURSE DOCUMENTS AND PRINT THEM OUT SO THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR COURSE. IN SOME CLASSES YOU WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT YOUR FILES IN MICROSOFT WORD 2007 (.docx) FILE FORMAT.

1. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOG INTO YOUR YOUR Blackboard CLASS BEFORE MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010. You have until WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010 BY MIDNIGHT to log into your Blackboard class to stay enrolled in your Blackboard class.  Failure to log into your Blackboard class by WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010 will result in withdrawal from your Blackboard class for nonattendance. If you cannot log in from home, you need to go to any campus LRC location or to a friend's house and at least login to your course so we know you attended.

2. You need to CAREFULLY READ all available information in your Blackboard class on your Course Content Home Page including Software Setup Instructions, Orientation Information, Syllabus and Objectives. You will need Microsoft Word 2007 and/or Adobe Reader on your computer to open your course documents. Keep in mind you can actually print out the screens and documents you are viewing in your Blackboard class.  It is MOST important that you READ and FOLLOW your Software Setup, Orientation Information and Syllabus and Objectives.  Some students find it easier to print out the information - especially the Software Setup and Syllabus and Objectives information. You will find most of the questions you have about your Blackboard class will be answered in those documents if you take the time to print and read the information provided.

3. Do not assume because you have taken another online class that you know all there is to know about online delivery of class work and material.  Each class will be different, just like each face-to-face class you have is different.

4. When you log onto into the SSCC Blackboard Homepage at Blackboard Home Page watch for icons indicating new information such as new posts to news, calendars, discussions or emails.  You are RESPONSIBLE for reading ALL new information posted to any section area.

5. Information will be posted on a regular basis in your Blackboard class and you need to log into your Blackboard class at least three (3) times a week to stay current and up-to-date with posted information by reading new discussion postings, email messages and checking the calendar. These will be posted as new NEWS ITEMS when you log into Blackboard.

6.  In CSCI-101-Computer Keyboarding Lab, OFIT-106-KEYBOARDING I and OFIT-107-DOCUMENT PROCESSING, OFIT-261-TRANSCRIPTION: you will be required to install the software provided with your textbook on your home computer. You will also be required to setup the software using your specific class code - which is provided in your software setup instructions.  DO NOT INSTALL the Keyboarding Pro 5 or the Keyboarding Pro Deluxe Software that came with your textbook until you have printed and read very carefully your Software Setup, Orientation, Syllabus and Objectives and Discussion Information when you log into your Online Course. The setup instructions you are given assumes you are installing the software on a home dedicated computer. If you ARE NOT installing the software at home and intend to work on campus, you WILL NOT need to INSTALL the software since it is already INSTALLED IN THE LRC CAMPUS LOCATIONS, but you will need to follow the software setup instructions for setting up your new user account and class code correctly. The software is already setup on campus, but you need to know which version to use and how to set up your new user profile account so I can download your files correctly from the Keyboarding Pro Web Server. Failure to follow these instructions may create issues where you will not be able to upload your files correctly for grading purposes. If you are unsure of how to setup the software correctly either at home or on campus, contact your instructor immediately through your course mail and provide a phone number for communication purposes.

7.  If you install the software prior to reading the required information, chances are you will not set up the software correctly and will have problems right from the start.  DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!! We started using new software called Keyboarding Pro 5 for CSCI-101 and Keyboarding Pro Deluxe for OFIT-106 and OFIT-107-Document Processing and all the instructions required for installing the software at home will be on your Course Content Home Page. If you are working from campus, your instructions will also be on your Course Content Home Page. OFIT-107-DOCUMENT PROCESSING DOES REQUIRE THAT YOU HAVE MICROSOFT WORD 2007 INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MICROSOFT WORD 2007 INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE WORK REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE!!!

8. You will receive the actual software setup instructions when you log into your Blackboard course on 6/21/10. Do not setup the Keyboarding Pro 5 or the Keyboarding Pro Deluxe software until you read the software setup instructions. I suggest saving a copy to your computer so you can follow the instructions for setting up the software correctly. For students working on campus, you also will find the software setup instructions, but you will only be setting yourself up as a new user - you will not actually need to CD to setup the software as it is already installed on campus, but you will need to follow the instructions so you know how to set up your new user account!!!

9. Failure to follow the setup instructions can result in you completing the wrong lessons for these courses or not being able to upload your files to the Cengage Server so I can grade and evaluate your assignments!!!