Can I handle this?
There are many different kinds of Internet courses. This one requires a heavy use of the Web itself. So it requires browse-time: and not only browsing, but thinking about what you are viewing. And then discussing this with other members of the class on the course Discussion Board.
And then, of course, there's the term project that you'll do on your Website ....
My Website? Yes. Associated with the Course Homepage, each student will have a plot of cyberspace (or you can use whatever cyber real estate firm you want to establish your home elsewhere); and on that, you will be able to create a "web-essay." But more about that later ...
First of all, you should read the University's general
advice on taking online classes . In addition to this, there are some considerations
specific to this course.
Each student is expected to have access to the Internet via a reasonably up-to-date Web browser. Each student must be able
to use email communication software and an HTML composer to construct their own website. Although not quite a
requirement, each student should be able to access the Internet from their home via a modem. Each student will
automatically have access to their own personal webpage. However, you may have more ambitious ideas for your webessay
than this facility can handle. If so, then it will be your own responsibility to obtain this and maintain it. Due to the
proliferation of available software and Internet connections, the instructor cannot be expected to provide technical assistance
to students on all technical possibilities of the course. However, it is anticipated that the students in the class will each have
a variety of skills and expertise and it is expected that they assist one another in seeking out the best means of accomplishing
the tasks assigned.
We will be doing a lot of surfing and browsing: count on 3-4
hours per week. You will sometimes need to spend some time at these sites, following
extensive links, drilling deep into them, thinking and analyzing as you go.
You will need to spend time (1-2 hours per week) on the course's website, too,
reading and contributing to threaded discussion. Toward the end of the course
you will need to spend a fair amount of time on your term project, the web-essay.
Although there are many different models for the final product (a number to
be visited during the course), it will not be adequate to rely
mainly on a bunch of hyperlinks and photographs: you will need to broadly utilize
the kinds of ideas and insights you will have learned in the course.
For more detailed information on your grade expectations and these course requirements please click Goals and Requirements.