Essential Steps for Online Courses

ESSENTIAL STEPS FOR GETTING STARTED IN AN ON-LINE COURSE!

All students taking on-line courses must follow these procedures.

Before the end of the drop/add period (Aug 21), you must review the on-line syllabus and make sure that the course is appropriate for you.

Access the Syllabus after Aug 18 and no later than Aug 22, 2002.

Access the syllabus at http://a-s.clayton.edu/science/bol/admin/B1111SYLFall2002.htm

Access the course Homepage at http://a-s.clayton.edu/science/bol/admin/titleBIOL1111-F2002.htm

Look at the course objectives at http://a-s.clayton.edu/bol/admin/objless1.htm

Confirm that the course is appropriate for you.

Carefully read the syllabus to make sure that the course content, necessary time commitment, and level of computer skills expected are appropriate for you. If you decide that you want to stay enrolled in the course, move to step 2.

If you decide that you do not want to remain enrolled, you must complete the drop/add process before 8pm on Aug 21, 2002 to be eligible to move to another class or to receive a reduction-in-hours refund. (See drop/add instructions later in this booklet.)

By the end of the drop/add period (August 21), contact your instructor by e-mail to confirm that you are registered and to make sure that you have established electronic communication.

In some cases you will receive an automatic communication from the instructor, and your response to that message can constitute your initial contact. However, even if you do not receive a message from the instructor, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor by August 21 using the e-mail address in the course listing and/or in the syllabus.

If you have difficulty contacting the instructor by e-mail, please call him or her directly or call the office of school that offers the course: Arts & Sciences 770-961-3420; Business 770-961-3410; Health Sciences 770-961-3484; Technology 770-961-3415; New College 770-961-3636.

Participate in the orientation session.

Most on-line courses have a mandatory orientation session at times indicated in the course listing and/or in the syllabus. You must attend such sessions in person unless you have made advance arrangements with the instructor for an alternate orientation experience.

BOTTOM LINE: If you take an on-line course, you must follow instructions carefully and act in a timely and responsible manner from the very beginning of the semester. If you fail to contact your instructor and participate in orientation activities, you cannot be successful in the course, and you must officially withdraw from the course or you will receive a grade of F.