How is this course different in the online environment?  Some believe that web-based courses do require more time investment in the sense that you are reading a lot more material (rather than listening to a lecture) and that you are working on your own through the labs instead of in a classroom lab with a lab assistant and instructor.  On the flip-side, you don't have to drive to campus at a specified time several days a week.  I teach this course both online and in the classroom and assign roughly the same number of lab assignments.  In the first  week, there are a few extra assignments relating to the online tools of the course environment.  Visit the USA Online Home Page for more general information regarding online courses. 

Assignments and homework:  Assignments and homework are not sent to students or accepted via email; everything done in the online course is handled through the USA Online system and the testing and training system.  You are required to check your Jaguar email account regularly (i.e. multiple times each week).  I usually post threaded discussions to allow some interaction between students and the instructor and to allow for questions to be posted, but they are usually open for several days to a week so there is not an "assigned" time.  This is not a self-paced course!  Weekly lab assignments and homework are assigned just like in the traditional class and there are also three projects relating to the applications we will be covering.  Projects and exams have "hard" deadlines, meaning a specific date/time they must be completed by.  The exams are assigned for a specific date and I allow you to enter the exam at any time during that specific period, but you will only be allotted a specific amount of time to complete the exam in.  All dates as well as guidelines for the course are outlined the first week.

Important!  Required Software and Hardware:  One thing to be aware of is that you must have a reliable computer and Internet access as well as the following applications to complete labs and projects:  Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, Microsoft Access 2007, Excel 2007 and  Word 2007.  The 2007 versions we will be covering are very different from the earlier versions so you must have the versions we are covering.  All labs and exams are geared to these versions and you will run into compatibility problems reading the publisher files as well as labs created by the instructor.  Extensions or exceptions are not granted for cases of not having a computer or Internet access or not being able to go to the labs to do your work.

Currently our textbook author includes a 90-day trial version of the Microsoft Office 2007 software suite with new textbook packages.  The trial versions in that package are fully functional and can be used to complete your labs for PowerPoint and Access.  A full (non-expiring) version of Access is also available for no cost through the Microsoft Academic Alliance.  Information on obtaining these applications through this resource is posted in the online course materials. If you don't have software and the campus labs are convenient, you are allowed to use the labs on campus in CSCB 115 and 130 (be sure to bring your JagID).  Note: machines in other labs on campus likely will not have the upgraded applications this semester.  You should obtain these applications as soon as possible since there are no extensions granted for failure to obtain the necessary course materials and software. 

Required Textbooks:

Exploring Microsoft Office 2007 Volume 1 -- Robert T. Grauer and Maryann T. Barber Prentice Hall, 2008; ISBN 0132418436 This package contains a trial version of Microsoft Office 2007 as well as the testing/training software package required for this course. Important Note: If you choose to purchase your Office text elsewhere, you won't receive the trial Office 2007 software and the testing/training package will likely cost you more together than purchasing a new textbook package through the USA Bookstore since this is a bundle package price.

   Visit the USA Online Home Page for information regarding your UserID and initial password once you've registered.

If you have any additional questions about the online course, please feel free to email me at amclark@usouthal.edu.