TECHNICAL ORIENTATIONWINTER 2012

Technical Orientation• Session starts at 2:00 pm • We’ll be online shortly• Speaker test starts about

1:45

• To ask questions, • use the chat window

Review and Recording• We are recording the session today.• The recording will be available from the web page – a link

will be on the front of Genesis• These slides will be available on the same page for

review.

Welcome and Introduction• Mary Jane Heider

• Director, Academic Computing• mjheider@genesee.edu

• Judie Littlejohn• Advisor, Distance Learning• jmlittlejohn@genesee.edu

More intros• In the chat area, tell us what course you are taking

• What questions do you have?

When in Doubt• Contact your instructor

• Contact Mary Jane• mjheider@genesee.edu

• Contact the Help Desk• helpdesk@genesee.edu• 1-866-614-5004 (toll free, 24x7x365)

Where to start• Three bookmarks

• www.genesee.edu

• Genesis.genesee.edu

• www.outlook.com

Taking A Winter Class• Get the textbook• “Go to” class faithfully; log in regularly

• Your instructor can see when you log in• Log in every day!

• Read the syllabus; note important dates• Tests, homework, reading assignments

• Be prepared for a lot of work on your own• Expect to spend 20+ hours per week on your class

The Schedule

Turning in Assignments

Turning in Assignments• Start with the syllabus and/or do not hesitate to ask your

instructor!

• Most likely one of the following:• Blackboard Assignment• Blackboard Email• Blackboard Messaging• Blackboard Discussion• Publisher Web Site• Genesee Email• USPS mail• Fax

Three Accounts• Genesis Account

• Outlook.com email account

• Network account

• Same username for all 3; may not be the same password• Publisher web site may be a 4th

Browsers• Most current browsers are

supported• Internet Explorer• Firefox• Chrome• Safari

• If one doesn’t work, try the other.

• Have 2 installed for that purpose.

• If you get “Browser Problem”• Click continue

Java• A number of upload problems related to Java• If you have problems, try this:

• In Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs• Uninstall all versions of Java or JRE

• Go to www.java.com• Install the latest version

• When you see a pop up with “Run” and “Cancel” as options > Click on “Run”

Logging in• What have you already logged into? • What have you had problems logging into?

• Do you know what browser(s) you have on your computer?

• Do you know if you need a publisher website login?

Genesee Email• Check your Genesee email regularly• Many instructors will only take messages from Genesee email• Only use your personal email (Yahoo, email, roadrunner) in an extreme

emergency• The Help Desk is open 24x7 to help you log into your Genesee email

• Identify yourself: “Mat 129 student”• Put your name in your email• Explain fully; too much is better than not enough

• Be patient in expecting an answer

Genesee Email

Your Email username is the same as your Genesis username

The email address takes the form: username@my.genesee.edu

Network account• On Campus

• To log into any computer• At a distance

• To access the library online databases

My Courses/Blackboard

• Log in through Genesis

Genesis Tabs• My Genesis – access to “Banner Self Service”• My Courses – access to course materials

My Courses Tab• Information and links to courses

• Change the drop-down to “Winter 2102”

• Look for the Student Tutorials on the left column

My Courses• Known as “Blackboard” or “My Courses”

interchangeably• Poke through all the links

• When in doubt go to the “home” page

Blackboard Menu

• Look for your syllabus first• Home page or in a Learning Module• Every course will be different

• “Disappearing Menu”• You’ve clicked between the menu and

the course materials• Click at the left margin to bring it back• See the video here

Email And Messaging• Messaging stays within the course – you need to log into

your course to see the messages• Email goes externally to your Genesee email

• Be careful of the wording – which is your instructor really using?• When in doubt, ask!

Email/Messaging• Enter text in the Subject line that is descriptive

• “Request for information on assignment 1”• “Question about quiz 2”• “Problems with references on research paper”

• Explain your question/request fully• Sign your message with your name (yes, it’s on the

message, it’s just polite!)

• Be patient in getting an answer back

Assignment Tool• The Assignment tool may be how you submit

homework/papers• Watch for file format requirements• “RTF” – in your word processing software, click on

File > Save As and look for “Rich Text Format” as an option

•

Assignment Tool

• Watch the date and time you are given• All times are local (Eastern Standard)• READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!

Assignment Tool• Do you type in the box or attach a file?• Read the instructions!

Discussions

• Discussions are where you interact with other members of the class

• Not anonymous!• Play nice!

Learning Module

• There can be lots of material here

• Read it ALL! Do not assume they are all the same

• There is usually critical course material found here

Assessments• This means Quiz and Test• Watch the dates and times available

• No link means it’s not available

Assessments• Can be timed/untimed, one time only/multiple

attempts• All have deadlines

Blackboard Learn• Tutorials

• http://ondemand.blackboard.com• Click on “For Students”• Short videos on many topics

• Pay special attention to:• Discussions• Email / Messaging

Student Orientation Tutorial• Self Paced Online Tutorial• Go to http://hd.genesee.edu and look for the article on the

Self Paced Tutorial• “Blackboard Student Orientation – Self Paced Course”

• Worth doing – ask questions if you have them

What next?• If you don’t have the textbook, get it NOW!• Look for the syllabus• Make sure you can log into: Genesis, Outlook.com email

and network• If you need a publisher access code, get that now

• The Med Term course needs one!• Ask questions

Questions• What didn’t we answer for you?

• What one new thing did you learn today?

Technical Problems• Call the help desk to report problems

• 1-866-614-5004• You can call 24 x 7 x 365 – always open!

• They will happen! Look for info…• Read the blog: maryjane47.wordpress.com• Help desk online: hd.genesee.edu• “Like” us on Facebook:

• www.facebook.com/GeneseeCommunityCollege• Follow us on Twitter:

• Sunygcc (general info)

HELP!• Contact your instructor

• Contact Mary Jane• mjheider@genesee.edu

• Contact Judie• jmlittlejohn@genesee.edu

• Contact the Help Desk• helpdesk@genesee.edu• 1-866-614-5004 (toll free, 24x7)