Issues in Using the Internet in Instruction:

Orientation & Links to Map and Hints for Learning On-line

Courageous risks are life giving, they help you grow, make you brave and better than you think you are. Joan L. Curcio

In Spring 2001 I moved my course to a course software called Blackboard or CourseInfo. I'll leave this information here so students can view a self-designed Internet course and so prospective students can get a feel for the nature of the course. Follow instructions in the Blackboard/CourseInfo site. Not these.

This page has an orientation (with an introduction for beginners) to the main sections of the course. It begins with a link to a visual map and some tips for web students. You may freely borrow/copy the tips section. I hope we add to it over the course of the semester. The map and hints links are repeated at the bottom of the page.

The following graphic is large and is probably best read printed out. Change your print setup to landscape orientation. (Don't forget to change it back.) Be aware that a web site is fluid and particular links may vary. This is a general guide to the course site.

To access a flowchart map click here. (http://edtech.wku.edu/~internet/maps.htm)

This is the link to a page of hints for the Internet student. (http://edtech.wku.edu/~internet/hints.htm). You can also access this page from the class resources page (http://edtech.wku.edu/~internet/resour.htm)

If you have any questions, please be sure to email me at sally.kuhlenschmidt@wku.edu

Orientation

Beginners

If you have not surfed the 'net much then a web site can be confusing. Unlike a book you don't have to "read" a web site in any particular order, although it can help to be methodical.

The site developer has placed "links" on the page. You position your mouse on a link (typically underlined, colored text), the cursor changes shape, and you click once to jump to a new page.

You can use your browser's back and forward and history or "go" commands to move about independently of the web designer's links. You determine the order of your reading!

Web sites are generally constructed as a hierarchy of files (like an organizational chart or the branches of a tree). This course site is hierarchical. The arrows represent the links you would click on to move to another site. Each page is actually a computer file of code that your browser interprets.

Tutorials are often constructed as a straight line sequence. (Page A links only to page B which only links to page C, etc.).

Now, look at the web address for this site up in the address or location line of your browser.

If you look at the very last segment you will see the name of this page (orient.htm). This is the name of the computer file holding the information you are reading. When you select links you move between different files on a computer.

"Instruction via the Internet Web Site"

You probably initially visited a very short page (file name: index.htm; The file name doesn't appear in the address because it is a default file.) This page had a link to the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) file with registration information. It also had a link to student comments (cmt.htm) and to Web sites created by 501 students (studpgs.htm). Finally, there is a link (psyii.htm) to the page I originally built as the course home page. On it I provide links to every main course section on the self-constructed site.

Course Home Page (psyii.htm)

Psyii.htm is the central organizing page. Each of the main links is explained below. Some links are restricted only to persons registered for the course. When a student is registered, I send a User ID and password.

[With the course software site (Blackboard/CourseInfo) the User ID and Password are taken care of by central administration. If you are a registered student you will find the following links within the Blackboard site.]

The first four relate to administrative issues/information

• Course Description, Special Issues and Requirements, Course Policies. (syll.htm) This essentially replaces the traditional syllabus and contains what the title says.
• Orientation to Course Syllaweb and Map. (orient.htm) This is the page that you are currently reading. The next jump to the map is here also.
• Learning Resources. (resourc.htm) I am keeping a running list of useful or fun resources for those interested in this topic, including web links to help the student in the course.
• The information form at http://edtech.wku.edu/~internet/studinfo.htm must be printed and mailed to me as I need your written signature for permission to send your grade in the course using E-mail. If you prefer to receive your grade in another format, that is fine, we just need to work out what that will be.

The next links relate most directly to course content.

• Lessons and Assignments. (lesson.htm) This is the course schedule where weekly self-quizzes, reader's notes and my commentaries with assignments are posted. You can also access a bibliography page with citations for the course (near the top of the page) and a page listing all of the quotes I use in the course (near the end).
  
  The first week's assignment links you back to course policies, to the student information page, and to a schedule handout. After the first week access is restricted to those who are registered.
• Class Discussion and Student Conversation (http://atech.wku.edu:8080/courses/psy501/) This is the course software link. At this link is the discussion board for you to post responses to weekly assignments and a place for you to have a small personal page. You can meet someone for real-time conversation in the chat room here.
  • You must have a password to access the course software. I will give you one password for the lessons but because the course software and discussion board are on a different computer you will have to enter your id and password once when you enter the lessons and another time when you enter the discussion board. Carefully read the Email I send for directions.
    • I also provide Information about Class Discussion (http://edtech.wku.edu/~internet/dfaq.htm). You should read this page soon.
  • If you have some information that you want to share with others that has nothing to do with assignments, feel free to post it to the discussion board. For example, perhaps you find a good website and you want to share the address.
  • The course software also has a real time chat room. The difference between a discussion board and a chat board is that when you post a message to a discussion board, it stays there so others can see it throughout the semester. A chat room is short term and is generally used for real-time conversation. Chat can reduce phone expenses for students located at a distance. We can set up a meeting time and converse via chat if you like. Students may also use it to converse with each other. Given our small numbers, you are unlikely to encounter anyone else by chance. If you want to try it out, I'm happy to meet you there, name the time.

To access a site map click here.

This is the link to a draft page of hints for the Internet student.

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