E learning student guide

Quick Reference Index

Technology Tips for Online Students Study Tips for Online Students

Before Online Coursework Begins 38 Online Real-Time Chats 138

Evaluating Online Resources 40 Online Discussion Boards 141

Timesaving Technology Tips 50 Email 145

Accessibility 51 Listserves 149

Managing Your Files 54 Online Group Projects 150

Using the World Wide Web 59 Online Exams 153

Using Your Web Browser 65 Online Presentations 156

Using Email 68 Online Readings and E-Books 158

Using Microsoft Word 70 Online (Electronic) Portfolios 160

Technology Support 73 Turning in Assignments Online 162

Developing a Technology Contingency Plan 75 Online Whiteboards 163

Acronyms and Emoticons 170 E-Research 165

How-To Tutorials Index

Tutorials included in the book (and on the Premium Website)

Checking Your Computer’s Hardware Profi le in Microsoft Windows T3

Creating Folders and Staying Organized in Microsoft Windows T5

Checking Your Computer’s Hardware Profi le on a Macintosh Computer T7

Creating Folders and Staying Organized on a Macintosh Computer T7

Tracking Changes in a Microsoft Word Document T8

Adding Notes or Comments to a Microsoft Word Document T9

Understanding Adobe Acrobat PDF Software T13

Creating an Adobe Acrobat PDF Document T13

Adding Individual Notes to an Adobe Acrobat PDF Document T15

Saving Favorites in Microsoft Internet Explorer T17

Organizing Favorites in Microsoft Internet Explorer T18

Caching Materials for Viewing Offl ine with Microsoft Internet Explorer T20

Opening New Windows in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator T22

Saving Bookmarks in Netscape Communicator T23

Organizing Bookmarks in Netscape Communicator T23

Finding Your Course Materials in Blackboard T29

Sending an Email and Adding an Attachment in Blackboard T30

Turning in Assignments in Blackboard T23

Participating in the Virtual Classroom or Chat in Blackboard T33

Posting to a Discussion Board in Blackboard T34

Finding Your Course Documents and Assignments in Blackboard T36

Finding Your Assignment Grades and Feedback in Blackboard T37

Finding Your Course Materials in WebCT T38

Sending an Email and Adding an Attachment in WebCT T39

Turning in Assignments in WebCT T40

Participating in Chat in WebCT T42

Posting to a Discussion Board in WebCT T43

Finding Your Course Content in WebCT T45

Finding Your Assignment Grades and Feedback in WebCT T46

Finding Your Course Materials in eCollege T47

Sending an Email and Adding an Attachment in eCollege T48

Turning in Assignments in eCollege T49

Participating in Chat in eCollege T51

Posting to a Discussion Board in eCollege T52

Finding Your Course Documents and Assignments in eCollege T53

Finding Your Assignment Grades and Feedback in eCollege T53

Troubleshooting Problems T59

E-LEARNING COMPANION

A Student’s Guide to Online Success

THIRD EDITION

Ryan Watki ns

Michael Corry

The George Washington University

Australia • Brazil • Japan • Korea • Mexico • Singapore • Spain • United Kingdom • United States

Printed in the United States of America

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under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act,

without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009937053

Student Edition:

ISBN-10: 1-4390-8245-6

ISBN-13: 978-1-4390-8245-4

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E-Learning Companion: A

Student’s Guide to Online

Success, Third Edition

Ryan Watkins

Michael Corry

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English: Annie Todd

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Contents

PRAISE FOR THE E-LEARNING COMPANION ix

ABOUT THE AUTHORS x

TO INSTRUCTORS xi

TO STUDENTS xix

E-LEARNING READINESS SELF-ASSESSMENT xxii

1 Selecting the Right Opportunities

for Success Online 1

Increasing the Odds of Your Success 2

Be Realistic with Your Time 3

Review Distance-Learning Options 4

Consider the Timing 6

Balance Your Academic and Work Commitments 7

Balance Your Academic and Personal Commitments 8

Get Your Feet Wet: Take an Online Course

of Personal Interest 9

Review Prerequisite Requirements 10

Verify Your Support Services 10

SUMMARY 13

CHAPTER 1 EXERCISE 14

DID YOU STAY FOCUSED? 14

2 Create a Plan for Online Success 16

Planning for Online Success 16

Setting Realistic Expectations of Online Coursework 20

Common Misconceptions of Online Coursework 20

Clarifying Personal Expectations and Setting Goals 22

Building Comprehension Skills 24

Establishing Study Times 26

Creating an Effective Study Environment 27

iii

Planning with Learning or Physical Disabilities in Mind 32

Familiarizing Yourself with the Course Design 33

Staying in Touch 33

Creating an Effective Plan 34

SUMMARY 35

CHAPTER 2 EXERCISE 36

DID YOU STAY FOCUSED? 36

3 Technology Tips for Online Students 38

Tips for Before Online Coursework Begins 38

Tips for Evaluating Online Resources 40

Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism and Copyright Violations 45

Tips for Online Security and Privacy 49

Timesaving Technology Tips 50

Tips for Accessibility 51

Tips for Managing Your Files 54

Tips for Using Apps 58

Tips for Using the World Wide Web 59

Tips for Downloading 61

Tips for Searching the World Wide Web 62

Tips for Choosing a Search Engine 64

Tips for Using Your Web Browser 65

Tips for Using Email 68

Tips for Using Microsoft Word 70

Tips for Using E-Books 72

Tips for Technology Support 73

Developing a Technology Contingency Plan 75

SUMMARY 76

CHAPTER 3 EXERCISE 77

DID YOU STAY FOCUSED? 78

4 Time Management Strategies 79

Success Strategy One: Don’t Procrastinate 79

Success Strategy Two: Don’t Wait for Perfection 80

Success Strategy Three: Combine Activities 81

Success Strategy Four: Don’t Expect Your Instructor

to Always be Online 82

iv CONTENTS

CONTENTS v

Success Strategy Five: Keep to a Schedule 82

Success Strategy Six: Use Your Free Time Wisely 83

Success Strategy Seven: Learn to Say No 83

Success Strategy Eight: Make Use of Technology 85

Success Strategy Nine: Manage the Time That You

Spend Online 86

Success Strategy Ten: Know Your Studying Prime Times 87

SUMMARY 88

CHAPTER 4 EXERCISE 88

DID YOU STAY FOCUSED? 89

5 Developing Positive Online

Relationships 90

Online Relationships 91

Making a Good First Impression Online 91

Effective Online Communications Tips 93

Staying Organized Online 96

SUMMARY 103

CHAPTER 5 EXERCISE 103

DID YOU STAY FOCUSED? 105

6 E-Learning Vocabulary 106

Understanding the Basic Lingo 106

Checking Technology Requirements 113

Familiarizing Yourself with Required Hardware 114

Familiarizing Yourself with Required Software 117

SUMMARY 124

CHAPTER 6 EXERCISE 124

DID YOU STAY FOCUSED? 125

7 Maintaining Motivation in an

Online Course 127

Selecting Courses 128

Finding an Application 129

Keeping Your Goals in Mind 129

Developing Your Motivational Support System 130

Visualizing Your Success 131

Communicating with Your Instructor 131

Being an Active Participant 132

Rewarding Yourself Throughout the Semester 132

Developing Healthy Habits 133

SUMMARY 134

CHAPTER 7 EXERCISE 134

DID YOU STAY FOCUSED? 135

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE 137

HOW-TO TUTORIALS T1

GLOSSARY G-1

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READINGS R-1

CREDITS C-1

INDEX I-1

QR Quick Reference Guide 137

How to Use This Quick Reference Guide 137

Online Real-Time Chats 138

Online Discussion Boards 141

Email 145

Listserves 149

Online Group Projects 150

Online Exams 153

Online Presentations 156

Online Readings and E-Books 158

Online (Electronic) Portfolios 160

Turning in Assignments Online 162

Online Whiteboards 163

E-Research 165

Summary 167

vi CONTENTS

HOW TO How-To Tutorials T1

List of Tutorials T1

Overview of Tutorials T2

1 Checking Your Computer’s Hardware Profi le in Microsoft Windows T3

2 Creating Folders and Staying Organized in Microsoft Windows T5

3 Checking Your Computer’s Hardware Profi le on a Macintosh

Computer T7

4 Creating Folders and Staying Organized on a Macintosh Computer T7

5 Tracking Changes in a Microsoft Word Document T8

6 Adding Notes or Comments to a Microsoft Word Document T9

7 Working with Documents in Google Docs T11

8 Understanding Adobe Acrobat PDF Software T13

9 Creating an Adobe Acrobat PDF Document T13

10 Adding Individual Notes to an Adobe Acrobat PDF Document T15

11 Saving Favorites in Microsoft Internet Explorer T17

12 Organizing Favorites in Microsoft Internet Explorer T18

13 Caching Materials for Viewing Offl ine with Microsoft

Internet Explorer T20

14 Opening New Windows in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape

Communicator T22

15 Saving Bookmarks in Netscape Communicator T23

16 Organizing Bookmarks in Netscape Communicator T23

17 Opening New Windows and Tabs in Mozilla Firefox T25

18 Saving Bookmarks in Mozilla Firefox T26

19 Organizing Bookmarks in Mozilla Firefox T27

20 Finding Your Course Materials in Blackboard T29

21 Sending an Email and Adding an Attachment in Blackboard T30

22 Turning in Assignments in Blackboard T32

23 Participating in the Virtual Classroom or Chat in Blackboard T33

24 Posting to a Discussion Board in Blackboard T34

25 Finding Your Course Documents and Assignments in Blackboard T36

26 Finding Your Assignment Grades and Feedback in Blackboard T37

27 Finding Your Course Materials in WebCT T38

28 Sending an Email and Adding an Attachment

in WebCT T39

29 Turning in Assignments in WebCT T40

30 Participating in Chat in WebCT T42

CONTENTS vii

viii CONTENTS

31 Posting to a Discussion Board in WebCT T43

32 Finding Your Course Content in WebCT T45

33 Finding Your Assignment Grades and Feedback

in WebCT T46

34 Finding Your Course Materials in eCollege T47

35 Sending an Email and Adding an Attachment

in eCollege T48

36 Turning in Assignments in eCollege T49

37 Participating in Chat in eCollege T51

38 Posting to a Discussion Board in eCollege T52

39 Finding Your Course Documents and Assignments

in eCollege T53

40 Finding Your Assignment Grades and Feedback

in eCollege T53

41 Finding Your Course Materials in Angel T54

42 Sending an Email and Adding an Attachment in Angel T55

43 Turning in Assignments in Angel T55

44 Posting to a Discussion Board in Angel T57

45 Finding Your Course Documents and Assignments

in Angel T58

46 Finding Your Assignment Grades and Feedback

in Angel T58

47 Troubleshooting Problems T59

Praise for the

E-Learning Companion

“E-Learning Companion is a comprehensive learning tool that provides a

foundation for all online learners. It is an invaluable reference book that all

online learners should use throughout their studies.” —Wendy Rybinski,

Bisk Education

“The E-Learning Companion provides tutorials that cover several course

management systems and operating systems, making it good for students,

no matter what platform they are using.” —Amber M. Epps, The Art Institute

of Pittsburgh

“The E-Learning Companion is a supplemental text that would be a great

addition to any online introductory course. The Companion addresses

common concerns and roadblocks distance students typically encounter:

time management/procrastination, technology issues, and online student￾instructor relationships.” —Melissa Vosen, North Dakota State University

“I like the binding and size. A very handy guide chock full of useful infor￾mation.” —Caroline Lieber, Post University

“Excellent, excellent. [The chapter exercises] provide pertinent practice that

will set a strong foundation for the course. Fabulous!” —Diana Nystedt, Palo

Alto College

ix

About the Authors

Ryan Watkins, Ph.D.

Ryan Watkins, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Educational Technol￾ogy Leadership Program at The George Washington University in Washington,

DC. Dr. Watkins has also been a visiting researcher with the National Science

Foundation (NSF) and has served as vice president representing the United

States in the Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD).

Besides the E-Learning Companion, Dr. Watkins has authored six addi￾tional books, including 75 E-Learning Activities: Making Online Courses

More Interactive (Wiley/Jossey-Bass, 2005); Performance by Design: The Sys￾tematic Selection, Design, and Development of Performance Technologies

(HRD Press, 2006); and Strategic Planning for Success: Accomplishing

High-Impact Results (Wiley/Jossey-Bass, 2003). For more information, visit

http://www.ryanrwatkins.com.

Michael Corry, Ph.D.

Michael Corry, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Director of the Educa￾tional Technology Leadership Program at The George Washington University

in Washington, DC. Dr. Corry is intimately involved with the course design,

delivery, and management of this pioneering program delivered via dis￾tance education. Dr. Corry’s research interests include distance-learning

theory, distance-learning policy, faculty development, asynchronous learn￾ing, the integration of technology into K–12 and higher-education settings,

instructional design, and human–computer interaction. He has numerous

publications and presentations related to his research interests, including

Distance Education: What Works Well (Haworth Press, 2003), for which he

was the lead editor. He has also designed and delivered faculty-develop￾ment workshops involving technology. Dr. Corry holds a doctorate degree

from Indiana University in Instructional Systems Technology. Before coming

to George Washington University, he taught at Indiana University, as well as

at the high-school level in Utah.

x

To Instructors

Keys to Success in Online Learning

The online classroom is a new learning environment for almost all students.

Although many students have been very successful in the traditional class￾room, the online learning environment presents them with an array of

obstacles and opportunities that must be addressed in order for them to

succeed. The E-Learning Companion is intended to provide strategies and

tactics for achieving success with any online coursework, whether it is for

an entirely online course or for a course that simply uses online tools to

supplement on-campus learning. Throughout this text, we address specifi c

steps that can be taken by all students to realize their goals and gain the

most from their online courses.

Based on our years of experience in both taking and teaching online

courses, we have identifi ed two fundamental skills that are essential to the

success of online students. Each chapter in this book guides and assists

students in developing these skills as they apply to e-learning success.

Online Success Skill 1: Adapt Old Skills and Habits from the Traditional

Classroom for Use in the Online Classroom

Students enter the online classroom with a range of learning skills and

study habits that they have developed through their years of experience in

the traditional classroom. Some of these skills and habits are not useful in

achieving goals (for example, daydreaming while giving the appearance of

paying attention to the instructor!), but many of them will provide students

with an excellent foundation for adapting to the new characteristics of the

online learning environment. In this book, we build upon these existing

skills and habits whenever possible.

Online Success Skill 2: Develop and Apply New Skills and Habits

for the Online Classroom

Success in online coursework requires the effective integration of online

strategies and student success skills (see the fi gure on the next page). By

combining the learning skills and study habits that are necessary for suc￾cess in any college course with the distinctive skills and habits required in

online learning environments, your students will develop the expertise to

be successful in any online coursework that may be required throughout

their college education.

xi

What Has Changed in the

Third Edition?

Since we wrote the second edition of the E-Learning Companion, the

knowledge and skills required for successful online learning have shifted

somewhat to keep current with today’s high-tech college experience. For

example, several new e-learning technologies have emerged, while the

growth of e-learning in high schools has often improved the baseline

e-learning study skills of incoming students. The opportunity to write a

third edition of the E-Learning Companion has enabled us to update,

expand, trim, and edit our earlier work to ensure that it remains relevant

for today’s college students. We have made numerous changes through￾out this edition, including:

• (New) Try Something New features identify free Web-based tools that

you and your students can use to improve communications, manage

time, share resources, and stay organized.

• (New) Emerging e-learning technologies such as social networking,

online fi le sharing, wikis, and blogs are discussed throughout the

book.

• (New) How-To Tutorials on Google Docs join the existing tutorials

on Blackboard, WebCT, and eCollege.

• (New) Tips for Online Security and Privacy have been added to

Chapter 3.

• (New) Tips for Using Apps on a smart phone (such as iPhone, G1, or

BlackBerry) or iPod to improve study skills have been added.

xii TO INSTRUCTORS

Success in

E-Learning

Online Success

Skills

Learner Success

Skills

Define

Access

Manage

Integrate

Evaluate

Create

Communicate

Study habits

Time management

Taking notes

Effective reading

Critical thinking

Test taking

The integration of online skills and student success skills1

TO INSTRUCTORS xiii

• (Updated) Tips for avoiding plagiarism and copyright violations

have been expanded, including a new worksheet and more examples

in Chapter 3.

• (Updated) A Quick Reference Guide collects a variety of tips and

recommendations on such topics as email, online discussion boards,

listserves, online exams, and e-research in one convenient place.

• (New and Updated) Resources on the E-Learning Companion

Premium Website include links to numerous resources on topics

ranging from plagiarism and personal safety to time management and

troubleshooting technology problems.

• (New and Updated) Resources on the E-Learning Companion

Premium Instructor Companion Website include an answer key for

the chapter activities in the book, guidance on using the Tutorials,

Integration Guides for using the E-Learning Companion along with

other Cengage Student Success titles, and links to additional instructor

resources.

Key Features of This Book

E-Learning Readiness Self-Assessment

The E-Learning Readiness Self-Assessment on page xxii helps students eval￾uate their readiness for online success. Students can use the self-assessment

to guide their own preparation. Alternatively, instructors can use the quiz as

a group evaluation for identifying which e-learning study skills they should

emphasize in their course. An online version of the self-assessment is also

available on the E-Learning Companion Premium Website.

Students who have completed the E-Learning Readiness Self-Assess￾ment may use their results to guide them to the appropriate chapters to

expand on their previous e-learning study skills as well as to develop new

skills for ensuring their success in using information and communication

technologies.

“Stay Focused” Chapter Objectives

Each chapter in the E-Learning Companion addresses several of the critical

skill areas identifi ed by Educational Testing Services (ETS) in the Informa￾tion and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy assessment.3 ICT

literacy is defi ned by the International ICT Literacy Panel as “using digital

technology, communications tools, and/or networks to access, manage,

integrate, evaluate, and create information in order to function in a knowl￾edge society.” ICT literacy therefore represents an essential range of skills

for college students whose classes, reports, exams, and social lives are more

intertwined with technology than ever before. ETS further defi nes the cog￾nitive and technical skill areas of ICT literacy as defi ne, access, manage,

xiv TO INSTRUCTORS

integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate.5 Accordingly, each chapter of

the book begins with a series of “Stay Focused” learning objectives that

relate the chapter’s contents to the critical skill areas of ICT literacy. “Did

You Stay Focused?” questions at the end of each chapter allow students to

quickly assess their understanding of these objectives.

Try Something New

This new feature to the third edition identifi es free Web-based tools offering

unique technologies that can be used to improve study skills and support

student success in college. Each Try Something New feature provides an

overview of the tool and a short description of how it can be used to

improve student success—for free.

Student-to-Student Tips

Included in this book are more than 50 tips that we have collected from suc￾cessful online students from around the world. Each recommendation is based

on students’ real-life experiences in completing online course assignments and

activities. From effectively using email to communicate with college instructors

to improving time management skills, these student-to- student tips ground the

recommendations found in this book with actual student experiences.

Activities

A variety of activities are offered throughout the book to give students an

opportunity to practice many of the strategies and skills of online success.

By completing these activities as they read through each chapter, students

will build their comprehension and increase the likelihood that the skills

discussed in this book will become successful study habits throughout their

college experiences.

Chapter Exercises

In addition to the activities in each chapter, there are also longer exercises

at the end of each chapter. While the chapter activities may be done without

any additional resources, many of these end-of-chapter exercises require

students to use a computer that has Internet access.

How-To Tutorials

At the end of this book are 47 How-To Tutorials that provide students with

step-by-step instructions for completing many of the online skills that are

discussed in each chapter. The How-To Tutorials icon (shown in the margin)

appears throughout the book to indicate which topics have an associated

tutorial on the skills being discussed. For quick reference, an index of the

How-To Tutorials is provided on the inside front cover of this book. The How￾To Tutorials are also available on the E-Learning Companion Premium Website.

HOW TO