TOOLKITTHE ONLINE LEARNER

mandatory geek glasses

What's inside?

hi

The basicsIntroduction 1WhatdoIneedonmycomputer? 2

TLM HowdoIlogintoTLM? 3Startbygettingcomfortable 4HowdoIviewaunit? 6HowdoImarkaunitcomplete? 7HowdoIuploadmyassignment? 8Afewtips 9HowdoItakeatest? 10

webboardHowdoIlogintoWebBoard? 11Startbygettingcomfortable 12HowdoInavigatearound? 13HowdoIorganizemywebboard? 14HowdoIviewamessage? 15HowdoIreplytoamessage? 16WhatdoIsay?!? 17HowdoIuploadafilewithmymessage? 18HowdoIchangemyprofilepicture? 20

COLLABORATEWhat'sCollaborate? 22WhatwillwedoinCollaborate? 23ElluminateandCollaborate 24HowdoIlogintoCollaborate? 25Startbygettingcomfortable 29HowdoIcheckmyaudio? 31HowdoItalkwithmymicrophone? 32HowdoIuse"emoticons"togivefeedback? 33HowdoIusechattosendmessages? 34HowdoIusethewhiteboard? 36Nowyouknowthebasics! 38Afewtips 39

EXTRASWhatdoesittaketolearnonline? 40Timetamersforonlinelearners 41Advicefromlearners 42The“NoExcuses”List 43

1

Introductionto online learning @nscc

(starringLechKrzywonos,AcademicChair,SchoolofAccess)

Intro to Online Learning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUzVe_YQzOg

Intro to TLM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1yXpNFVmFE

Intro to WebBoards http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziCjzDuk8-Y

2

What do I need on my computer?

Youprobablyalreadyhavemostofthesoftwareyouneed.Here’sthelist&whereyoucangoforfreedownloads.

Do you have ... ?

InternetExplorer7orabove(touseTheLearningManager)http://bit.do/download_ie

AdobeAcrobatReader(toviewyourstudyguidesandassignments)http://get.adobe.com/reader/

RealMediaPlayer(forvideos)http://www.real.com/

Java(touseCollaborate)bit.do/check_collaborate

FlashPlayer(formultimedia)http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

aheadsetandmicrophoneifthey’renotbuiltintoyourcomputer(toparticipateinCollaboratesessions)A$15USBheadsetfromStaplesorFutureShopwilldo.

3

How do I log in to TLM? Let’sstartwithTheLearningManager,orTLMaswecallit.Aroundthedayyourcoursebegins,you’llgetanemailsenttoyourNSCCaccountbyOnlineLearning.Openitandyou’llseeyourusernameandpassword.Gotohttp://tlm.nscc.ca/tlm40andusethispasswordtologintoTLM.

use the password sent by Online Learning

Remember, your TLM password is unique! If your NSCC password changes, your TLM password doesn’t!

your student ID

you can do it!

4

Start by getting comfortableTLMhelpskeepyouorganized.It’swhereyou’llfindyourcoursematerials,handouts,links,tests,assignmentsandyourgrades.

sidebar

course map

tutorial

Print out your course materials and organize them in a binder. That way you don’t have to

log in to TLM every time you need to look at a unit.

5

assignments & tests

units

the first guide is your “introduction” or “welcome” guide ... it gives you an overview of the course

grades

announcements

read your course outline!

schedule

change your password

“history and status” helps you track

your progress

handouts & links

A closer lookClick around and

explore your course!

6

How do I view a unit?Asyouprogressinyourcourse,youcanmarkunitscompletetohelpkeepyouorganized.Don’tworry!Evenifaunitismarkedcomplete,youcanstillgobackandlookatitanytime!

click your unit & choose “view unit”

a window opens and you see your guide

If you get a message like this, you have a unit open! You can

only open one guide at a time.

7

How do I mark a unit complete?Asyouprogressinyourcourse,youcanmarkunitscompletetohelpkeepyouorganized.Don’tworry!Evenifaunitismarkedcomplete,youcanstillgobackandlookatitanytime!

You have to mark units complete before you can take a test or

upload an assignment!

Don’t worry ...even if you mark a unit

complete, you can still go back and look at it.

click your unit & choose “mark unit complete”

8

How do I upload my assignment?SomefacilitatorswillaskyoutouploadyourassignmentsinTLM.Somewillaskyoutoemailthem.Makesureyoureadtheassignmentcarefully!

Mark your unit complete

Click to open your assignment

Click “view assignment”

If you upload text, make sure you have a backup copy!!

“Browse” to find your assignment if you’ve saved it on your computer or

cut & paste your assignment into the text box.

Submit

9

A few tips

• Submityourassignmentearlyincaseyouhaveproblems.Whatifthepowergoesout?Whatifyourcomputerfreezes?Inmostcourses,you’llbepenalizedforlateassignments,soplanahead!

• Emailyourassignmentifyouhaveanyproblemsuploadingit.Technicalglitcheshappen.IfyouhaveaproblemuploadingyourassignmentinTLM,emailitinstead.

• Alwayskeepacopyofyourwork!

10

How do I take a test? Sometimesyoucantakeatestwhenandwhereyouwant.Sometimesyourtestwillbeproc-tored,orsupervised.Ifyouneedtobookaproctor,there’scontactinformationhere:http://onlinelearning.nscc.ca/Services/testing/contacts/newsched.html.Remembertobookearly!

Mark your unit complete

Click “Take Assessment”

Once you’ve entered your answers, click “Mark Test”

Print your test and log out of TLM. Do your test

on paper. Then log back in and enter your answers.

11

How do I log in to WebBoard? Gotohttp://webboard.nscc.ca/wb.RemembertologinusingtheusernameandpasswordsenttoyoubyNSCCOnlineLearning.

use the password sent by Online Learning

Remember, your WebBoard password is unique! If your NSCC or TLM password changes, your TLM password doesn’t!

your student ID

12

Start by getting comfortable

WebBoardisadiscussionboard.Youpostmessagesandparticipateindiscussionswiththeotherpeopleinthecourse.

click the name of the course to see the discussion topics for that course

click the topic to see the messages or “posts”you’ll see a lightbulb if there’s a new message

When you log in, you’ll see a discussion board for each course you’re taking

13

How do I navigate around?

Thereareacoupleofways.Exploreandfindthewaythatworksbestforyou.

This is a “cookie crumb trail”. It shows you where you are. You can click the links on your trail to go back.

You can change to “tree view”

If you don’t like “tree view”, you can exit out.

In “tree view” you can see all your topics and messages

in one place.

14

How do I organize my webboard?

YoucanchangethewaythattheWebBoardisorganized.Seewhichoneyoulikebest.

look at your optionssearch

only display new messages

the filters change how your messages are organized

15

How do I view a message?

You’llprobablyseeawelcomemessagefromyourfacilitator.That’sagoodplacetostart.

this is the person who posted the message

this message has a file attached -- click the

link to open itclick “reply” to write

your own message

16

How do I reply to a message?WebBoardisadiscussionboard.Youpostmessagesandparticipateindiscus-sionswiththeotherpeopleinthecourse.

smileys and formatting tools only show up in Internet Explorer

want to get an email when someone else

posts to this topic? check “watch this

topic”

click “post” when you’re done -- you can go back and edit later

ifyou want

back up your posts -- write them

in Word first!!

write your brilliant response! remember a great post is about 1 -2

short paragraphs long

17

Participatingindiscussiondoesnotnecessarilymeanwritingalotorshowingeveryoneelsehowhardyou’veworkedorhowmuchyouknow.Gooddiscussionparticipationinvolvespeopletryingtobuildon,andsynthesizecommentsfromoth-ers,andonshowingappreciationforothers’contributions.Italsoinvolvesinvitingotherstosaymoreaboutwhattheyarethinking.

Sotherearelotsofwaysyoucanparticipate.Herearesomeexamples:

• Askaquestionormakeacommentthatshowsyouareinterestedinwhatsomeonesays.

• Askaquestionormakeacommentthatencouragessome-onetoelaborateonsomethingthey’vesaid.

• Makeacommentthatunderscoresthelinkbetweentwopeople’scontributions.

• Makeacommentthathelpspeopleseeyourbodylan-guage—forexample“Ijumpedforjoy!”

• Makeacommentthatshowshowyoufindsomeone’sideasinterestingoruseful.

• Contributesomethingthatbuildson,orspringsfrom,whatsomeonesays.Beclearhowyouarebuildingonthatperson’sideas.

• Makeacommentthatatleastpartlyparaphrasesapointthatsomeonemakes

• Offerencouragement!Forexample,“Thanksforthegreatsuggestion.”

• Findawaytoshowyourappreciationforthelearningyouhavegainedfromthediscussion.Bespecificaboutwhatitwasthathelpedyoulearn.

• Asksomeonetogiveyouanexamplethathelpsillus-tratetheirideas

• Askaquestionormakeacommentthatdrawsinsome-onewhohasn’tparticipatedyet—forexample“AmyorMike,doyouhaveanyideas?”

• Asksomeonetogivemoredetail.

• Suggestaresource.

AdaptedfromStephenBrookfield,Discussion as a Way of Teaching

What do I say?!?

18

How do I upload a file with my message?

Sometimesyouwanttoshareafile(likeaWorddocument)orapicturewithyourpost.Here’show...

check “attach file”

once you’ve typed your message, click “post” just like you usually do

19

click “inline image” if you want a picture to appear in your post (like the post below)

click “browse” to find the file or picture on your

computer

click “upload now” when you’re done

Once I’ve clicked “Upload Now”, my picture appears on my post

click “unknown” if you’’re not sure

That’s your window? Yeah, right.

20

How do I change my profile picture?

Addingaprofilepictureisagreatwaytogivepeopleasenseofwhoyouare.Itdoesn’thavetobeapictureofyourself.ButitshouldbeapicturethathelpsusgettoknowYOU!Useyourimagination!

your profile picture appears every time you post

click “options”

click “my profile”

21

click “Add, remove or change Image”

don’t forget to save when you’re done!

click “submit”

click “browse” to find the picture on your computer

ProfilepictureshavetobethissizeorSMALLER.Doyouneedtoresizeyour

picture?Tryoneofthesesites:

Shrink Pictureshttp://www.shrinkpictures.com/

Pic Resizehttp://www.picresize.com/

Resize Your Imagehttp://www.resizeyourimage.com/

22

What's Collaborate?

write on the whitebooard or upload PowerPoints

writing & drawing tools(pens, pointers, clip art, etc.)

talk or use a webcam

get together with people

chat

Collaborateisatoolthatletsyouinteractwithpeopleonlineinrealtime.HerearesomebasicthingsfolksdoinCollaborate...

23

What will we do in Collaborate?

Collaborategivesyouanopportunitytoconnectwithyourfacilitatorandtheotherpeopleinyourcourse.Youmaydolotsofthings...

• gettoknowtheotherpeopleinyourcourse• seesomethingdemonstrated• askquestions• getsomehelp• checkinwithyourfacilitator• collaborateorworkongroupprojects• listentoaguestspeaker• doalotofthesamethingsyou’ddoinaclassoncampus!

24

What's the difference between Elluminate and Collaborate?

Notmuch!CollaborateisthenewestversionofElluminate.Ifyou’veusedElluminate,Collaboratemayseemveryfamiliartoyou.Noticethatthetoolsarebasicallythesameeventhoughtheymayhavemoved?

Elluminate Collaborate

Upload slides

Use your microphone

Use your microphone

Upload slides

25

Youwon’tneedapasswordforCollaborate.Whenyouhavethelink,youcanlogin.

Open the email sent to you by your facilitator or look under “links” in TLM. Click the link for your session.

Info for our Collaborate session on June 5th :)

you@nscc.ca

How do I log in to Collaborate?

What is Collaborate? LearnersoftentellusthattheCollaboratesessionsarethebestpartoftheironlinecourse--becausethegroupistogetherinrealtime.Wecanheareachother’svoices.Andwefeelasenseofcommunity.Ifyou’veneverusedCollaboratebefore,don’tworry!We’llstartwithashortorientation.

Before our session

• Getasetofheadphoneswithamicrophone.• TestyoursystemtoseeifhaveJavainstalledbygoinghere:http://bit.do/check_your_computer• Ifyou’dliketotryCollaboratebeforeoursession,feelfreetovisitthepracticeroom:http://bit.do/

participants_practice_room

To log into our session

• Clickthislink:http://nsccvc.nscc.ca:8081/join_meeting.html?meetingId=1333124897190 • Login15-30minutesearlysoyou’llhavetimetodealwithanyproblemsandcheckyouraudio.

26

Watchforamessagefromyourbrowser. Ifyougetamessagelikethis,runtheapplication.

Open the file Run the application

Click “guest”Type your name

Log in. No password!

27

Your browser may block pop-up windows.If you get a message like this, you may need

teach your browser to play nice. Change your settings to “always allow” pop-ups for this site.(If you’re at a campus, IT Services may be able

to help with this one.)

"Oops!"@

28

Collaboratetakesafewminutestoopen.Whenitdoes,itlookssomethinglikethis...

woohoo! you’re in!

29

Take a closer look

Start by getting comfortable

Allthetoolsaregroupedinto4panels.

The participants panel shows you who’s in the session with you and what permissions you have This is the whiteboard.

The audio & video panel let’s you talk or use a webcam

The chat panel is where you send messages. They can be private or public ... but moderators see everything so be careful!

30

These are your permissions. Permissions tell you what tools you have permission to use. A moderator can set the permissions before you log on or grant them during the session.

Participants panel

This is you.

A closer look

Ready to start practicing?

31

Click the to check your audio

How do I check my audio?

Click the arrow to expand the window

Whenyoulogintoasession,thefirstthingyoudoischeckyouraudio...everytime.

Ifyou’reatacampusandyourheadsetisn’tworking,talktoIT Services at your campus.

32

How do I talk with my microphone?

Adjust the volume

Click & talk

Notice how your mic is blue when it’s turned on? Click it again to turn it off.

Themicrophoneislikeawalkie-talkie.Youturnitontotalk&turnitoffwhenyou’redone.

Don’t forget to turn your mic off when you’re done talking!! Nobody wants to

listen to you eat your lunch!!

33

How do I use "emoticons" to give feedback?

Collaboratesessionscanbeveryactive!Emoticonsareasimplewaythatpeoplecanparticipateandgivefeedbackduringasession.

Show how you feel by using emoticons

Raise your hand Respond to a poll

PLAY!!

Try turning them on & off.What happens?

34

How do I use chat to send messages?

Type “hello” Can you add a smiley face to your messsage?

In a “supervised” chat, the moderator sees all the messages ... even the private ones.

Peopleusechattosendmessagestothegroup.

35

Hover your mouse over the person’s name and click the drop down menu

Send a private chat

Type your message in the private chat window. Remember, anyone who is a moderator can see this message if the chat is supervised.

Send a private chat

36

How do I use the whiteboard?Somepeopleusethewhiteboardasachalkboard.Theywriteordrawonit.SomepeopleuploadPowerPointslides.Somepeoplegivelearnerspermissiontosharethewhiteboardtobrainstormorshareideas.Seewhatyoucando...Don’tworry.Everythingyoucreatewilldisappearwhenyoulogout.

What are all the tools?

Here are all your tools.Click a tool and then click

on the whiteboard to use it.

37

Click the arrow to select objects on the screenPointer

Pen & highlighterType words & paragraphs

Filled shapesOutlined shapes

Draw a lineTake a snapshot of your screen

Some tools have options

Clip art

WHITEBOARD TOOLS

you don’t need to know all these tools ... just the ones you use

most often

38

Now you know the basics!

Check your audio

Turn your microphone on & off

Give feedback

Type, draw or move objects on the whiteboard

Chat

Formoreinformation,openyourbrowserandvisitbit.do/bbcollaborate_participants_guide.

39

A few tips

A handy doorknob hanger to let people around you’re know

that you’re learning!

Beforeyoursessionbegins,letthepeoplearoundyouknowthatyou’llbebusy.Turnoffyourcellphone.Closeyourdoor.ShutdownFace-book.Seriously.ShutdownFacebook.Thisisyourtime.

It’sagoodideatologinatleast15minutesbeforeyoursessionstarts.Thatgivesyoutimetogetcomfort-ableandtroubleshootifyouneedto.

40

Inee

dtolearn

Ican

dothis

Ican

teachothe

rpe

oplehow

todothis

What does it take to learn online?(try this self-assessment)

I’mopen-mindedaboutsharingmyownexperiencesaspartofthelearningprocess.

Icancommunicatethroughwriting.

I’mself-motivatedandself-disciplined.

I’mwillingtospeakupifproblemsarise.

I’mwillingtocommit5-10hourseachweektomycourse.

Ihavereliableaccesstoacomputerandtheinternet.

I’mabletothinkthroughideasbeforeresponding.

IbelievethatIcanlearnjustaswellonlineasIcaninaclassroom(ormaybebetter!)

Iunderstandtheimportanceofparticipatingandbeingvisibleinmyonlinecourse.

Itakemycourseandmyselfseriously.

IhaveaprivatespacewhereIcanworkwithoutinterruption.

I’manadvocateoflearningonline.

Ilogintomycourseeveryday.

I’mwillingtotakerisksinordertolearn.

I’mpoliteandrespectful.

IlookforwaystoapplywhatIlearn.

ItalkaboutwhatI’mlearningtopeopleoutsidemyclass.

Adaptedfrom“Whatmakesasuccesssfulonlinestudent”www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/studentprofile.asp

41

Find your rhythm

Whendoyouparticipateonline?Everyonehastheirownrhythm.Mornings.Evenings.Daily.Whenyouworkorlearnonline,it’simportanttomakeahabitofcomingbackandparticipatingregularly.Thisiswhatpeoplemeanwhentheytalkaboutdevelopinga“rhythm”online.Createarhythmandsticktoit. Make space for learning

Learningfeelsgreatwhenyou'reINTHEZONE!Butyouneedtomakesurethatyougiveyourselfthespacetobeengaged.Whenyoulearnorworkonline,letpeoplearoundyouknowwhenyou’relearningonlinesothattheydon'tinterruptyou.Borrowanofficeorgrabaprojectroom.Ortryworkingoffcampus.Move with the group

Followtheconversation.Asothersparticipateandnewideasemerge,joinin.Movewiththegroup.(Thisiseasierifyoucheckthediscussionboardeverydayorclick"watchtopic"sothatyougetanemaileverytimeanewmessageisposted.)Start at the end

Whenallelsefailsandlifegetsintheway,youcancatchupfasterifyoustartattheend.Startbyfocusingonthelastfewmessagesinatopicratherthanreadingthewholethingfromtoptobottom.

AdaptedfromGillySalmon,E-tivities: the key to active online learning and E-moderating: the key to teaching and learning online.

Howdoyouavoidthatsinkingfeelingwhen

you’reworkingorlearningonline?

Doingafewsimplethings

willhelp.

Take it slow but check in every day. Part of my challenge was

remembering how to log on and then remembering what to do. Logging on everyday makes it

easier. It gets easier.”

~ An online learner at NSCC

Time tamersfor online learners

start from the bottom up!

42

“Keepontopofthings,oryouwillgetlost!!!”

“Don’tbeafraidtotry...pushthetechnologytoitslimits,andyou’lllearnagreatdeal.Ifyoumakemistakes...well,you’lllearnfromthem,too!”

“Set aside a block of timeinyourcalendarstofocusontheworkthatneedstobedone.Weworkbestwhenwesetoutsomemilestonesandguide-postsforourselves.Itworks!”

“Setasidea specific time each day todevotetoyouronlinecourse.”

“Beopentothepossibilities.”

“Takeitslowbut check in every day.Partofmychallengewasrememberinghowtologonandthenrememberingwhattodo. Logging on every-day makes it easier. - it gets easier.”

“Trytothinkofitassomethingfun.Itwilldowon-dersforanyfearsyouhaveabouttechnology.Keep an open mindaboutwhatadvantagestechnologymayhavetooffer.”

“Thearrayoftechnologycanbeoverwhelming.Start simpleandbe kindtoyourself!”

“Throwallyourfearsandanxietiesoutthewindowand just do it!”

“Asfrustratedasyoumayfeelwhenyougetstart-ed,don’t give up.Itwillgeteasierandmakesenseasyoumovealong.”

“Time management is key,andifyoudon’thavetheskill,thensearchoutsomehelptogaintheskill.”

“Enterwithanopen mind,andyour fellow group members are an amazing resource.”

“Take10-15 minuteseveryothernight(ifnoteverynight)toreadthemessagesontheWebBoard,thiswillpreventyoufromfeelingoverwhelmed.”

“Participate quickly and as often as you can!Iprocrastinatedatfirstbecauseofmylimitedknowl-edgeoftechnologyandmylevelofdiscomfortwithit.OnceIreallybegantogetinvolved,however,itwas much easierthanIhadexpectedandquiteenjoyable.”

Advice from learnersWeaskedfolkswhatadvicethey’doffertosomeonewho’stakinganonlinecourse.Here’swhattheysaid:

get help

WHERE DO i GET TECH HELP?

Ifyouforgetapassword,haveproblemsloggingin,orneedanswersforyourtechquestions,contactOnlineLearning:

Phone: 491-6774Toll-free: 1-877-491-6774Email: online.learning@nscc.caWeb: http://onlinelearning.nscc.ca/support/

Need support?

NSCCDisabilityServiceshttp://www.disabilityservices.nscc.ca/

NSCCPeerTutoringhttp://www.nscc.ca/services/tutoring/

NSCCLibraryServiceshttp://www.library.nscc.ca/

Orvisityournearestcampushttp://www.nscc.ca/about_nscc/locations/

BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND COMPUTERS!

LearnFreehttp://www.gcflearnfree.org/

The "No excuses" list