write a letter

Korpar,

Marla Korpar

ENG 162 WA

Mr. Hricik

8/13/2011

Dear WCCC Online Student:

Welcome to the wonderful world of online classes. My name is Marla Korpar and this is my first online course. This has also been my first time using blackboard.com. Blackboard.com is very user-friendly and easy to navigate. Overall, taking an online course has been a very positive experience for me. Taking an online class has given me the flexibility to work forty hours during the week and earn college credits at the same time.

Blackboard: Getting Started

Blackboard.com is very straightforward and easy to use. Once you log-in, you will view a list of courses that you are registered for; select the course you are interested in viewing. Once you are on the page of your selected course, you will see a side tab with different headings such as “announcements” and “assignments.” You can use those tabs as a connection to your professor for information about the course. I am certain after browsing the website for a half hour or so you will be able to comfortably navigate the site.

Features

Blackboard has special features to help online students communicate and interact with their professors and classmates online. Some useful components of the website include:

· The drop box is used to submit assignments to the professor. It keeps a history of the past assignments submitted and the time and date in which they were received.

· The discussion board is used extensively in Mr. Hricik’s ENG 162WA class. It is an open forum in which each student posts assignments. These posts can be viewed by other students and then commented on. The discussion board is a way for students to interact with each other and receive feedback.

· The assignments link is a straightforward page dedicated specifically to the weekly assignments. It provides examples of past assignments along with expensive instructions on how to complete the weekly assignment. This feature has more detailed explanations than the general course announcements and helps guide you through your assignments.

Classroom Independence

The most distinct factor of an online course is the student’s independence. Because there is no physical assigned time to attend class, the individual is left to make their own schedule. As an online student you must discipline yourself to set aside time for class work each day. Keeping up with the professor’s reading assignments for the week and reading your professor’s emails regularly is the best way to keep on track in an online course.

A syllabus is provided at the beginning of the class and it is important to follow the assigned work closely from the very beginning so that you do not fall behind. In order to succeed in my online course, I re-check the announcements and assignments each Monday. I write down my assignments on my weekly planner and then write a goal date of when I want the assignment completed. This technique reminds me of what I need to accomplish and helps me incorporate my class work into my week. I clearly believe that if you find a similar technique you will always aware of what you need to accomplish (and much more likely to get your work done).

Benefits

Online courses provide many benefits to students including:

· Flexibility; students can complete and submit assignments any time during the day or night.

· Time; students do not have to travel to or from school. Those with a busy schedule save time because they do not have to commute.

· Environment; students can complete their work wherever they are located.

Drawbacks

Online courses also have some drawbacks which a student should be aware of:

· Lack of face-to-face interaction; most communication with your professor is done online through email or other forms of written instruction. Sometimes written instructions can be very confusing when they could have been very simple if communicated orally.

· Frequency; you need to sign online frequently to check the blackboard website. If you do not regularly check blackboard you may miss an update or fall behind on assignments.

· Communication; there is no specific time in which you can talk to your professor. If you have a question or comment you have to wait until your professor sees it and replies.

· Questions; you have to learn how to ask questions clearly online. You have to become sufficient in communicating via email and explaining your problems.

Online education has been an ideal option for me while I work over the summer. I hope that my explanation has given you a clear overview of what you can expect as you take your first online course. Good luck and remember to stay focused and on task each week.

Sincerely,

Marla T. Korpar