Oceanography 100 Online: Instructions to Students
How Oceanography 100 Online Works: Each week throughout the semester, enrolled students will engage in several different learning activities related to oceanography. These activities include: reading the textbook; completing online assignments; viewing online resources including videos; and participating in online discussions (discussion board forums). Enrolled students also need to:
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Have regular access to a computer with Internet access |
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Access the Oceanography 100 course Blackboard site on a regular basis |
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Be able to download and read Adobe Acrobat files |
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Be able to download and play Flash videos and streaming Windows Media files |
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Complete various discussion board posts and other online assignments |
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Complete the Writing Assignment and upload your paper online through the SafeAssignment anti-plagiarism program |
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Complete 5 exams and, at the end of the course, the comprehensive final exam |
Information about Online Learning is available at the following site (required reading), which asks:
| Are you ready to be an online student? (from Palomar College's Academic Technology group) |
Mini-FAQ about Oceanography 100 Online:
| Q: Will there be any on-campus meetings? | A: No. All materials including the syllabus, advice from former students, class policies, handouts, assignments, Online Study Guide, streaming videos, and all exams will be available online. |
| Q: If I am on the waitlist, how likely am I to get into the class? | A: Based on past experience, many people on the waitlist tend to get into the class. The higher you are on the waitlist, the better your chances are, so definitely get on the waitlist if you can. I drop enrolled students if they do not complete assignments in a timely manner. After 2 weeks into the semester, however, Palomar's admissions policy prohibits me from adding anyone into the class. |
| Q: If I am on the waitlist, do I have access to course materials? | A: No. The course Blackboard site--which contains all assignments--is only accessible to officially enrolled students. |
| Q: If I am on the waitlist, when will I know if I will be added to the course? | A: If an enrolled student drops before the semester starts, you will be added in order from the waitlist and Palomar will contact you about paying fees. Once the semester starts, you'll need an add code. The only way I can give out add codes is when enrolled students do not submit work. I give students until the end of the first week of class to submit assignments or else I drop them for non-attendance. As spots open up, I will contact you via e-mail with an add code and other instructions, typically during the second week of classes. Be patient! |
| Q: I can't get on the waitlist, but still want to add the course as a "crasher." What do I do? | A: By law, I must add students in order from the waitlist before adding any "crashers." Typically, not all students on the waitlist will get into the class, so I won't be able to add many others. How about next semester? |
Once You Have Registered for the Course: More details about the course are available when you log onto the course Blackboard site (your userid is your nine-digit Palomar student ID and your password is set up by you when you establish your account). You'll receive an e-mail when the Oceanography 100 Online course Blackboard site is available, usually a few weeks before the semester starts.
If You Have Specific Questions about the Course: Please e-mail me at atrujillo@palomar.edu.