Being Successful in this Course
Academic Integrity
Online Learning Tips
Netiquette Guidelines
Additional Resources

Being Successful in this Course🥇

"Oh, I can do that later. . ."

I want you to be successful in this course. Each week you will have reading, discussion boards, online lessons, and chapter tests to complete. There is a temptation to think in-person activities are more urgent than your online work. The problem is, then your online assignments pile up and you fall behind. Follow the weekly schedule and stay on top of your assignments.

I recommend that you log in at least three times per week to complete your work. Use the Canvas Calendar and create alerts in your phone or on your computer for lesson due dates or anything else you think you might forget! Set up your Notifications in Canvas (Links to an external site.) as well. (You can receive notifications via text (Links to an external site.).)

Take your tests from a reliable computer, preferably one with high speed or a t1 line. I will not reopen tests if they are missed or lock up after the day they are due so please give yourself enough time to find a solution if there is a problem. Do your work early, well before the 11:59 p.m. cut off time, or you risk the test closing and losing your score.

I'm sure you understand that it is your responsibility to get to a computer to complete your work on time. Go to school, your local library, or a friend’s house if your computer crashes or your Internet goes down. Please do not contact me for extra time on assignments. You have options so I strongly urge you not to wait until the last minute to do your work.

Course Syllabus

The course syllabus contains important information about class procedures, due dates, grading policies, etc. It's a guideline for what you can expect of me and what I expect of you throughout the term.

Student Activities:

In order to achieve the student learning outcomes you will be evaluated through the following assignments:

Exams and Homework ⚡️: To assess general knowledge of course material and critical thinking skills, students will do periodic exams and weekly homework.
SmartBook Assessments 🙇🏻‍♂️: are just assessments made to reinforce your learned skills. If completed all you can always maximize your points.
Excel Simulations: To make sure students engage with the material as in real life situations, each student will be graded on using Excel to produce financial information and reports.
eBook readings 📖: In order to understand (interpret, evaluate and learn), students must complete chapter readings. I will not monitor their reading. Each student is responsible to read the eBook as they see fit. I do recommend to read the chapter current chapter before start working on the lecture.

Time Commitment

Time to complete each module may vary from week to week. If you want to get the most out of the materials presented and earn the best grade you can, you should plan to spend at least 10 hours on the reading and assignments each week.

Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Both students and instructors are expected to obey rules of honest scholarship.

Academic misconduct--cheating--is not just "against the rules." It violates the assumptions at the heart of all learning. It destroys the mutual trust and respect that should exist between student and professor. It is unfair to students who earn their grades honestly.

Upholding academic integrity means:

Developing and conveying your own ideas in course work;
Identifying all sources of information;
Acknowledging collaboration when assignments aren't completed independently;
Accurately reporting results when conducting your own research or with respect to labs;
Honesty during quizzes and exams.

For more information please visit our academic policies web page.

computer mouse on a desk

Taking an online course is different than going to a classroom, and to be successful you'll need to strengthen skills like working independently, budgeting your time and staying organized.

Here are 5 basic tips to help you make the most of your time online:

Set a weekly study schedule - and stick to it. Completing the reading, discussion posts and assignments in an online class can be challenging, especially when you're juggling multiple responsibilities. It's no coincidence that one study found that 79% of students identified time management as critical to their online success.
Create a study space. Finding a space to work where you won’t be disturbed and can set up (at your house, in the library or wherever works for you) will help you stay focused and keep your study materials organized.
Get started on readings and assignments early. Students often say the "need the pressure" of waiting until the last minute, but the truth is procrastinating causes unnecessary stress and leads to less-than-quality work.
Communicate regularly with your instructor. Besides getting your questions answered, establishing a working relationship with your instructor is essential for expanding your professional network and developing a list of references you can use for career purposes. (Your instructor really does want to help you!)
Engage with your classmates.
Taking an online course should be more than sitting in front of a computer — real engagement involves becoming a part of the community of learners.

Taking an online course should be more than sitting in front of a computer — real engagement involves becoming a part of the community of learners.

Building a few supportive relationships with my classmates is critical because as an online student, it would be easy to miss the camaraderie that often exists in a traditional classroom. That same camaraderie online motivates and keeps me engaged in classes.
You'll increase your chances of online success if you don't feel like a solo student doing homework online. Building even a few supportive connections with classmates will help you be more engaged, develop positive attitudes towards the class, and makes the environment feel safer for sharing.

Resources:

OEI Student Success Resources (Links to an external site.)

8-Minute Exercise that Helps Online Learning Success

stylized script of word "netiquette"

"Netiquette" is network etiquette, the do's and don'ts of online communication. Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and the informal "rules of the road" of cyberspace.

[Read an accessible text-version of this infographic.]

Additional Resources 👍🏼

Your Canvas Profile

Profiles allows you to update your name, preferred contact methods, and any personal links for your account. Your profile information can be viewed by all users in your courses. In an online course, your profile is an important way of letting your instructor and classmates "see" you.

Update your Canvas Profile.

Notifications

The notification system is designed to help you keep track of the activity in your Canvas sites. It's important that you customize the default settings to fit the way you want to receive notifications. (You don't want to miss any important communications from your instructor!)

Helpful Canvas Guides Links

Student Guide Table of Contents (Links to an external site.) - This will show you a list of all the topics within the Student Guides.

View your grades (Links to an external site.) - Learn how to view your grades, scoring details and instructor comments on assignments.

Submitting an online assignment (Links to an external site.) - Instructors can choose what kind of online submissions they want you to use. Learn how to submit your assignment online.

Using the Inbox (Links to an external site.) - Many instructors prefer (or even require) that you use the Canvas Inbox (also called "Conversations") rather than your regular email account.

Using Canvas on your mobile device (Links to an external site.) - On mobile devices, Canvas is designed to be used within Canvas mobile applications. Be aware that not all features are fully supported in the app. (It's recommended you do "sophisticated" tasks like taking quizzes and submitting assignments using a regular web browser.)

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