Fall 1999

Technology

Benefits of Online Learning

Successful Student Characteristics

Instructor

List prerequisite courses or other requirements.

Number of Units:

Add any other general information you think students might be interested in knowing about the course.

 Information why students would want or need to take this course.

Students will need an electronic mail account and computer access to the Web. All CSUS students enrolled in one or more units can create a SacLink account for electronic mail and Internet services. Although a home computer with a high speed modem running Netscape or Internet Explorer would be beneficial, students can use the Web from one of the campus student labs. Check out Computer Hardware Recommendations for CSU, Sacramento Students for more information about equipment.

Computing Recommendations

• Flexible Scheduling: Students generally work full-time, many have family responsibilities, and many live a distance from campus. Being able to complete selected course units from home or work without attending weekly classes should be a major convenience.
• Enhanced Learning: Time saved traveling to and from campus (and looking for parking) can be redirected to learning!
• Adult Learners: As highly motivated learners, students can actively pursue areas of greatest interest rather than sit through lectures aimed at the whole group.
• Increased Interaction with Classmates: Web-based communication tools can actually increase interaction among students by permitting group work that would be difficult to arrange if students had to meet in the same place at the same time.
• Virtual Office Hours: Electronic communication between students and the instructor can actually increase the degree of our interaction, since you can e-mail me at your convenience, rather than find time to get to my office or reach me by phone.
• The Web's the Limit (not the instructor): The World Wide Web has a wealth of resources from which you can learn a great deal more than I can teach you. Everywhere, the role of the faculty is being reconceptualized as that of "coach" rather than "instructor". Students are perfectly suited to take advantage of coaching to get out of the course what will be of most value to them.
• Electronic Competency on the Job: The competence in dealing with electronic environments that you develop in this course will be of great value to you in your workplace.

• Discipline to complete projects by deadlines instead of waiting until the end of the semester.
• Motivation to read, write, and particpate fully in class activities.
• Time to devote approximately 9 hours a week to a 3-credit course.
• Ability to work independently and in teams.
• Flexibility in dealing with technology problems. 

 More information is available on Dr. Smith's homepage. You may contact the instructor via e-mail at name@csus.edu.