Orientation
 

Orientation

Blackboard Course Site

Thompson Homepage

Welcome to POFT-1127
Introduction to Keyboarding
(offered fall, spring, and summer terms)

This keyboarding course is for students wanting to learn keyboarding by touch (without looking at fingers).  This course is ideal for summer study or combining with heavy study load courses.  The course does NOT include instruction on formatting documents, such as memos, letters, reports, and tables and therefore is not the foundation course for Office Systems Technology majors.  POFT-1329 Beginning Keyboarding includes the document formatting component and is the correct choice for Office Systems Technology majors.  In other words, students should take either POFT 1127 or POFT 1329 but not both.

This course allows you and your professor a unique opportunity to take advantage of the latest technology and techniques in distance learning.  The online aspect of POFT 1127 offers features that will make your experience comparable to that of a traditional classroom student at Collin College.  The course is designed for skill development in keyboarding by touch (without looking at fingers) with emphasis on alphabet, number, and symbol keys, plus practice in correctly using the 10-key numeric keypad.  Skills can be applied to computers and other equipment with keyboards.

POFT 1127 Introduction to Keyboarding is an electronic, interactive class with an professor, students, and assignments. To complete assignments online, you will need Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer (but NOT Google Chrome, which does not work well with the keyboarding software program on the Web).  If you do not have one of these browsers, you can download one from the Internet (or use college computers for your course work).  You will access the course through the Internet from a computer at home, work, or on campus--anytime, day or night, that you have access to the Internet.  Even this Orientation information is online, and there will be NO requirement to come to campus for any assignment. 

How do I get started?

Because your course Web site is on Blackboard, you will not have access to your course until classes begin.  Once classes begin, go to CougarWeb and follow the login instructions there for accessing your online course site.  Once you have Blackboard access, all communications and assignments submission must be within Blackboard for your convenience and privacy.  Assignments will be completed on the Web using the GDP (Glencoe Document Processing) software created for your course work.  Convenient!!

You should review everything in this Collin Learning Center (eLC) link, which will include a Contact Information link. Please do take advantage of the tutorials offered there.  If you are an experienced online student, the material should be fairly familiar but include a few new tips and the important contact information.  Be encouraged that many students take this course as their first online learning experience and do well.  Your professor can be more available to you online than within a traditional class that meets on campus only at certain times.

You will be expected to check your Blackboard course often for announcements, discussions, and messages.  Frequent communication between professor and student is important to your success in this course. 

You should know how to access a Web site when given an address (URL) or link, use the features of your Web browser, download files, scan pages as PDF files, perform screen captures, and attach files to email or upload them as instructed in Blackboard.  If you do not yet know about scanning and screen captures, you will be able to get help with those simple processes by posting your questions in Discussions in Blackboard.  Collin libraries have scanners for student use, in case you find that helpful.

TEXTBOOK:  Important:  If you choose to delay acquiring course materials to seek a discount, understand that the academic price will be earning ZEROS for work not completed on schedule.  Also, not having materials does not exempt you from completing startup assignments in Blackboard.

Gregg College Keyboarding (GDP) KIT 4 Lessons 1-20, 11th edition, Ober, Johnson, and Zimmerly, McGraw-Hill/Irwin Publishing Company, 2011, ISBN 0077377141 (includes Web-based GDP keyboarding software and an online software student registration card).  The text should be in a box kit including all of the above.  If you purchase a used text, you will also need the separate NEW Online Software Student Registration Card, ISBN 0077319443, for accessing the keyboarding software.  The access lasts 2 years, allowing students to continue taking subsequent courses or to continue building employment skills, so KEEP the access code.

SOFTWARE:  Web-based GDP keyboarding access is included for 2 years with the text bundle above or gained by purchasing the separate Online Software Student Registration Card, so KEEP the access code.

Technical support for the Glencoe Document Processing keyboarding software is available by calling 1-800-331-5094 or by going to http://www.mhhe.com/support during the following hours: 6 to10 p.m. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.  Calling is recommended (be at your computer when you call).

SUPPLIES:  A portable USB drive for backing up files, as needed.

EQUIPMENT: The GDP Web software is designed for use with PC computers (not Macs, although some students have been successful with using Macs).  The software may be accessed using any PC computer with good Internet service, including workstations in college open labs or libraries.

SYSTEM/TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Review technical information from the Collin Learning Center (eLC) link. Click the Contact Us link at the top of that page if you have questions or need help with getting your system to work smoothly for your online course.

COURSE FORMAT:  Your online classroom includes a schedule to keep you on track for assignments and guide you concerning completing assignments by simply completing them using the Web keyboarding software.

Your professor will work with you through Blackboard to evaluate your assignments and to help you with questions or problems.  You will be able to monitor your overall percentage grade progress through My Grades in Blackboard.  This will allow you opportunity to communicate with your professor concerning any differences between your records and your current progress grade in Blackboard -- before your final course grade is posted.  Most of the course credit depends on your satisfactorily completing all assignments.

How do I access the POFT 1127 Introduction to Keyboarding class?

First, you must be officially enrolled.  Once classes begin, go to CougarWeb and follow the login instructions there for accessing your Blackboard course site.  Your username should be your Cougarmail username, and your password should be the last six digits of your CWID (college-wide identification number). 

Once classes begin, you will be expected to check your Blackboard Discussions and Mail often.  Frequent communication between professor and student is important to your success in this course.

What is the POFT 1127 Introduction to Keyboarding course like?

After registering for the class and obtaining the course materials, you will:

• study the Blackboard course site information
• set up your GDP (Glencoe Document Processing) account for using the keyboarding software on the Web
• follow the schedule of assignments
• complete keyboarding lessons using the Web keyboarding software, which saves your work there
• complete all assignments in a timely manner

YOU are responsible for scheduling your study time and  completing your assignments. You are responsible for keeping up to date with the course schedule, matching the course weeks with your calendar, and keeping a record of the assignments you have submitted. You will be encouraged to communicate with other class members through the Blackboard discussion forum. Your professor is available to help you through the course through Blackboard Discussions (group) and Mail (private) features; please do not hesitate to contact your professor. Your professor acts as a facilitator to help you master the course goals.

Realize that this course requires YOUR motivation, commitment, organization, and self-discipline. YOU must supply those success factors. Effective learning results only when students become active participants in control of their learning and take the initiative to do what is necessary. Learning the skills necessary to communicate in an online course format will be a valuable bonus to you in preparing for working in high-tech offices.

POFT 1127 Introduction to Keyboarding is a competency-based course. You are expected to meet certain performance objectives, which are found in the course syllabus. The generic syllabus (containing objectives) is posted at http://iws.collin.edu/syllabus.  Your professor's syllabus (including how you will be graded) will be posted on the Blackboard course site.  Your final grade will be based upon your participation and performance.  Following instructions accurately and submitting assignments in a timely manner will be important aspects of course success.

Again, welcome to the class!