First Thing—Read this!

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Dear Media Smarties:

Welcome to the online edition of JCOM 2010—Media Smarts: Making Sense of the Information Age at Utah State University. This is only the second time this class is being offered online, so it will be a learning experience for all of us. Please bear with me and, as always, when confused, ASK!

To make sure that everyone receives these instructions, they are being sent to you via email, as well as being posted here. If you are reading this on email, please click here now and finish reading this on the blog: Media Smarts—JCOM 2010.

As discussed in the syllabus, this is the same as the standard face-to-face Smarts class, but with some important differences. For one thing, because it is an online class, it requires considerable self-discipline and responsibility on the part of students. You HAVE to keep up with readings and assignments.

Before we get into all that, however, you all need to read these files carefully. There will be a GRADED QUIZ this week! on the syllabus (consider the syllabus your first lecture) and on these opening instructions, because it’s essential that everyone understand how the system will work.

Most of your work will be done using materials posted on our own dedicated Media Smarts blog. Some work also will be required on the JCOM 2010 site on USU’s Blackboard, which provides links to all course requirements and assignments, but most of our time will be spent on the blog for readings, links and discussions.

If you look at the Smarts Index, which appears on the upper left-hand side of the blogsite, you will be teleported to the complete listing of course materials and week-by-week assignments for the first five weeks. Investigate this.

Assignment: The first requirement is to read the first five files in the blog index to get up to speed. (Note: clicking on these links takes you to other ebsites. Just his the return arow to go back to the Smartsblog.)
1. First Thing—Read This! (nice work—you’re already reading it!)
2. Syllabus
3. Info on the Online JCOM Minor
4. Dear Students: LISTEN UP! (Some good start-of-term advice.)
6. Please also visit Blackboard and make sure you can navigate our course there. These two links —Blackboard Tech and Blackboard Tools—give you information on using Blackboard. Please explore the various Blackboard tabs.

In case you're curious, here’s some background information about the instructor—me. Part of this week’s assignment is for you to go the the About Us page and tell us a little about yourself (note: crazy or funny is good!)

Please familiarize yourself with all this material by the end of Week 1. Consider the syllabus the first class lecture. There will be a quiz!

Finally, once you’ve gotten yourself acclimated, click on Week 1 in the Index for the first week’s assignments.

A note about email and communicating: This is an online class, so nearly all communication with be on the blog and via email for individual questions. For questions, please use my USU address—ted.pease@usu.edu (not the Blackboard email). Every time you email me, please put JCOM 2010 in the subject line so your message isn’t misplaced.

OK? Questions, ASK!

Let’s get Smart!

Ted Pease
Professor of Interesting Stuff