Course Announcements & Email Archives
Welcome to e-class!
Read the Syllabus, Calendar, Requirements and Checklist. The CourseQuest will take you step-by-step through the course materials and assignments. As you move through this course guide, you'll work your way through five sections of online readings: Introduction, Informational Materials, Instructional Materials, Creativity Tools, and Collection Management. Use the navigation on the left side of the screen to locate particular topics.
If you think you may have missed class email communications, the email archives are located BELOW. Questions? Contact Annette Lamb.
Class Email Archives
You should have received the following message through email. If you didn't get this email, please email me with your current email address so I can add you to the class list.
Update: Get Ready - January 5
It's time to start thinking about this e-class. Classes starts a week from today.
After a couple of preliminary messages to "round-up" the class and get rolling, we're nearly ready to start. I think we're going to have an exciting semester! I'll send another email in a couple days to review your first assignments.
Each of you comes to the course with a unique set of experiences. As you move through the course materials, be sure to email me if you find yourself lost or confused. It's my pleasure (as well as my job) to help. :-)
Sometimes it's hard to get a handle on "the course" in a virtual environment. The following materials will provide an overview to the framework for the course.
ONCOURSE
We use the university's Oncourse system to share ideas and post assignments. Go to http://oncourse.iu.edu, choose the login and enter your network username and password to enter the system. Then, choose this course.
I want to review some basics detail where to find things in Oncourse:
1) The SYLLABUS links to all of the course materials.
2) The ROSTER shows the class list. You may wish to include a personal profile and photo so we can learn a little more about you.
3) The GRADEBOOK is a place where you can track your progress. If you lose a point, I'll provide a comment indicating the problem.
4) The FORUMS area contains forums for posting general information and class introductions. We'll also use this area for our postings and discussions. This is where you'll share your projects with peers in your interest area. I've created separate areas so the discussion area doesn't get so full.
5) The MESSAGES area contains a place to send and receive mail messages. You might want to check the settings. You can have these messages sent to your personal email if you wish.
6) The CHAT area can be used by anyone who would like to share in "real time" with anyone in the class. There are no required course chats.
COURSE MATERIALS
Here's a list of some of the most important course resources and links. It's also available under the Syllabus section in Oncourse. Oncourse can be SLOW much of the time. My suggestion is to open the course readings directly from your web browser. Only go to Oncourse when you want to interact with the forums.
Use the following links to complete the course requirements.
The Course Website. This page contains many online materials for the course. The course has both onsite and offsite reading assignments. Notice the link to the course materials on the left side of the screen.
http://eduscapes.com/earth/
Course Materials. This section of the website takes you to all the course materials. A list of the materials can be found in the navigation bar on the left side of the screen.
http://eduscapes.com/earth/course/index.html
Syllabus. This page provides the course syllabus including the course materials, goals, requirements, grading policy, and special needs information.
http://eduscapes.com/earth/course/syllabus.html
Calendar. This page provides the course calendar including the assignments and due pages. Notice that the calendar has three columns. The first column provides dates. The second column discusses the things you should be doing such as things to work on and read. The third column states the projects that are due.
http://eduscapes.com/earth/course/calendar.html
Requirements. This page highlights the course assignments and activities.
http://eduscapes.com/earth/course/require.html
Course Checklist. Contains a checklist of requirements.
http://eduscapes.com/earth/course/checklist.html
Email Archives. This page contains the archives of the course announcements and email updates.
http://eduscapes.com/earth/course/archives.html
CourseQuest. This online environment will guide you through the course and present you with the process and products required including the four project requirements.
http://eduscapes.com/earth/course/courseguide.html
LET'S START
soo... what now? If I were you, I'd read the syllabus and requirement pages first.
The requirement page contains information about a few introductory activities you need to complete. These activities will be posted in Oncourse. Then, print out the course checklist. Next, I'd go to the CourseQuest to get a feel for how the course materials are organized.
Finally, take a deep breath and relax. Once you get a handle on the materials, you can start rolling!
Check the Calendar and you'll notice that the first assignment is to go to Oncourse and Introduce Yourself.
ONCOURSE FORUMS
The Cohort Group Activities and "Tremor" Discussions will be shared using ONCOURSE forums. It will take a little while to get used to the system. Don't worry if you goof up. If you make a small posting error (i.e., typo gOofs are are are are commmon), everyone will just try and ignore it. If you make a bigger error, email me. I can delete the message, and you can repost it. Or, just say you goofed and go from there. There is will be lots of misplaced stuff. Don't worry about it. I also provided a PRACTICE posting area where you can practice making postings to try it out. Free free to goof around with it all you like.
INSTRUCTOR INTRODUCTION
In the past, I've been a school library media specialist, computer teacher, and college professor in Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana. I know that we have a wide variety of students in this course. Some have teaching experience and/or library experience, while others are new to the library and/or education field. I look forward to learning more about you!
I love teaching online courses and exploring the world around us. I'm a new kind of professor. I teach full-time at IUPUI, but I don't live in Indiana. We live all over North America, traveling in our motorhome. We're currently in southern Utah where we're building a home we can use as a "home base" for RVing. We've been missing our bookshelves. Don't worry about trying to find me, I'm online, all-day, everyday, most days using the satellite dish on our motorhome.
In the past, I included photos in my email updates, but some people had trouble downloading them. As a result, I'll just include a link to my website with fun personal and professional updates. I try to keep it up to date. If you want to keep up with our adventures or learn more about me, check out http://www.eduscapes.com/lamb/
I look forward to having you in e-class. Be sure to email me if you have questions. I'm online all the time, so I can normally get right back to you with an answer.
FINAL NOTE
Some of you may need lots of support during the semester. However, many of you will be very independent. I'll regular updates. But as long as I see you posting things on the forums, I won't bug you individually.
Please let me know if you have questions or concerns. Unlike a face-to-face class where I can see the concern in your eyes, in an online class it's up to you to take the initiative. I'm always here for you by email. If you need to hear my voice, I can even send an audio or video recording! Or, we can set up a time to talk on the phone.
Once you get a chance to look at the course materials, I'll send another email clarifying common questions and reviewing the course requirements. Your first assignment is simply to introduce yourself in Oncourse. Be sure to read the directions for this in the Course Requirements page or in the Oncourse posting area.
If you have trouble accessing Oncourse, let me know ASAP so we can solve the problem.
I look forward to having you in e-class. Be sure to email me if you have questions. I'm online all the time, so I can normally get right back to you with an answer.
Update: Welcome January 3
Welcome to Electronic Materials for Children and Young Adults!
I thought I'd send a quick overview of the course for people who would like a little head start. In particular, you might want to order the book so it's ready when class starts Monday January 12.
EMAIL CONNECTION
Although I've already been in contact with most of you, I haven't gotten email from a few of you. If you haven't emailed me with the email address you'd like to use for this course, please reply to this email. Thanks! :-)
I'll be sending a few emails over the next couple weeks before classes get started with some preliminary course materials.
Here's some course information that will get you started.
NO MEETINGS
There are NO required face-to-face or virtual meetings. However we'll all get started working together online as a class around Monday January 12. :-)
ONCOURSE DISCUSSIONS
We'll be using the the Oncourse system for class discussions and posting class projects. You'll need an IU or IUPUI account to access the Oncourse materials for class discussions at http://oncourse.iu.edu/
The Oncourse and online course materials are ready for you to use.
COURSE UPDATES
In addition to using Oncourse, I like to keep in touch by email. I'll be sending email updates regularly. If you'd prefer to receive them at a different address, please let me know.
THE COURSE TEXTBOOK
There is a required text for the course. Although it will probably be more useful for the School Library people than the Public Library people, it provides a nice overview to all the technologies available for children and young adults regardless of setting.
Required Textbook
Lamb, Annette (2006). Building Treehouses for Learning: Technology in Today's Classrooms. 4th Edition. Emporia, Kansas: Vision to Action. ISBN 1-891917-08-0
Options for Purchasing the Textbook
1. Bookstore - If you live in the Indianapolis area, textbook is available at the IUPUI On-Campus bookstore.
2. Email - Order the book directly through the publisher. Email is quickest way. Include your name, address, and phone number in an email to nanbilsmith@gmail.com
Cost is $45.99. When she receives your check, money order, cashiers check, or PO, she will send the book.
3. If you wish to use Paypal or order online you can order the book through the website and it will be sent out by Nancy. Go to http://eduscapes.com/v2a/ or http://eduscapes.com/v2a/tree.html
4. Snail mail - You can also order by phone or mail and send check with order ($45.99) - Vision to Action, Inc., P.O. Box 2003, Emporia, KS 66801, (620) 343-7989
5. Order online from Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Building-Treehouses-Learning-Technology-Classroom/dp/1891917080/
Be sure you order FOURTH Edition. It will take a couple weeks. They keep a few copies on hand, but they won't last long.
COURSE INSTRUCTOR
I love teaching online courses and exploring the world around us. If you'd like to learn more about me, go to http://eduscapes.com/lamb
THE COURSE
If you're feeling excited, frustrated, confused, anxious, enthusiastic, happy, or any other emotion about this course, you're normal. Online courses are a great alternative to traditional, face-to-face courses, but it takes a little time to get comfortable.
If you have questions, be sure to e-ask (as in email me). About a third of the students in the class have taken one of our other online courses... they survived to take another one... that's a great sign. ;-)
I'll be sending another update in a few days, so I'll e-see you again soon!