welcome

Hello,

This is the TWT (TTCCPrep) Help Desk and support for the Teaching with Technology (TWT) program. Our records show that you are registered for the upcoming TWT course.

Abstract:
Complete the Orientation/Tutorials!
http://prep.texasttcc.net/TTCCtutorials/orientation/home

On or after the course start date Go to http://prep.texasttcc.net/home to login to the course.

Your login username is: first initial of your first name first 9 characters of your last name last four digits of your SSN#
Your password is: ttcc.
If you have a previous account with us, that login may have been used so try it also.

Once logged into the course on or after the course start date:

§       READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT DAILY!
§       Review the Program Information to acquaint yourself with the different course areas.
§       Review the Overview (Syllabus).
§       Briefly investigate all links to orientate yourself to the course site.
§       Go to Module 1 Instructions to start the course.

        On behalf of your instructor and program administrator, we would like to take this time to welcome you to a safari, an online learning safari. Why a safari? A safari is an adventure, a journey, and an expedition. So what's a journey? We all know what a journey is, don/t we? Many of us have taken vacations to other places and had loads of fun. Simple, right? That depends; it depends on how well you've prepared for it.

        What does this have to do with us.” Plenty!

Your objective is to get the most out of this expedition (course), and your instructor's is to “guide” you along so that all can avoid any pitfalls along the way (we don't want to get devoured by wild beasts, do we?). You and your instructor are adventurers. Glitches can occur. You may go to a web page that no longer exists. Your computer may crash and delay your plans. You may forget to save your work and lose it in seconds. Have a back up for your travels (work) on a disk to safeguard any chance of lost materials. Frustrations can be many, but the advantages are much more numerous.

        To avoid the pitfalls, we need to become familiar with our destination: deepest, darkest Africa! Well where did you think our safari would lead? So we need a plan.

Organization
        This course is not going to be “taught” as most of you understand “teaching.” Instead, you will be self-directed learners. This means that you will bear much of the responsibility for your learning. Wow, for once, you ARE in control! So what does this all mean? It means that YOU will learn - YOU will gain knowledge. It also means that you control what you do and how much you do. There are due dates for the activities but you are in control as to what you work on and the depth at which you work on it.
        You also need to be comfortable in some specific areas: working with computers, communicating with me to get assistance when it is needed, learning in what could be primarily a text-based medium, and being an active participant during the course. A successful distance learner has to provide his or her own motivation to study regularly and to meet deadlines without someone there to remind them to do so.
        How will you do this? By learning to work independently; to prioritize your time and the information that you receive. But I think that the most important thing is to never lose sight that we are masters over the technology and not vice-versa. In other words, don't forget the other joys in life: your family, your friends, your dog or cat, sunsets, sunrises, walks on the beach, and whatever else suits your fancy. In other words: BALANCE!

Participation
        This expedition of online learning may be new to you. Considering that your participation in this journey is important for the success of your fellow traveler's and your educational experience, you must turn in work by assigned deadlines or the pace of the progress of the course will be disrupted.

You are going to participate in a number of ways:

§       By reading the Interactive Guides (Lecture Notes) and other material that may be assigned;
§       By posting comments about what you have read, so that the instructor, and others, can see and comment also, just as you will do to their postings;
§       By exploring and creating your own solutions to problems; and
§       By using a journal, email, and discussion groups that will be available to you;

Guidance
Finally, your instructor will provide the road map - be your guide. They will also give you the “weapons” required for a successful hunt - the tools you'll need to complete the tasks assigned. Their response time will be in a timely matter, within 24-48 hours.

Tools Needed for Success
1. You will be using the FirstClass Web access as our online delivery system for the course.

2. New to the online delivery system, orientation/tutorials are provided at http://prep.texasttcc.net/TTCCtutorials/orientation/home.
You need to know how to use the online system. You need to know how to contact your fellow classmates, where to post your assignments and much more. You will need to know how to enter and retrieve information and be able to receive and submit assignments and other course materials. Please complete the Orientation/Tutorials BEFORE the start of the course. Once the course starts it is extremely frustrating as a participant to have due dates for projects and not understand how to function in the system.

3. The course will start October 12, 2006. You will not be able to access the course content until the scheduled start date of the course.

4. Go to http://prep.texasttcc.net/home to login to the course.

5. Tools needed:

§       Internet connectivity
§       Internet Explorer 6 and up (preferred program), or Netscape 7.2 and up
§       PDF creator program or online service

101 Software

1) Word Processing/Desktop Publishing programs i.e. Notepad, Wordpad, Simpletext, Word, WordPerfect, Publisher etc.
2) Image Editing program i.e. Paint, Photoshop, ImageReady, PhotoDraw, PhotoSuite, PaintShop Pro etc.
3) An Unzip program

102 Software

1) Web development program i.e. Netscape Composer, FrontPage, etc.
2) Browser program i.e. Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, etc.
3) Word processing program i.e. Notepad, Wordpad, Simpletext, Word, WordPerfect, etc.

103 Software

1) Image Editing program i.e. Paint, Photoshop, ImageReady, PhotoDraw, PhotoSuite, PaintShop Pro etc.
2) Multimedia presentation program i.e.PowerPoint, StarOffice, etc.
3) Word processing program i.e. Notepad, Wordpad, Simpletext, Word, WordPerfect, etc.

***Optional***
Access to a scanner, digital camera, camcorder, and video capture capability.

104 Software
1) Spreadsheet program i.e. Excel, OpenOffice, etc.
2) Browser program i.e. Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, etc.
3) Word processing program i.e. Notepad, Wordpad, Simpletext, Word, WordPerfect, etc.
4) Database program i.e. Access, Filemaker Pro, OpenOffice, etc.

The software selection to be used during the course is your option. This curriculum is not about "How To" in any one software program. Support is provided in the form of "How To" documentation and online resources for many of the industry standard programs.

Learn Key-Online Expert accounts will be provided once the course starts. Learn Key is an online account providing video tutorials for Office products.
Learn Key is located at http://www.onlineexpert.com/elearning/login.php
User login is your registration email address. Password is your registration email address.

If your software access is limited, don't worry we will help you find access to an appropriate software tool.

Required minimum system profiles:
PC                                                Mac
Windows 95/98/NT                             MacOs 8.1 or Later
90 MHz Pentium Processor                      Power PC Processor (604 Power PC minimum)
32 MB of RAM or more                         32MB of RAM or more
28.8 kbps modem or faster                     28.8 kbps modem or faster

Conclusion
        As the instructor is responsible for the course content, don't hesitate to contact them as described in the Orientation/Tutorials area as soon as any problem concerning the course arises. Please bear in mind that the sooner the problem is addressed, the faster you will be able to continue the course. It is very important to keep up with course pace and not let any misunderstanding detain you.

        All learner questions that are not related to course content, such as technical problems, and logging in, etc. you will need to post to the HELP DESK provided in the Orientation/Tutorials and the course.

        Develop an itinerary to manage your time, and if you have questions, notify the instructor IMMEDIATELY to avoid falling behind in class. Develop a contingency plan in case your home computer breaks down or your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is not reliable.

Finally, do not feel that all the work must be done at the computer. Download and print out pages if you want to refer to them at other times or work away from the computer.

Follow now and let's get started!
Complete the Orientation/Tutorials!
http://prep.texasttcc.net/TTCCtutorials/orientation/home

Once logged into the course on or after the course start date:

These are the tools you will need. It is entirely up to you to “pick them up” and use them. No one can do this for you. Hopefully, by being properly prepared to go on this journey, you will come away enlightened, empowered, and inspired. Ready, let's go to “Africa!”.

If you have any questions, please respond to this Help Desk message or call 817-740-7611. We are looking forward to your participation in the course. Don't hesitate to reference the Orientation/Tutorials or the Help Desk with questions in preparing for the course. If you would like access to a ready copy of this message go to http://prep.texasttcc.net/ttccprep/welcome

If this message is sent in error or you do not wish to continue in this course please check https://mis.esc11.net/devrpt0.asp for your current ESC Region 11 session enrollments and/or to withdraw from this course.

TWT Help Desk