 | Allow Time.
Most students
are not prepared for the amount of time that an on-line course takes.
Remember that you are teaching the material to yourself. Therefore, each
chapter must be read carefully and, at a minimum, two times. This takes time
– more time than sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture. Remember,
you can do the work at 2:00 a.m. in your bedroom slippers, but you still
need to do the work!
|
| Stick With It!
Distance
Education courses require perseverance, self-discipline, self-motivation,
and the ability to work independently – more so than face-to-face
on-campus classes.
|
| Keep Up – Be
Organized. This
is a course that builds as it goes. Concepts learned in one chapter are
combined with concepts in subsequent chapters as programs are developed. For
example , if you fall behind or don’t learn the concepts in one chapter,
you will have difficulty with the next chapter.
|
| Meet Deadlines.
Do not get
behind. Have each week’s assignments completed as scheduled.
|
| Work with
the C++ compiler. You
will learn the concepts and commands much better if you try them out,
instead of just reading. Every tutorial contains a hands on section called
the application lesson that should always be completed at the
computer. Frequently these are not submitted for a grade, but you
still need to do them. Likewise, not all of the end of chapter exercises in the
text will be assigned, but you should do as many of them as possible. If you
have questions, contact me. If I give you an example of code, type it in
instead of just running the copy. Experiment, and get comfortable. You need
practice.
|
| Use Your Printer.
Print out anything that I write. My postings may be
presentation notes offering additional explanations of difficult concepts,
additional examples, homework assignments, and quizzes.
|
| Keep in
Touch. It
is very important that you keep in touch with me and with your fellow
classmates in a distance education course. They cannot help you and you
cannot help them if you are not around through e-mail, at the discussion
board, and at online chats I may schedule.
|
| Keep Me and Your
Classmates Informed about
changes in your e-mail address. We cannot stay in touch with you if you are
not available. We cannot learn from you if you are not available. To change
your personal information, you will click the Blackboard's Tools button,
then Edit Information.
|
| Don’t try to
"Go It Alone!".
In a distance
education course, you must teach yourself. And you will most likely need
some help – from me and from your classmates. So Keep in Touch
|
| Talk to me if you
are feeling lost!
As stated
elsewhere, it's important to keep up and also to realize early if you are
having trouble and need help!
|
| Don’t Drop the
Course without
talking to me first. We can discuss the situation and see if that's
the best action to take. |
