Many students are worried about their technical ability when using Blackboard for the first time. Rancho Santiago Community College makes this an easy transition for most students with all the available help, both online and in-person. Please note that I will answer Blackboard functionality questions only for the first two weeks. Beginning with the third week, I will only answer questions based on content and assignment related. Students are encouraged to take the Blackboard tutorials and to really get comfortable with the site by the end of the first two weeks of the semester.
Please be sure to use a word processing program when typing essays and course work. It is important to use the correct MLA format, so formatting matters as much as correct spelling and grammar. When students turn in a typed document the file must be a PDF or I cannot open, read, and grade it. When other students are reviewing their classmates essays, they can make comments on them using the free Adobe Reader. Some word processing programs include:
Microsoft Word
Pages (for Mac)
Google docs (free)
Students must have their own e-mail account to participate in the course work and because it is the primary method of communication in this class. Students may use their Santa Ana College accounts or a personal account. The key factor is to make sure that the account is correct and updated on the personal information page Blackboard site. Free e-mail accounts can be created through SAC or through providers such as:
gmail.com
msn.com
hotmail.com
Students must share their work with each other, so saving the files to a PDF file format is a great way to preserve the information and prevent headaches with version incompatibilities. To print essays to PDF download the CutePDF program:
To read and review other students' essays download the free Adobe Reader XI:
Well, you are right...it is. The most important things for students to do is to keep an open mind, have patience and trust me! We live in a technological society, and in addition to meeting the course outcomes, students will also be more technologically literate after succeeding in this class. If students are overwhelmed, let me know. I am happy to help or provide a little motivation when students need it. I realize the amount of technology used in this class may be too much for some students, which is one of my reasons for attempting to communicate with my students before they register.