Contact with the Teacher
In this class, you will have contact with the teacher at least once per week. This is how the contact works:
- Weekly Assignments: You will often be submitting your assignments on the discussion board to let me know that your assignment is ready to be checked. I will check your assignment, and then reply to your post to let you know if your assignment is complete, or if there are things left to complete or correct. If any more needs to be done, you will complete that work, and then post a reply to my comment to let me know that your work is ready to be rechecked. Also, if you have questions about how to proceed you can reply with your questions to my comments. Once all is complete or correct, you will receive the points for that assignment.
- Questions on Weekly Assignments or About the Course: You can post questions in the appropriate discussion forum, and I will answer them. Students are also encouraged to reply to each other. You can generally expect a reply from me within 48 hours. I like and encourage a lively Discussion Board with lots of interaction.
- Zoom Help Sessions: I will schedule a Welcome Zoom meeting toward the beginning of the course as a general meet and greet session. It will be fun to see you all in person. I also have scheduled a Zoom session to help you upload files to the student server the first time. After that, I will schedule Zoom sessions on an as-needed basis. I find that Zoom sessions are very helpful, because we can share our screens. Be sure to request a Zoom session if you are having trouble. Don't wait. It's better to get problems cleared up right away so that you can proceed with your work.
Zoom sessions are video conference sessions in which we can see each other and talk real-time. We can also share screens so that I can see what procedures you are using, and you can watch me perform a task. You can use Zoom from a desktop computer, a tablet or a cellphone. However, to share screens, I recommend using a computer.
If you've never used Zoom before, and you are on a Mac or Windows computer, all you have to do is to click on the link. Your computer will ask you if it can install the app, and the installation goes very quickly. Once the app is open on your computer, you can go to Settings to edit your account. You'll only need a basic free account to attend meetings. It's important to enter your name, so that we will know who you are when you are attending a session.
If you are using a tablet or cell phone, you will have to install the Zoom app from your App Store. Again, it's very quick and you should be sure to enter your correct name.
Here is a video tutorial on how to use Zoom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odAOMJ3Hlt4 - Email: You can email me with questions or problems, but email communication is reserved for concerns of a personal nature that you might not want to share with the entire class. Perhaps you are ill, or you are having other difficulties that make it difficult to complete an assignment on time. In that case, do let me know via email. My email address is jfontanella@palomar.edu.
- Email Sent to the Entire Class: You can expect an email from me to the entire class every week or two. They will let you know any important information about the class schedule or Zoom sessions, etc. I also remind you to contact me about any problems you are having. It's important to stay in contact throughout the course.
- Please do not use the Canvas messaging system. Our discussion board and email work better.