Learning online may be a new experience for you. For many of us it can at first be a little intimidating and confusing. Just as in an “in-person” class. To prepare for taking this class—Philosophy 224: “Ethics and Technology”—I offer you a few suggestions.

Before the First Online Class Period –

You need to come to class prepared to learn:

• Familiarize yourself with the syllabus and course schedule (including the first week’s assignment).
• Review the course description and course objectives to understand what the course is about and how it might have practical relevance and application in your chosen career as well as in everyday life. This should help you formulate realistic and positive expectations for the course.
• To eliminate first-day frustrations and technical problems, please take time before the course begins to access the various links on the home page and skim through some of the material. Do this to make sure your computer connection is working properly and you are able to easily navigate the various components of the course. This will also give you an overview of the online content available to you for this course.
• Acquire the textbooks.
• Complete the assignment for the first class period. (Refer to the schedule to see what is to be done on or before the first chat session).
• Submit a short autobiography, telling the instructor and others in the course something about yourself. (For guidelines, refer to “Student Biographies” under Course Information.
• If you have specific questions relating to the course itself, please contact Dr. Rich Smith by phone (419-434-4592) or e-mail (smith@findlay.edu).
• If you have questions about Blackboard fundamentals, contact the university’s Blackboard specialist, Denny Coughlan (office phone 419-434-5513; cell phone 419-422-6987; home phone 419-384-7181; e-mail <coughlan@findlay.edu>). Also you could contact the University of Findlay’s ITS “Help Desk” (419-434-4357 or e-mail at <helpdesk@findlay.edu>).

• You should have read any assigned material and followed any other instructions from the instructor.
• You are expected to “attend” all scheduled online sessions. Attendance is important not only in pursuit of one's own individual learning but also as a contribution to the learning of others in the class.
• You are also expected to participate and contribute in a positive way. Active participation means joining in discussions attentively and in a critical spirit, putting forward ideas, sharing personal experiences, raising thoughtful questions, and in general helping to promote a positive learning experience for all involved. This holds true not only for the scheduled chat sessions but also for the group projects and asynchronous threaded discussions.

• You are expected to listen attentively to your classmates, engage in dialog, and respect differences of opinion. Basic rules of common courtesy are as important in an online course as in an in-person setting. If you become frustrated or have private concerns, you should make an appointment with me via e-mail (smith@findlay.edu) so these concerns can be resolved in an appropriate manner.

• Online courses operate on the assumption that “learning must be done by the learner.” While the instructor’s role is to guide you along the pathway, providing expertise and offering encouragement, the success of the course ultimately depends on your active participation. You will need to organize your time effectively to incorporate your readings and online discussions into your normal schedule, and complete assignments within the suggested timeframes for the course. Although the learning environment may be new, thus requiring you to learn in a new way, and although you may encounter frustrations as with any new process, the potential benefits are tremendous.