Online Course Tips / FAQ’s

WHAT ARE THE BLUE BUTTONS FOR?
The navigation bar is organized with buttons with similar functions being grouped together. The four main areas are: Course Content, Student Work, Student Communication, and Student Information. Many of the BLUE buttons have sub-links that are displayed once the main button is selected.

WHAT IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT PAGE USED FOR?

When you first log into the course, you are taken to the Announcements page where the Instructor can list important information and reminders to the class.
Important technical help, pacing for each start date and semester schedules can be found on the Announcement Board.

WHERE DO I FIND MY ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS AND READINGS?

Clicking on the BLUE LESSONS button accesses the actual content of the course. The readings and directions are found in the Lessons Button.
There may be course materials please check with your course instructor to see if materials are needed.

HOW DO I SUBMIT WORK FOR THIS CLASS?

Students can easily submit their assessments through the BLUEASSESSMENTS button once an assignment is submitted once you can resubmit via the BLUE GRADEBOOK button. There are three types of Assessments: Assignments, Worksheets, and Exams.

Assignments are completed offline and submitted through a text box or as an attachment. Your Instructor grades assignments.

• Worksheets are multiple choice, true/false, matching, or short answer questions that are automatically graded by the system when you click Submit.
• Exams are similar to worksheets in that they are multiple choice, true/false, matching, or short answer questions that are automatically graded by the system when you click Submit. Exams may also have fill-in-the-blank questions and may also require a proctor password for access.

If you are having problems uploading please follow these directions:

Create your work in a WORD document. (You will know if it is WORD because you will have a .doc at the end of your file.) If you do not have WORD then you must save your work as a RICH TEXT (rtf).

Directions To save as RICH TEXT FORMAT (.rtf):
When you finish your work click on the word FILE in the menu.
Then scroll down to SAVE AS and click on it.
Then in the drop down box choose RICH TEXT FORMAT.
PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANY PERIODS OR DECIMALS IN YOUR FILE NAME WHEN YOU SAVE IT.

After you have your work saved in the proper format you will click on the BROWSE button on the submission form to find your file in your computer. Once you find your file you click the button and it will upload.

(IF THIS FAILS JUST CUT AND PASTE INTO THE TEXT BOX ON THE FORM)
If you receive a zero on a worksheet you will need to email me the worksheet number so I can reset it for you so you can resubmit it.
Remember to check to “submit for grading “ box before submitting otherwise I will not be able to see your work.

Remember all assignments that you create (not worksheets I am referring to essays, etc.) MUST INCLUDE A HEADING WITH:

YOUR NAME
COURSE & DATE
ASSIGNMENT NAME & NUMBER

HOW DO I ACCESS MY GRADE?:

To see your grade and a list of your scores on each assessment, click on the BLUEGRADEBOOK button.

1. Find the assignment you want to view. Click to open and view your work and the Instructor's Comments.
2. Your score on the Assessment
3. The number of points the Assessment counts toward the total points in the course.
4. The number of points you earned toward the total in the course.
5. The date you submitted will be updated if you re-submit the Assessment.
6. Your total points earned thus far in the course.
7. Your percent based on your points earned divided by the total in the course.
8. Your actual percentage based on your points earned divided by the total points you have attempted. (Your actual grade)
9. Number or assessments and percentage of the course you have completed to date.

 

HOW DO I SEND AN EMAIL TO MY INSTRUCTOR?

As an active participant in an online course, you are supplied with an email account to use for course activities. Although the email account has your username on it, it remains the property of your Virtual School and should be used accordingly. If there is a period of time when you are not active in an online course, you will not have access to the email account. If you have multiple online courses, all correspondence will be delivered to your account, as the account is not course specific.

Please use your Virtual School email account responsibly. Do not send personal emails to class members or use your account to "chat" with other members of your course. If you would like to socially correspond with members of your course, it is suggested you do so using your classmate's and your personal email account and not your Virtual School email accounts. Keep in mind that your Instructor and Virtual School Administration have access to your account and regularly audit them. Violators of your Virtual School e-mail policy will be subject to appropriate consequences.

 

Below are basic directions for using your Virtual School e-mail account.
To send a message, click on the BLUE-mailbutton and then on Send Message.
To email your Instructor(s), put a check box beside the person's name you'd like to e-mail.

It's proper etiquette to include a descriptive 'Subject' line as a hint to the e-mail’s contents. This will also assist the receiver with managing their email Inbox. PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR COURSE INITIALS IE: WH FOR WORLD HISTORY.

Type your message into the 'Message' window using proper grammar and punctuation. Use 'Spell Check' and re-read your email before sending to insure you've included enough details for the receiver to understand what you are saying or asking.

Click the 'Send' button when you are ready.