I've never taken an online class...

• STARTING CLASS:
  • Begin by reviewing the material posted above at drop-down menu 'Log-in for Online Classes'
  • You must have the textbook to complete the course. Review the required text list. Link to the SCC bookstore. You should have the correct book in your possession at the start date. You will not receive extra time to secure a text.
  • If you need technical assistance at any time, contact the SCC Help Desk by phone at 480-423-6274 or by email at helpdesk.its@sccmail.maricopa.edu. It is the student's responsibility to contact the help desk to solve any technical issues or questions concerning:
    • email,
    • how to send attachments,
    • hardware compatibility or
    • browser issues on a timely basis.
  • You will not get extra time to complete assignments due to technical difficulties unless the problem is caused by SCC.
  • Any questions related to class must be directed to your instructor first. Not the Business Department staff.
• ASSIGNMENTS:
  • All class materials [lectures, links, assignments] are posted on the web for you to access at you convenience any time between start and end dates for this class. You are not required to log in at any specific time or day. You will not have access to the course materials online until your start date
  • You will send completed assignments as attachments to email.
  • You must do assignments using MS Office products, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. If you do not have this software, you should drop the class now.
• COMMUNICATION:
  • Email is how we communicate in an online class. Do not expect to talk by phone.
  • You must communicate in a timely and effective manner. You are taking a college class, communicating with an instructor...we expect you to raise your personal communication style to meet that level.
  • Check your email daily. In an accelerated class we can't waste time trying to make contact.
  • We will only use one of your email accounts for this class. So if you prefer to use another account let me know now.
  • Contact your instructors during normal working hours. Instructors are not on 24/7 schedules. Not all instructors log in on the weekends. Plan on 24 to 48 hour turn on questions. Be as specific as possible with your question. "I don't understand. Can you please explain what you want?" is not a good question.

Student responsibility..

• Include your last name and course number in the subject line of every email. [Smith, GBSXXX, Week 2]. Do not leave subject line blank. Instructors have many students and multiple classes.
• Print a hard copy of the syllabus and follow all due dates and instructions carefully. Please note, weekly due dates and policy for late assignments.
• Review assignments well in advance of due date. Don't email with a question on Saturday or Sunday night hoping to hear back in time for a Monday noon due date.
• You are responsible for getting assignment to instructor. You will not receive extra time because you sent email without assignment attached or because you sent it to the wrong email address. You are responsible for following up with your instructor if you do not get a "received" message confirming the safe arrival of all assignments from your instructor.
• Print out each weekly assignment page and check off assignments as completed, sent and returned by instructor. It is your responsibility to turn in all assignments listed. The instructor will not alert you to missing work.

Effective business writing

• Your ability to communicate in writing, will faction into your grade in any online business class.
• Effective business writing is clear, concise, fact-based and specific. Your instructors are busy professionals. Do not waste their time with wordy, imprecise, hard-to-understand communications.
• Practice your written communication skills in every email and assignment you send your instructor.
• Review and edit each assignment at least three times before sending it to me. Standards for your writing will get higher as the course progresses. So if you are still making the same errors plan on seeing lower grades.
• One, Two, Three-You're home free!
  1) Write first draft.
  2) Review thoroughly later in the day making first edits. Read s l o w l y as if seeing it for the first time.
  3) Review again the next day. By this third reading you should have polished your work significantly from draft. Give yourself credit for what sounds great. Concentrate on those thorny passages that impede readability.
• Feeling brave? Have someone else read your assignment, too. Ask for their honest feedback. Give them a red pen to encourage suggestions.
• Use MS Word's spelling and grammar checker [Text menu].. Although it may be slow at first, this tool will give you unbiased feedback. Use it for every assignment. Good writing comes from practice and persistence. [Go to preferences, select spelling and grammar. Set to Formal style. Check off "check spelling' and "check grammar". ]
• Choose the proper format for your letters, memos, reports, and emails. Your text shows many sample documents, which you should use in your assignments.
• Lower your shields! Don't be defensive about the comments you receive. The goal is to provide you with relevant feedback to improve your writing. Instructors read assignments as if they were your supervisor at work. "Do I want this person representing my company?"

Good study skills

• Accurately reading and following instructions is a life skill! Read instructions and review required formats at least twice before you start any assignment. Then review them again before you sending your work. You will lose points if your assignment is incorrect in content or format.
• "I work better under pressure!" Don't believe it! Don't procrastinate! For most of us the quality of our work goes down, the closer we get to a deadline.
• Review assignments several days before due date.
• Contact your instructors during normal working hours. Instructors are not on 24/7 schedules. Not all instructors log in on the weekends. Plan on 24 to 48 hour turn on questions. Be as specific as possible with your question. "I don't understand. Can you please explain what you want?" is not a good question.

Qualified Business Fastrack students have:

• 2+ years of full-time work experience
• The MS Office software package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Very good computer skills and time management
• Additional qualifications for Fastrack Online students:
  • Very good reading and time management skills
  • Initiative (as classes are self-paced and have a 5 week maximum for completion)
  • Very good computer skills including effective file management and MS Office software
  • Very good Internet skills including sending emails with attachments, conducting searches, troubleshooting
  • Browser at 5.0 level or above as the Fastrack Online site uses frames extensively
  • Due to the accelerated, self-paced nature of these classes students can enroll for only ONE online class at a time.