INTRODUCTION to PHILOSOPHY
Professor Philip A. Pecorino

VIEW:  Welcome Opening

Let's Get Started !!!!!!
Well, congratulations on entering the class site and getting this far.  Now we get into it.  If you got this far you can make it through the rest of this.  I look forward to working with all of you and hope that we will produce successful outcomes for each one of you taking this course.

<<<<< Check out what all the buttons on the left Navigation Bar or Column have in them. Explore the site.
Well, congratulations on entering the class site and getting this far.  Now we get into it.  If you got this far you can make it through the rest of this.  I look forward to working with all of you and hope that we will produce successful outcomes for each one of you taking this course.

<<<<< Check out what all the buttons on the left Navigation Bar or Column have in them. Explore the site.

TEN STEPS TO START OFF

OK, let's get started by having you explore the course site and learn about the requirements and what we will be doing here.  For this first module or learning unit you are expected to do the following TEN things! Yes TEN (10):   For this first few days you are expected to do the following TEN things! Yes TEN (10). I repeated that. Why? It is very important. Why?  Well, by the time you are finished you should know all that you need to know about this class and what is required to do well in it.

1. Read all the documents that are part of COURSE OUTLINE using the link COURSE OUTLINE  Be sure to read How you will be evaluated!   There are a lot of items in the COURSE OUTLINE be sure to read ALL OF THEM.
2.  <<<<  Check out what all the buttons on the left Navigation Bar or Column have in them.

Check and Print out the CALENDAR - under COURSE OUTLINE or CALENDAR or SCHEDULE ! 

3. ENTER the Blackboard (BB)  class site and Read (or open and just quickly note)  what is in the BB Student Manual- HOW? Go to the button marked TOOLS and then click on MANUAL. 

4. INTRODUCE YOURSELF --enter the Blackboard (BB)  class site and Introduce yourself and your WEBSITE and/or ePortfolio  to your classmates under the DISCUSSION BOARD (DB) - INTRODUCTIONS   HOW? Go to the button marked DISCUSSION BOARD or  marked COMMUNICATION and then click on DISCUSSION BOARD. Click on it ande nter the DB.  Click on INTRODUCTIONS.  This is an area for you to introduce yourself to the class and where you can go to meet the others that are in this course.  Post an item to start a discussion, or read other students' responses if there are any, and make a response.  

You will find my profile by clicking the Staff Information button in the Opening of the Course. Check this area to meet the others in this course. Since profiles will be posted as people join the course for the first time, you may have to return to this area several times to see the latest entries.

With online courses that use various class sites and programs such as BlackBoard it is a good thing for students to have a Personal site and ePortfolio rather than a course specific site or HOMEPAGE.  So, there are now provisions for personal e-portfolio sites. These are your personal pages or wiki or blog for others to see- you determine who sees what via the Share options.  You can grant access directly to your site to anyone and everyone in the world.  You will have your own internet site.

 ******Let your classmates know the address of your personal ePortfolio/webpage/website******  Post it with your INTRODUCTION in the BB site under INTRODUCTIONS

My EPSILEN site is http://www.epsilen.com/ppecorino

5.  Create your ePortfolio / Personal Page  use EPSILEN ( at QCC)

Students please set up your eportfolio, if you do not already have one,  and into which you will place some materials from this course including:
  • Your reflections on your learning in each module
  • Your best examples of your written work using the dialectical method of inquiry.

.At QCC l use the  EPSILEN ePortfolio site (free).   http://www.epsilen.com

BASIC INFO SITE:
HOW TO WORK WITHIN YOUR ePORTFOLIO
CREATION of your ACCOUNT
QCC EPSILEN GATEWAY
http://www.epsilen.com/inst/qcccuny

EASIEST  go to http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/eportfolio/ and click Epsilen Login in the upper right-hand corner. And, once you have created your own account, then you can just bookmark that URL which will look like: http://www.epsilen.com/USERNAME

In your EPSILEN site what you do is create a FOLDER using the title of the course(e.g., PHI 101 or PHI 301) and then inside the folder place the files made available to others that will be labeled

  • PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
  • BEST WORK

HELP DESK for EPSILEN sites  http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/eportfolio/  to check the Open ePortfolio Lab Schedule. 14 open – walk-in - no appointment necessary – hours staffed by Student ePortfolio Mentors. Call 718 631 6624 Mon -Fri 9 to 5.

************At the CUNY Online BA Program . **********************

Use an EPSILEN ePortfolio site (free).  http://www.epsilen.com

.In your ePortfolio site what you do is create a FOLDER using the title of the course(e.g., PHI 101 or PHI 301) and then inside the folder place the files made available to others that will be labeled

  • PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
  • BEST WORK


6. COPY and PASTE PRACTICE. Create a question or answer in a word processor and copy and paste it into the DISCUSSION BOARD under ASK THE PROFESSOR   HOW? Go to the button marked DISCUSSION BOARD or  marked COMMUNICATION and then click on DISCUSSION BOARD. Select an item under ASK the PROFESSOR to which you wish to reply. Then minimize the internet browser (IE) and open the word processor WORD or some other that you use. Keyboard your response or question for the discussion. Copy and paste all the material there into the space for discussion concerning the first discussion item that you selected and then submit it.

REMEMBER to SPELL CHECK FIRST!!

7. Email  PRACTICE

Prepare a word processed document with the answers to the three (3) questions below and then send it to the Professor through Email   You must use the CUNY email address supplied by this college!!!!!!

1. What is Written Assignment Number Five(5) for Module Five? Copy and paste it into the document.

2. When is written assignment Seven(7) due?

3. What must you do to get the maximum number of points for the discussions in each of the modules?

HOW?   After answering all three, save your file (document) as a WORD or a  DOC or TXT file. Then send the EMAIL  ppecorino@qcc.cuny.edu   Do not send attachments!!!   Copy and paste your text from the word processor directly into the message window of the email. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMAIL

You must use a respectable email address and keep watch over it to insure your mailbox does not fill up.  Be sure to double delete items. As a CUNY student You must use the CUNY email address supplied by this college!!!!!!  Each and every registered student has an email account.

If you do not have an address acceptable to this instructor you will have 10 days to get and use the college supplied email address and notify the instructor from the new address.

When sending email ALWAYS In the subject line put: first name , last name, class number PHI 301, section, ASSIGNMENT# or QUESTION or HELP

After an assignment has been received, it will be graded and the feedback shared with you either by E-mail or by the use of an on-line grade book WebPages found by clicking on GRADES..

8. READ the Student Reviews and Comments about this class.

9. ENTER the Blackboard (BB)  class site and go to the STUDENT CAFÉ  in the DISCUSSION BOARD area of the BB Course Site. 

This is a discussion area for our class outside the context of a particular course module. Just as you have the opportunity to talk or chat with each other or with the instructor when taking a conventional classroom course, you should also have the opportunity to do the same in a web course. The STUDENT CAFÉ is available only to students enrolled in this class to post and/or read messages and respond. These can include questions or comments to other students about course material, assignments, readings, etc. It is also a place where you can go to socialize and have open discussion on subjects of your interests.

You will find the STUDENT CAFE in the DISCUSSION BOARD section of the Course. `

10.  RELAX It looks like it is a lot but it is no more than any other class only just made more accessible and convenient and more is explained in text at the start.

Oh and what it comes down to is this:  The following learning activities apply to each module:

  1. Read the assigned textbook material.

  2. Participate in the Discussions- post a minimum of 3 different days each week (Summer session 2days of every 3)

  3. Respond to discussion questions submitted by the instructor.

  4. Create and submit a discussion Student Led Discussion question about the material. At least one in each module.

  5. Respond publicly to some or all of the questions submitted by other students and any responses from the instructor.

  6. Reply to students who respond to your question and responses.

  7. Participate in the Group Activity each module.

  8. Submit the written assignment each module.

Have a great semester and your efforts will be rewarded with a well earned good grade

SPECIAL NOTE:  REMEMBER above all >>>   DO NOT PANIC !!!!!

If for some reason you can not get access to the Blackboard Program PLEASE understand that all materials for this course except for the DISCUSSION BOARD are located in two sites outside of BlackBoard and you can access them directly at any time.  That means that the online textbook is available at the two sites as well.  There is no reason why you can not procede with all work with this courrse should one course site not be available.  There will be a second discussion board site as well should the first program not be accessible for any significant length of time. Remember DO NOT PANIC  !!!   You will nto be penalized for the failures of the university's sysytem.

CUNY SITE:

http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/SocialSciences/ppecorino/SS610/default.htm

SUNY  CUNY Site

http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/pecorip/SCCCWEB/SS610/default.htm

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