Orientation Letter and Information for College of the Canyons

Arnett – Online Coms 105

August2009

Dear Online Communication Studies 105 student,

Welcome to fundamentals of Public Speaking online.  I am your instructor and I look forward to meeting you at the mandatory Orientation meeting on Wednesday evening, June 26^th at 5:30pm on the Canyon Country Campus, in room 503.  At the orientation I will review the syllabus and explain the requirements for this class.  I will also discuss ways to help you succeed in this class and explain how to navigate the Thinkwell Website.  Included in this first session will be discussions of the Course requirements, speech organization and outlining.  I will be explaining the various organizational designs and the correct outline format required for all your speech outlines.  Outlines are required with each speech and count toward your final grade.  Also be thinking of an interesting personal experience that you will share with the class.

The orientation will last the entire duration of the class, from 5:30pm until 10:00pm (including breaks), and attendance for this session – as well as all other Wednesday evenings sessions – is mandatory.  You will receive a syllabus listing all assignments at the orientation.  The dates for the remaining meetings are: September 2^nd, September 9^th, September 16^th, and September 23^rd.  All class sessions meet Wednesday evenings from 5:30pm to 10:00pm.  This is a short term class and we meet every Wednesday for 5 weeks.

Your textbook for this class is electronic and entitled: Thinkwell Public Speaking (ISBN  #1-60538-027-X .  You may purchase the CDs at the COC bookstore or through the website Thinkwell website, www.thinkwell.com.   This material includes the video lectures, required quizzes, audio, graphics, links to speeches, and animation.  When you purchase the Thinkwell package, it will access all the multimedia videos for the course and the software required for watching them.  Completion of the Thinkwell Online exercises is required and figured into your final grade.  This site will also be used to navigate the entire online process.  We will not be using Blackboard.

To logon to Thinkwell:

Go to www.thinkwell.com
Select "Public Speaking"
Select "Classroom Section"
Choose state, school and section
To purchase materials online you may pay with either a credit card or paypal account.

The following minimum computer requirements for using these at home are:

*Internet connection

*CD drive (This is required only if you purchase the boxed CDs.)

If you use a PC: minimum requirements – Pentium 166 Mhz with Windows 95 or NT 4.0, 32 MB RAM & sound card.  Recommended System – 200 Mhz or faster with Windows 95, 98, 2000, or later, NT 4.0; 64 MB RAM; and a sound card.

If you use a MAC: Minimum requirements – Power PC 120 Mhz with MAC OS 8.1 and 32 MB RAM; Recommend system Power PC 200 MHZ or faster with MAC OS 8.1 or later 64 MB RAM.

*If you do not have the minimum requirements at home, any College of the Canyons computer lab can be used to watch and read the Thinkwell text.  You can also register with Thinkwell and access the online materials through the computer lab.

The pace of this course is very rapid and requires a commitment from you to do the course work on your own initiative.  For the greatest success, you should be self-reliant, stimulated, and regimented in the timely completion of your work.  No late work or speeches will be accepted.  Also, you will not be able to access the website before the first week of class.

Other College of the Canyons websites which might be helpful include:

Distance learning home page:              http://www.canyons.edu/offices/distance_learning This page is filled with important information and resources.                                                                                       Online Learning Readiness Assessments: http://www.canyons.edu/offices/distance_learning/info/Assessments.asp
Counseling 070 Information:  http://www.canyons.edu/offices/distance_learning/info/COUNS070.asp . This link gives beneficial information to students contemplating online learning for the first time.

 

I look forward to meeting with you at 5:30pm on Wednesday evening, August 26^th on the Canyon Country Campus, in room 503.  If you have questions about this course I can be reached at Melissa.arnett@canyons.edu.  I check my emails daily, but not 24/7.  Please allow at least a 24 hour turn-around response time for your email questions.

Please remember that you must register of the class through College of the Canyon registration AND through the Thinkwell website.

Sincerely,

M. Jane Arnett