Lesson 02: Working in an Online Environment
In this lesson you will learn how to work online.
This lesson should take you approximately 1 hour.
Tutorials
This course uses video tutorials. After using the tutorials in this course for a couple months my students suggested that I start you off with a few suggestions on how to maximize your experience with them.
Working with a Tutorial
http://www.mountsihighschool.com/directory/_dockeryj/web/work_with_tutorials.htm
Course Tools and Navigation
Tips & Tricks
Our students use these right-click tricks all the time when they are in an online class. (Click and hold on a Mac)
Tip 1: "Open Link in New Window" allows you to have multiple sections open at a time. So you can look at the assignment and the grade book without having to do a bunch of navigating between each one. Some of the latest browsers have tabs that allow you to have multiple windows open in the same browser window.
Tutorial>> Tutorial
Tip 2: "Save Target As..." allows you to download and save a file from the link.
Tutorial>> Tutorial
Tip 3: "Save Picture As..." allows you to download and save an image file to your computer or folder on the server. Beware of copyright issues surrounding this.
Tutorial>> Tutorial |
top
Browser Configuration
A web browser, like Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozila Firefox to name a few, are applications that allow you to access information using a network of computers. Each of these browsers has a different user interface and views web pages differently. As an online learner, this application will be your primary connection to the curriculum. Therefore, it is important to understand how to get the most out of this tool.
Browsers: The tutorials in this course use Internet Explorer 7. I would suggest that you download and install this on your computer, then set it as your default browser.
Customizing your browser:
Check out these topics in the "Help" menu of your browser if you are not sure how to:
- Change the appearance of the toolbar, including adding Links.
- Change the text size
- Turn on/off graphics to display web pages faster (this is a good one to use when you want to check what the web pages you create look like in a browser that doesn't support graphics.)
- Change the "Home page" or the page that comes up when you first start your browser.
- Use the History tool to trace where you have browsed.
- Use the bookmark or favorites tool so that you can revisit a web site or page within a web site quickly.
Tutorial>> Tutorial
Practice Activity: Practice customizing your browser. If you are doing this at work, make sure to reset the browser for the next person.
top
Navigation Strategies
Most new employees have spent time "surfing" the Internet. But in an online course, you are not simply browsing for entertainment, you must maximize your time online in order to accomplish the tasks necessary to be successful.
Tips & Tricks
If you have a cool tip you can share, email your instructor and you may just get a little extra credit!
- When you want to print part of a web page, select the area and then go to the File menu and choose print. When the Print Dialog box comes up, select "print selection".
- When you want to go back more than one web page, click on the small black arrow next to the back button.
- If you are having a problem with a web page, try clicking on the "refresh" button. If you do this twice, it will bypass the temporary files that are stored in your cache or the company's cache and get the information directly from the web site. The keyboard shortcut is F5.
- If you hold the "alt" key down you can use your arrows to go back and forward.
- If you hold the "ctrl" key down and press "N" you can open a new browser window.
- If you press the "Home" key it takes you to the top and the "End" key takes you to the bottom of a page.
- If your mouse has a wheel you can spin it up or down to move on a web page.
|
Tutorial>> Tutorial
Practice Activity: Practice these techniques if you are not familiar with them.
top
Searching the Internet
Learning to efficiently access information from the Internet has become a vital skill in today's society. In an online class, it is critical! We will cover two key concepts. The differences between the various Internet Search tools and Boolean Search Terms.
Internet Search Tools Comparison:
|
How to Use Web Search Engines - This is a great article that is simple and easy to understand.
The Essentials of Google Search - Doing a search on Google is easy. Simply type one or more search terms (the words or phrase that best describe the information you want to find) into the search box and hit the 'Enter' key or click on the Google Search button. |
top
Objects, Plug-ins and Viewers
Some of the newest media being offered over the Internet is made possible by some of the newest technology. Review the resources below to become familiar with these tools.
top
Activity: Orientation Questions
After you have become familiar with the course, you should be able to answer the ten questions in the orientation. One of the things that your instructor will be looking for here, is your understanding of the assignment submittal process. Please make sure that you have re-named the file with your name (last) and include the assignment title (Unit01.lesson02.questions) in the subject line.
To download the file, right-click on the link in the Lesson 01: Orientation sharepoint folder and select "Save Target As...". Then save it to your work server, floppy disk or hard drive depending on where you are. You can rename it at the same time.
Open it in your word processor and fill in the heading and answers.
| Turn It In: Email this to your instructor as an attachment. Make sure you use the proper subject line, sign your email and include a heading on the document. |
Unit 02
Once you complete this lesson you will need to move on to Unit 02.
top