Welcome to Personal Development 124, Lifelong Success Online Fall 2010 Dr. Marsha Fralick

Dr. Marsha Fralick's online section 1561 is a late starting class that begins September 20 and ends December 10,  2010.   

Registration

File your Application for Admission and register at:  

    www.cuyamaca.edu

Please register for PDC 124 section 1561.  As soon as you register, you will be automatically downloaded into my class and a Blackboard account will be created for you.  

Here is my e-mail address.  Please write "online class" in your subject heading.  I accept all late students who register after the first week.   

         marsha.fralick@gcccd.edu

Course Syllabus
The Course Syllabus explains everything you need to know about the course and how you will be graded.  It also contains information on how to log into Blackboard, the course management software.  

Course Schedule
The Course Schedule will be available in September.           

Assignment Due Dates
All assignments for the week are due on Sunday at 11:55 pm.   Of course you can complete the work earlier in the week if you prefer.  Plan to work steadily and complete some work each day so that you can finish on time.  Check your e-mail at least 3 times a week. 

Need Flexibility?
No problem.  All assignments are available the first day of class.  You can work ahead or finish early so that you can take time off for a vacation or to take care of personal business or work.  You can also work on this course from any location that has Internet access. 

Course Materials
All online PDC 124 courses will be using the new interactive e-text called CollegeScope.  This online text is personalized for each student based on an assessment of your personality type and learning style which is taken at the beginning of the course.  There is an access fee of $50 which takes the place of purchasing a textbook. 

Order your online text by clicking on this link:

http://www.collegescope.com/ccs/cuyamaca

Click on "Register."  You will create your online account and pay $50 for the text.  The next time you access the site, click on "Login" and use the e-mail address and password you created to access your online text.  Remember to write down your e-mail address and password so you can access your account in the future.  Most technical problems are a result of forgetting this information.  Please note that you click on "Register" only the first time you create your account. 

Financial Aid and EOPS students who are not able to purchase the text online can use your vouchers to purchase a card with an access code in the Bookstore for $55.  Students who do not have a credit card to purchase the text online can also purchase the access code in the Bookstore. 

If you have any difficulties purchasing the online text, contact me at:

marsha.fralick@gcccd.edu (include online class in the subject heading)

Please do not purchase the printed version of the textbook at the Bookstore or purchase a used book because they will not be used in this online course.  If you prefer using the printed text, register for other sections that are not online. 

Please submit your assignments using Microsoft Word.  I can open documents with the following file extensions:

    .doc
    .docx (Word 2007)
    .rtf

If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can download Open Office Writer for free at:

http://www.openoffice.org/

Using Open Office Writer, save your document as Microsoft Office XP with .doc as the format or as Microsoft Office Vista with .docx as the format. 

Complete the online orientation in CollegeScope February 22-28.  To get started on the orientation, log into Blackboard.

How to Log Into Blackboard

Blackboard is the course management system used for this class.  You will be able to log in on the first day of class, February 22, 2010.   Here are the directions for logging into Blackboard:

     Go to: http://bb.gcccd.edu/
     OR
     Go to www.cuyamaca.edu
     Click on Online Services and Blackboard

     Right click on this page to create a shortcut on your desktop
     Your username is your firstname.lastname
           For example Joe Smith is joe.smith
     Your password is your 6 digit birth date
           For example if you were born Jan 1, 1989
                 Your password would be 010189
     You will first view the Welcome page
     Look for the box that says "My Courses" and click on PDC 124
    
If you cannot log in, send me an email at:
     marsha.fralick@gcccd.edu 
In the subject heading, include online class so I can quickly sort out your messages from junk mail. 

Student Comments

Read comments from previous students including what they liked about the course, suggestions for success and comments on the professor.

Read advice from my previous students on how to be successful in this course. 

If you need assistance with using Blackboard, contact the Student Help Desk.  Call the Help Desk at 619-660-4395.  The Student Help Desk is open:
              
               Monday 8-5
               TTH 7 am-7:30 pm
               WF 7 am-5 pm
               Sat 7 am-3 pm

If you cannot log into Blackboard during the first week of school, contact your instructor as soon as possible.  Contact information is available in the syllabus above.      

Here are some important things to know about this class:

This class meets a general education requirement for the CSU system, Area E.

This class is also UC transferable.

This class will be an interesting journey of self-exploration.

You will have the opportunity to explore your personality, interests and values to select a future career or confirm that your current career choice is the best one for you. 

You will learn how to remember and study more efficiently.

You will have interesting online conversations with others in the class.

The class is totally online.  There are no on campus meetings.