1. Iris Jamahl Dunkle
English Instructor
Office: 1031-F (1000 building, Faculty Offices)
Phone: (408) 228-2139
Email: idunkle@napavalley.edu

2. Upon Completion of this Orientation, you
Should Be Able To:
1. Understand the expectations of this Online course
2. Acquire knowledge of expectations for Online courses in general
3. Feel comfortable that this is the format for you
4. Understand the difference between WebAdvisor and Blackboard
5. Understand how to set up your computer to use the Blackboard
platform
6. Understand enough Blackboard basics to begin this course
7. Familiarize yourself with the course materials and requirements
8. Locate the syllabus, textbooks, and weekly assignments with due dates
9. Understand how to communicate via email, blogs, and discussion
forum
10. Know how to submit assignments with attachments
11. Avoid frustration and be ready to learn on the first day of class!

3. Part 1: Are You Ready
for Online Learning?
Check out the self-
evaluation quizzes on the
next slide to find out more!

4. Self-Evaluation
Check out both the websites below.
• Copy and paste the URLs into the address bar of your Internet browser.
• Record your answers and results.
http://www.greatdegree.com/online-education-are-you-ready.html
http://www.yourcallla.org/SORT/sort/html/tool.html
Note: To access the readiness test on the “yourcalla.org” site, scroll down to the bottom of
the page. Look for the box with the text, “Use the Student Online Readiness Tool,” and
click on the yellow box “Get Started.”

5. Role of Online
Instructors
Online instructors have a
rather different role in Online
classes versus a traditional
classroom. They are no longer
lecturers standing in the front
of the classroom, they are in a
virtual world.
“Instructors are no longer
sages on the stage, but they
become guides by your side”!

6. Online Etiquette
Online courses are based on the
premise that students learn best in a
community. However, some things
don’t change: the practices of
courtesy and respect that apply in
the ordinary classroom also apply
Online and require even more
attention.
•Therefore, please use common
courtesy and socially acceptable
behavior in all communications,
including email, chat, Discussion
Boards, and blogs.

7. Etiquette Guidelines
Participate to create a Avoid SHOUTING and
Be polite, respectful,
sense of community flaming. Think before
and honest.
(and to get points!). you respond.
Write clear posts and
Be present. Don’t
journals. Communicate
forget to log in at least
with your classmates
3-4 times a week!
and your instructor

8. To Learn Online or Not to Learn Online…
Online classes are NOT easier than
traditional classes. They require at
least as much time as on-campus
courses and sometimes more.
Self-motivation, self-discipline, time
management, communication and
organizational skills, and patience
are all necessary traits to be
successful in any Online class.
In this regard, please plan to
participate fully and give this class
the amount of time and attention
needed to learn the material and to
be a successful Online student!

9. Academic Honesty
You must abide by Napa Valley College’s
Academic Honesty Policy (S6330 Napa Valley
College 2010-2012 Catalog p.41):
All work for this course must be done by you
specifically for this course. Plagiarism involves
passing off someone else’s work as your own, either
by failing to acknowledge others’ words or ideas or by
having someone else write any part of your paper.
Know the consequences for plagiarizing:
An essay or other writing assignment that is
plagiarized or that contains plagiarism will receive a
failing grade, and multiple offenses will result in a
failing grade in the course.

10. Watch the embedded video on the
next page about online education at
Napa Valley College. The video was
created and narrated by Professor
Cathy Gillis, who provides training
and support for our online instructors
at Napa Valley College

11. How to Use Blackboard
Click on the link below to view the
video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir
WKsCUX_0s&feature=youtu.be
*Be sure to bookmark NVC’s
Online Education page and the
Blackboard Login page if you
haven’t already.

12. Blackboard Versus WebAdvisor:
What is the Difference?
Blackboard WebAdvisor
is where you register for
is the hosting platform for the
admission to the college and
college’s Online classes.
thereby enroll in classes.
NOTE: You will have different User names and Passwords
for both WebAdvisor and Blackboard.

13. Before Logging in You Will Need:
• Your Student ID number. This can be found on your
registration receipt or in WebAdvisor.
• Access to a PC or Mac computer with:
 Microsoft Word 2003 or 2007
 Internet Explorer 7 or later; Mozilla Firefox 3.0X or
later; Apple Safari 2 or later with Mac OS 10.4 or 10.5
 Java 1.5.0 or later
 All pop-up blockers disabled.
• An good Internet connection
• Good computer skills
• An environment where you can focus on your school
work.

14. Logging On - Step 1
Open your Browser and type in the Napa Valley College Website Address:
http://www.napavalley.edu/. Click on “Online Education”.

15. Logging Into Your Class – Step 2
Click on “Log-In To Your Class Here”.

16. Logging Into Your Class – Step 3
Log in to the Blackboard
Login Page
Your User name was created using the
first two letters of your first name,
followed by the first two letters of your
last name, followed by the last four
digits of your Napa Valley College
student ID number (WebAdvisor
number).
For example, if your name is John
Smith and your ID number is 2341343,
your User name would be JOSM1343
(letters in all CAPS. If you do not know
your student ID number, check your
registration receipt or log-in to
WebAdvisor.
The default password is STUDENT
(in ALLCAPS).

17. Logging Into Class - Step 4
IMPORTANT! NOW CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD IMMEDIATELY!
Be sure to change your password to something easy for you to remember, but hard for
someone else to guess.
You can change your password in Personal Information on the My Institution Page.

18. Logging Into Your Class - Step 5
To access your Online class, click the underlined title to enter the course(s).

19. Let’s Get Started!
Always start at the Course Home Page. Here you can view what’s due as
well as course announcements.
Use the buttons on the left side of the page to navigate through the
Blackboard website.
“Course Content” will take you to the weekly assignment folders.
There are also buttons for the syllabus, the Required Texts, Email,
Discussion Boards, Blogs, and other resources.
Check your email and the course announcements regularly.

20. Congratulations!
You Have Successfully Logged into your Online Course
Problems?
If you have questions, or need additional help, please check the
FAQs/videos on the online education page:
http://www.napavalley.edu/Academics/OnlineEd/Pages/welcome.aspx.
Use the link “Student Services” on the left side of the Blackboard page
to get there.
Also, check out the Q & A Discussion Board in Blackboard to see if
your questions have already been addressed. Or post your questions
there. And answer others’ questions.
Email me if you need further assistance: idunkle@napavalley.edu.

22. When You Have Successfully
Completed This class, You Will Be
Able To:
Utilize critical thinking skills to observe, describe, discuss, and analyze topics
Format research papers according to MLA format requirements
Demonstrate research techniques, including selecting, excerpting, integrating,
citing, and documenting sources
Demonstrate keen critical thinking and analytical skills
Avoid plagiarism.
Regardless of your major or career goal, it will always be important to
communicate intelligently and clearly. Despite how smart you may be, if you
send out a resume and cover letter or a company email with errors in it, these
errors will affect the way people judge your competence. As part of this
course, you will learn to edit your work and others’ for content and structure as
well as to find and proofread errors in grammar by practicing peer and self
review.

23. Step 1 – Familiarize Yourself With Our
Online Class
You will find each week’s assignments on the Course
Content page. They will be posted by the end of the day on
Sunday at the beginning of the week.
New weeks appear on top of old ones, but you will always
be able to access previous weeks’ folders.
Feel free to click on everything to familiarize yourself with
the course. There are buttons to the left you’ll want to get
to know, including one for the syllabus, the required
textbooks, the photocopied reader, email, the Discussion
Forum, and links to CompClass, online grammar help, and
Turnitin.com, etc.

24. Step 2 – Under “Course Content” Click on the Week
One Folder To Get Started
You will see the outside cover of week one's folder.
Read the cover then click on the title. (Week 1 & the
date) to open the folder and see the week’s
assignment.
Inside the folder, you will see a table of contents of all
the assignments due that week. Each assignment will
be on its own page.
Complete assignments in order and by the
deadline dates (usually the following Sunday at the
end of the day).

25. Click on the Email Link on the Left-hand
Side of your Screen
NOTE: You must have a correct email address on file. Be aware that although I may
write an email to you from this class, it will go to your email account on file as well.
Your email will be in the class and in your account.
•To send an e-mail, click on the email link on the left side of
the Blackboard page.
•Click on Create Message.
•To select a recipient, click on “TO.” Then highlight the names
you want to include, and click the arrow to move them over to
the “recipients” box. If you want to email everyone in the
class, click on “select all,” and then click on the arrow.
•Type the message, and click Submit.
•Be sure to place a subject in the Subject box.
•To attach files, click Add Attachments, browse for the file you
want to attach, select it, and click Open. Pop-up blockers must
be turned off and Java must be on!!

26. How to Upload Assignments
Upload assignments on the Blackboard page where they
were assigned. Some assignments allow you to type or
copy & paste responses directly into the assignment
window. However, others, including essays, must be
uploaded as File Attachments (MS-Word files in most
cases). Some assignments are only complete and on
time if they are submitted in multiple places. So please
read and follow instructions carefully.
If asked to email an assignment, email it inside
Blackboard.
For full instructions on how to upload an assignment &
how to attach a file, watch the video available on the
NVC Online Education home page, or use the following
link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=brV3cYYQX3o&lr=1&feature=m
hum

27. Class Time Commitment
You will need to log on to the Website at least three to
four times weekly to check for any important
messages on the Course Content page,
Announcements, Emails, and to read and
participate in Online Discussions and/or Blogs.
Approximately twelve hours per week of course work
and computer use are recommended for successful
completion of course requirements.
Each week’s assignments are due typically at the end
of the week (by the end of the day on Sunday), and
the next week’s assignment list will be up by Sunday
at the end of the day at the latest. All assignments
must be completed in order to satisfactorily fulfill the
requirements of this course.

28. Review Our Class Syllabus
Read the syllabus Understand the course
from top to objectives, evaluation,
and grading:
bottom: • Catalog Description
• Contact • Student Learning
Information/Office Hours Outcomes
• The required textbooks & • List of Graded Assignments
other materials
• Grading Standards & Policy
• Requirements of the
course What to do when • Missing & Late Assignment
your computer or Policies & Consequences
connection doesn’t work • Academic Honesty Policy &
Consequences of Academic
• A schedule of all Dishonesty
assignments.
• Withdrawal Dates

29. Good Luck with Your Online
Learning Adventure!