Many colleges choose to name this section – Course Overview & Introduction, or Getting Started. This nomenclature is preferred as it is easier to understand especially for students where English is not their first language

The information in this section is key to helping students figure out how you have structured your course and where they can find the component parts. Each information piece should be titled and the explanation provided in bullet points or short sentence answers. Many colleges have created a generic Getting Started section for their courses. It is important though to review its contents to be sure that what is being communicated matches your intentions.

Some colleges have created a Course Information/Getting Started design that also incorporates the welcome information. When this option is selected please ensure that there is also a short welcome statement on the home page (announcements) that provides a brief welcome and directs students to the Getting Started section first. 

There are 4 criteria identified by OntarioLearn.com but do not limit your communication to these points only. Many colleges use this section to provide additional information that supports student success. 

We have also provided you with a student start-up checklist that you can customize for your course. This tool helps student effectively prepare for their online learning experience and reduces the questions that may come back to you.


Review Samples:

Sample-Creating a "Getting Started" or FAQ Page

Sample-Start Up Checklist


Sample-Creating A “Getting Started” or FAQ Page

Please prepare responses for the following sections:

1.        How This Course Has Been Organized

Please provide students with a general understanding of how you have organized the course. Often instructors provide a brief sentence summary of what is contained in each of the links students see (this is LMS dependent)

 

2.        Administration

 Your registering college has an OntarioLearn coordinator who is available to respond to administrative concerns (withdrawals, refunds, disabilities, textbook availability). It is through this office that you will also register to write your final exam in the course (instructions to follow at end of this message). 

 

3.        Obtaining Your Textbook

Texts can be purchased from our college’s bookstore.  Text information can be found in the Course Outline. (another option is to add text information again here also)

 

4.        Technical Problems  

The Embanet Technical Support Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you with any technical issues. Telephone, ticket submission form, online chat and FAQ links are all available at this site: https://www.ontariolearn.com/help/
Telephone: 416-494-5954 (Toll Free: 1-800-695-5008)

 

5.        Communication Responsibilities

  MY responsibilities throughout this course will be to:

          Guide you through the materials

          Provide explanations and extra examples

          Facilitate discussions

          Make the learning environment a safe and interactive one

          Respond to your questions (within a 48-hour period during business days)

          Mark assignments and projects to give you feedback.

  YOUR responsibilities, in order to benefit most from this class are to:

          Work through the online course materials

          Refer to and study the appropriate readings, as recommended

          Participate in the discussions

          Collaborate with your fellow learners to increase your learning

          Complete assignments and tests on time.

 

6.        Assignments & Tests  

A brief sentence or two to describe your expectations re completion of assignments and tests. 

 

7.        Final Exam

Please register with your home college to write the final exam in this course. To successfully complete this course you are required to write a __hour _____ book exam that will contribute ____ to your overall grade. Registration must be completed through your registering college. Selection of a date and time can be carried out through a phone call or by visiting the Distance Education website of your registering college.

   

8.        Final Grades

Final grades are mailed out from your registering college within approximately four weeks of course completion. Please note that you do not need to contact your registering college with information about your course completion, your grade will be sent out to you.

 

9.        Student Code of Conduct

OntarioLearn.com has an established Code of Conduct that all students must abide by. This is in addition to the regulations set out by your registering college. Please be respectful in your communications with others and there will be no problems. A link to the full Code of Conduct policy is available in the Course Information area of your course desktop. Click on Code of Conduct.

 

10.        Course Evaluation

We are very interested in your feedback.

Please don't be afraid to speak up. A team of people have worked together to create what we hope is a rich and satisfying learning experience. To measure our success, we need to hear your opinions. At the end of the course, please be sure to complete the course evaluation survey (Please tell students where they can find it in your course)  

11.       About OntarioLearn

OntarioLearn.com is a consortium of 22 Ontario Community Colleges who have partnered to develop and deliver on-line courses for adult part-time learners. Each partner college selects courses from the OntarioLearn.com course inventory that will complement its existing distance education offerings.  The college who developed the course is called the Host college. For this course ______________ is the host college. You may have registered at another college. In this instance your college is called the Registering college. So you will likely be taking this course with students from several different colleges across Ontario.  We hope that you enjoy this rich learning experience and we wish you great success in your educational endeavors.

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Sample-Start Up Checklist  

Blackboard Example

Can you check off everything on this list? When you can, you'll be ready to go!   If you need help with anything, check for instructions below the checklist.

I have:

Read the "Welcome" letter (indicate where students can find this)

Read "How to Use Blackboard" to get comfortable with the learning environment. (indicate where students can find this)

received the books for this subject

downloaded the Flash player

set up my E-mail

read everything in the Course Information section of the course shell

found out how to contact my instructor (indicate where students can find this)

found the Timeline document (indicate where students can find this)

found out how to get Technical Support (indicate where students can find this)

found out how to access Student Support information, such as proctored Final Exams. (indicate where students can find this)

found out how to submit my assignments. (indicate where students can find this)

found out how to access my team (indicate where students can find this)

posted my Introduction in the Introductions Discussion forum ((indicate where students can find this)

sent my instructor an email to confirm that my email is set up and I'm ready to go! (indicate where students can find this)

 

Required Textbooks

You will not be able to complete this online subject without the books specified in the Subject Outline.

  • All of the detailed information you need to order your book is in the official subject outline (indicate where students can find this). Click here to purchase your book online through the college's e-Store.

Flash Player

To complete the interactive exercises in this course, you will need the Flash player installed on your computer. You may already have it, but if not, you can download it here. Just follow the onscreen instructions.

 

Set up your email

You must set up your email in the Blackboard system to be able to send and receive email to and from your instructor.

1.        Click on Tools at the left, then click on "Personal Information".

2.        Now click on "Edit Personal Information".

3.        In Section 1, click in the Email textbox and key your email address.

4.        Check it for accuracy.

5.        Scroll down and click the Submit button at the bottom right of the screen.

You may also set up your email from the My Institution page (indicate where students can find this).  Just click Personal Information in the Tools menu at the left, and complete Steps 2-5 above.

   

Note to Seneca College Students

Even though you may have another e-mail account, only valid Seneca e-mail accounts will be used in this online subject.  To use your Seneca e-mail, you must first activate your account. Check here for instructions. Once your account is active, set it up in Blackboard as described above.

Now send your instructor an email message to confirm that your email is working and you're ready to go! (indicate where students can find this).

 

Let's go!

 

To begin your learning about XXX, click Course Documents at the left, then click xxx.

 

See you there!

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