Dear SPED 450 Students,

Thanks for using the course blog to post your questions, and thanks to those students who have provided answers to questions from classmates.  This method of communication will be extremely helpful as I attempt to keep in touch with all 145 of you!

I'll try to answer most of the recent questions I've received by email or via the blog... so here goes!
First...questions regarding the access code.  I recently learned that textbooks that came in to the campus bookstore do not contain the access code.  This poses a problem for me, because some of the content on the modules in this course are 'behind' the access code on the publisher's website.  I have decided to try to work around this rather than have all of you try to purchase the access code separately....so if you have the code....great!...but if you don't have it, you'll be able to make it through the course.

Next, questions about the syllabus exam.  I realize the several students were unsuccessful at completing and/or submitting the syllabus exam on Blackboard.  Unfortunately, Blackboard is the only means provided by the University for conducting this online course, and it does indeed have certain quirks.  I tried to be very thorough in identifying things that you should and should not do while taking a test in Blackboard, yet there were still problems.  If you didn't follow my recommendations this time, please do so in the future.  I simply don't have the resources or support to 1) determine which requests to reopen the test are valid (everyone has a good reason) or 2) read and reply to email requests regarding reopening exams. 

This 'one-shot' rule was difficult for me to make, and I'm sure it is difficult for you to accept...but I simply cannot manage this large course without that rule in place, and I don't want to start the practice of reopening exams when I am sure that I can't keep up with meeting everyone's request throughout the entire semester.  Therefore, I have built extra credit points into some assignments throughout, and there will be an 'extra' exam at the end of the semester ONLY for those who have missed one or more of the previous exams due to technical difficulties.  I also am not able to go over the syllabus exam with you individually to identify and discuss the items that you might have missed.  Please review the syllabus, calendar, and other information posted on Blackboard, and use your peers to discuss this exam and to be sure that you are on the right track as we get started with this course.  As always, you can post questions here, or email me regarding questions of a more personal or individual nature.

Regarding email messages to me... it would be great if I could always be available online to respond immediately to your messages!...but in RL (which I recently learned means 'real life' in text message language) that isn't possible.  Please allow at least 48 hours before resending the message to me, and check this blog to see whether or not your question has already been asked and answered.  I will post to the blog or respond to your email messages as soon as possible because I realize that communication is essential in the online course environment.

Module 1 is now open, and you should be reading assigned chapters in the text, completing the tutorial quizzes online at the publisher's website, and reviewing the informational materials posted on Blackboard....but there is more to come in Module 1.  Next week you will have a brief assignment and/or discussion board activities related to the content of Module 1, and the Module 1 exam will open on September 27th.  By the way, be sure that you use the 'Mark Reviewed' button to let me know that you have reviewed the required material on Blackboard. 

I will try to make the assignments and due dates as clear as possible, and you  have your Syllabus, Course Schedule, and this blog as sources of information.   You will not need to do anything with  'Optional Learning Activities' or  'Professional Standards'.  These are provided for your enrichment.  As we work through this course, please check the BB site at least once each day for new information or assignments.

loricarlene received a message about changes to the course.....I have no idea what that is about.  As far as I know nothing has changed.  Thank, loricarlene, for alerting us to this message.

Finally, a few students have asked me whether or not it is necessary to have a Google account to post a comment to this blog.  It is my understanding that anyone can post a comment.  Would some of you who have posted comments please clear this up for us?  Thanks!

That's all for now!
Dr. McIntosh

Welcome to SPED 450 Online

Dear SPED 450 Students,

Welcome! You are part of a new and exciting development in the Department of Special Education –Special Education 450 offered fully online! During this session of SPED 450 there will be no face-to-face class meetings at all! We will conduct the entire course online using web-based resources, and possibly through online class meetings via the Wimba Live Classroom, a web conferencing tool for education that is integrated into the SDSU Blackboard system.

This blog is set up as a place for you to communicate with me and with your fellow classmates.  When you have general questions about the course, you should ask those questions here.  You should also check this blog frequently to see whether or not your question has already been asked and answered.  All questions about course requirements, assignments, due dates, etc. should be posted to this blog, and NOT sent directly to me by email.  If you have a question about a confidential issue such as grades, then it is OK to email me directly.

There are a couple of points about which you should be forewarned: First, since this course will be delivered completely online, the success of the course depends heavily on technology working as we expect. Please know that there is a possibility (perhaps even likelihood) that occasionally there will be ‘glitches.’  I’ll do my best to manage any issues on my end as they arise...but YOU  must also ensure that the technology is working on your end.  Be sure that you have consistent and reliable access to a high speed Internet connection, and ALWAYS use the Firefox browser when working in Blackboard. Internet Explorer and Blackboard won't get along very well for some components of the course. Second, although I have spent lots of time and energy designing and preparing this course for online delivery, teaching online is still a fairly new phenomenon at SDSU, and my skills are continually emerging as I learn something different each semester! It is my hope that you will find this experience both challenging and rewarding, as my efforts are directed toward these goals. And finally, the nature of an online course places MOST of the responsibility for learning on you, the student. To be successful in this course, you must independently complete ALL tasks and activities, as well as adhere to submission deadlines for all assignments and quizzes.
 

I look forward to working with you this semester!
Best regards,
Dr. McIntosh