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Business Office Technology

Business Office Technology (BOT)
On-line Courses

On-Campus Orientation information

Basic Keyboarding First 8 weeks BOT 100 Second 8 weeks BOT 100

BOT 101 Keyboarding & Document Processing (equivalent to 101A & B)-offered 16 weeks. (**PDF file**)

BOT 101A & BOT 101B Keyboarding & Document Processing--offered first and second eight weeks

BOT 102A & BOT 102B Intermediate Keyboarding & Document Proc--offered first and second eight weeks

BOT 106 Effective Job Search--offered first and second eight weeks

BOT 107 Office Systems and Procedures--offered 16 weeks

BOT 109 Elementary Accounting--offered 16 weeks

BOT 111 Virtual Office Assistant Creating a Virtual Office--offered for 16 weeks ***More Information***

BOT 114 Microsoft Word 2007--offered 16 weeks

BOT 115 Microsoft Excel 2007--offered 16 weeks

BOT 117 Microsoft PowerPoint 2007--offered 16 weeks

BOT 172 Microcomputer Applications--offered first eight weeks only! In-person orientation required! (See notes on online course schedule)

BOT 176 Computerized Accounting Application--offered 16 weeks**Using "QuickBooks Pro 2008" Software**

How does an online course work?

The short answer is that it's like a correspondence course, but with Internet communication. The online class follows a similar syllabus as the Flex Lab class on campus, but you can do the work any time during the week from home or on any computer where you can access the class web site and Office 2007 software. Instead of attending classes, online students use the class notes, textbooks, and assignments to learn. You will access the course web site by logging in to Blackboard (an online course management system). Blackboard is used for the syllabus, course schedule, assignment instructions and resources, announcements, discussion, submitting assignments, exams, e-mail, and checking grades. Students are responsible for reading the textbooks and completing all class assignments on their own, but help is available by phone, Blackboard discussion, e-mail, or in person with Mark Pressnall (619) 644-7867 or Linda Snider, (619) 644-7816.

How is a BOT Online class different from a Flex Lab class?

Students enrolled in an online section must follow the schedule for the online classes. The schedule for the Online classes will have specific start and end dates (see Grossmont class schedule for dates), and assignments and exams will be due at assigned times. You may work ahead and complete assignments early, as long as you turn them in no later than the due date. See the course syllabus and assignments sections in Blackboard for assignment and exam due dates. Students enrolled in a Flex Lab section may begin at any time during the first 12 weeks of the semester and work at your own pace. If you want to take an online class be sure you are enrolled in the correct section number by the add deadline. No late adds!

You mean I don't have to come to class?

That's right. You can set your own work hours and do everything wherever the course software is installed. Just be sure not to fall behind as that is the number one reason students end up dropping an online class.

Do I need to attend an Orientation? (except for BOT 172)

No, but you MUST complete any online orientation required by the online classes.

So what do I need to be an online student?

Here's what you need to be able to succeed in a BOT online class:

Access to a PC/Windows computer with the following requirements:
- Computer/Processor: Pentium 500-MHz or faster
- Memory: 256 MB of RAM or greater
- Hard disk: 2 G of hard disk space
- CD drive
- Operating system: Windows XP, Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 (SP3), or higher
- Internet access: Internet Explorer 6.0
- Sorry, no Macintosh as the Office 2007 program is very different on a Mac.
Word, Excel, and or PowerPoint 2007 software (depending which class you are taking), which is part of Office 2007. You can get academic pricing, which is significantly lower than retail, at several places. The best prices are available at www.collegesoftware.org, but it is exclusively for currently-enrolled students. You can also check gradware.com, journeyed.com and campustech.com.
Ability and willingness to work independently.
Solid experience with Internet and with Windows. (Can you troubleshoot problems? Can you e-mail an attached file?)
Working knowledge of zipping files using WinZip or similar program.
Excellent reading and writing skills.
TIME! Successful students schedule 5-10 hours a week to work on the class.

What textbook will I need?

The textbooks are available in the Grossmont College Bookstore.

BOT 100, 101, 101A & 101B (same kit for all classes):

College Keyboarding & Document Processing, Lessons 1-60, 10th edition
by Scott Ober, Jack E. Johnson, & Arlene Zimmerly, with GDP10 software. ISBN-13: 978-0-077-212-568 (Kit)
Also requires MS Word 2007 (available separately).

BOT 102A & 102B (same kit for both classes):

College Keyboarding & Document Processing, Lessons 61-120, 10th edition
by Scott Ober, Jack E. Johnson, & Arlene Zimmerly, with GDP10 software. ISBN-13: 978-0-0-77212551 (Kit)
Also requires MS Word 2007 (available separately).

BOT 107

BOT 109 Required materials

College Accounting 9^th Edition, McQuaig & Bille, Houghton Mifflin Co. (ISBN 0-618-381627)
Working Papers 1-14 to Accompany College Accounting 7th or 8th Edition (ISBN 0-618-02288-0) (IF YOU KNOW EXCEL YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE SPREADSHEETS TO USE INSTEAD).
Access to a reliable computer (with Internet access)

BOT 176

QuickBooks Pro 2006 with Update 2007: A Complete Course
by Janet Horne. ISBN 0-13-242407-X (data files CD included in back of book)

Course Management and Communication

Blackboard is a course management tool used to communicate (discussion forum and e-mail), submit assignments, take exams, and check grades. Plan to check Blackboard twice a week or more. Course announcements will be posted to the Blackboard announcements section.
Occasionally your instructor will contact you by e-mail. You need to e-mail your instructor before each class begins. Let the instructor know if your e-mail address changes during the class.
Assignments are posted in Blackboard with due dates and instructions for turning in the work.
Post your questions at the Blackboard discussion forum. You should get an answer by the next business day. Other students may post an answer to your question. E-mail the instructor if your question is urgent or personal.

Advice from BOT online students

Keep up with the class. The biggest problem online students have is gradually falling behind. You lose points when assignments are late, and you may be dropped from the class if you get behind. These classes are only 5-8 weeks in length and all work must be completed by the class end date.
Schedule at least 10 hours per week to focus on the class. Some students may need more or less time, so you can make adjustments based on your skill level in Word.
Don't wait until the last minute to start an assignment. If you run into a problem, it may take time to get help.
Contact your instructor as soon as you begin to have problems or if you decide to drop.
Check e-mail and online discussion several times a week.
Have a back-up plan in case your computer crashes. You can always use the High tech center during open hours, but will need to show your syllabus that indicates you’re eligible for tutoring: IDS 198.

What students like about online learning:

Having the time to work at home at my own convenience.
Online interaction with other classmates.
Freedom of not having to come to class.
Not being held down to a class time allowed me to attend class online during my most creative/productive times.
No parking hassles on campus.

What students didn't like:

It is harder to stay motivated and put the time in.
Some things are hard to explain by e-mail or phone.
It's harder for your teacher to get to know you.

We hope your online experience is a positive one! If there’s anything we can do to improve this online learning approach, please don’t hesitate to contact your instructor of record or the BOT Coordinator:

BOT 100 m ark.pressnall@gcccd.edu 619-644-7867

BOT 101A & B barb.gillespie@gcccd.edu 619-644-7984

BOT 101 e dna.prigmore@gcccd.edu 760-705-0097 (messages)

BOT 102A & B barb.gillespie@gcccd.edu 619-644-7984

BOT 109 s uzanne.loach@gcccd.edu 619-884-7657

BOT 114 andre .andersen@gcccd.edu

BOT 115 tanya.scott @gcccd.edu

BOT 117 linda.snider @gcccd.edu 619-644-7816

BOT 172 fred.kellenberger@gcccd.edu

BOT 176 barb.gillespie @gcccd.edu 619-644-7984

Useful Links

Blackboard Orientation

GCCCD "On-Line Course" Tutorials