Welcome to the online class for BOT 101—Keyboarding & Document Production!

I suggest you print out this Orientation because it will become an inventory of needs, quick

reference information, and the basics you need to know before going into Blackboard and

getting your course materials and instructions.

Before you actually get into Blackboard and get your course materials, there are some

things you should evaluate about your situation. You need to know how to be successful

as an online student. So to begin—circle the answers as they relate to you in the

following Yes or No questions:

Are you a self-starter who can read and follow instructions? Yes No

Are you determined to submit only the best quality of work to your instructor? Yes No

Are you disciplined enough to follow a prescribed schedule and hand in your

assignments on time? Yes No

Are you determined to read your instructions in the textbook, on the screen, in the

Software, and in the Announcements and Assignments on a weekly basis? Yes No

Do you have the following technical skills to succeed?

Can you navigate the Web? Yes No

Can you download files to your computer? Yes No

Can you install software on your computer? Yes No

Can you send and receive e-mails? Yes No

Can you open and read attachments to e-mails? Yes No

Can you manage files by using: search, delete, rename, open, and print? Yes No

Can you use WinZip or a similar program to zip and unzip files? Yes No

Do you have excellent reading skills with English? Yes No

Do you have excellent writing skills with English? Yes No

PC/Windows computer with Pentium III or 233-MHz or faster. Yes No

16 MB RAM for Windows 95 and 98 systems. Yes No

128 MB RAM for Windows XP or 2003. Yes No

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Hard disk drive with 150 MB of free space. Yes No

CD-ROM drive (8X or faster). Yes No

Color monitor that supports 800 x 600 high color or true color resolution. Yes No

High-density 3.5” floppy disk drive. Yes No

USB port for a memory stick or flash drive. Yes No

ZIP drive. Yes No

Standard audio card compatible with Windows. Yes No

Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP or 2003. Yes No

Internet Browser—Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher. Yes No

An e-mail address. Yes No

A current virus protection software program. Yes No

Microsoft Word 2007 for document processing. Yes No

The Gregg College Keyboarding and Document Processing, Lessons 1-60; Kit 1,

Microsoft Office Word 2007 Update, 10th Edition, by Scot Ober, Jack E Johnson,

from the bookstore? Yes No

The Gregg College Keyboarding and Document Processing software will be referenced

Can you stay on schedule?

Turn in weekly work every Monday. Yes No

Avoid late work penalties. Yes No

Check your e-mail, class announcements, and job annotations BEFORE you do your

class assignments. Yes No

Complete all assigned sections in Lessons 1 through 60. Yes No

Proofread your work. Yes No

Correct any errors. Yes No

Save your work. Yes No

Upload your work in the Gregg Document Processing (GDP) software. Yes No

1. Will you prepare production work such as business letters and memos that are

mailable (free from errors)? Yes No

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typographical, formatting or spacing errors in documents you will upload. Yes No

5. Will you make sure there are NO SPACE characters between the period at the end

of a paragraph and the ENTER to begin a new paragraph as this will count as an

error? Yes No

6. Will you e-mail your instructor if you do not understand an error when you review

your Word documents? Yes No

1. Will you use the correct fingers on all keys to be able to Type By Touch? Yes No

2. Will you keyboard using acceptable techniques on all areas indicated on the

Keyboard? Yes No

3. Will you prepare a Technique Evaluation report and send it to your instructor as

directed in the Assignment Schedule. There is a suggested Technique Form in the

Assignment section in Blackboard, however, you can create your own.

1. Will you repeat 1-minute, 2-minute, 3-minute, & 5-minute Timed Writings until you

reach the desired goal? Yes No

If you have more than 95% answers of Yes, then you are ready to move to the second

part of this Orientation. If you have less than 95%, please read the text above a second

time and email your instructor with your score.

The Second Part of the Orientation is a section of key references you must know and refer

back to throughout this class:

1. If you have a problem installing, working with, or uploading your work, you should

inside the cover of a black book in your textbook kit.

2. If you do not understand something you read—read it a second time, concentrating

on only what you are reading. Sometimes it helps to sketch out what your mind is

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understanding from what you are reading. If after re-reading and concentrating on

the information you still do not understand it, then write your instructor an email.

Clearly explain what you are reading and attempting to understand. Your instructor

will help you anytime this happens.

3. You should follow all instructions given in Blackboard. Every week there will be at

least one announcement. Click the VIEW ALL tab if you do not see the weekly

announcements. You will find everything you need to succeed in this class in

Blackboard. You will find your syllabus, information about the books in your

textbook kit, instructions on how to install your software, how to upload your

lessons, and an Assignment Schedule which lists when assignments should be

worked on and when they should be uploaded for grading.

4. The first day of class is, August 25, 2008.

5. The last day to turn in work and your Final Exam is December 22, 2008

6. Holidays are September 1, November 10, 27, 28 and 29.

7. Finals week is December 15-22, 2008. Your final exam is due no later than

December 22, 2008.

8. The last day to drop this class without a W is September 5, 2008. The last day to

drop this class with a W is November 14, 2008.

9. If your computer has problems, there are computers you can use in the northeast

corner of the Tech Mall that have Word 2007 and the GDP software installed on

them. You can also go to the FLEX lab and use their computers. Bring your course

syllabus with you and a memory stick to save your work.

10. Your instructor teaches many online classes, so whenever you send an email,

please put your complete name and BOT 101-2393 in the subject line. (Example:

upload was successful. If it was not successful, try it a second tine and read each

Support at 1-800-331-5094.

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The technique you develop as you keyboard is vital to your success and essential to your

progress. Your speed and accuracy depend upon it. Your comfort and freedom from repetitive

stress injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome depend on it. Pay attention to your technique as

you work through your lessons. Proper technique can also allow you to key comfortably for longer

periods of time without developing aches and pains in your neck, back, wrists and forearms.

It is important to develop the habit of keeping your eyes on the hard copy as you key. By keeping

your eyes on the copy, you increase your accuracy and speed.

Do not allow yourself to look at your hands and fingers as you keyboard. If you wish, you may

look at your hands before and/or after you finish keyboarding. What would happen if you kept your

eyes on your pedals when you were learning to ride your bicycle? Don’t crash and burn in

Keyboarding!!

Study the “Typing Technique” section on page xii in the Introduction of your textbook. Read the

technique suggestions and reminders you will see in your textbook and on your software screens.

You need to develop a consciousness of your body’s position so you can evaluate your own typing

technique. Be aware of your back, legs, feet, neck, head, arms, elbows, wrist, and fingers in

relations to your copy, screen, chair, and keyboard. Does anything feel uncomfortable? Hurt? Get

tired? Those are big clues! You will be doing an evaluation after lessons 5, 10, 20, 40 and 60.

Before you begin working on your assignments, please print and read through the entire syllabus

and make notations on it.

Before starting a lesson, review the Assignment instructions in Blackboard.

While doing each lesson section, be sure to read and follow all the column information in your

textbook.

While keyboarding, pay attention to, and follow, the software directions to complete each assigned

section of all 60 lessons.

This part addresses important items that help you succeed as an online student.

gradually falling behind. You lose points when assignments are late, and you may be dropped

from the class if you get too far behind.

class.

daily. Do not have sessions that are longer than two hours. Some students may need more time

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or less time, so you can make adjustments based on your skill level as you proceed through the 60

lessons.

Where to get help with software questions? Check your textbook and use the Help feature in

Word. Pretend your boss is out of the office and your assignment is due at 5:00 pm. Be

resourceful!

I recommend that you go to the Grossmont BOT Flex Lab in the Tech Mall in room 7131 anytime it

is open, and see an instructor or aide to sign up for the free BOT 198 supervised tutoring class. Be

sure an bring a copy of your syllabus to verify your are entitled to attend tutoring.

Now you are ready to get into Blackboard and get your course information. To log into the

course Web Site on Blackboard do the following steps:

1. Launch your web browser and go to http://bb.gcccd.edu (no www) and bookmark

this URL so you can quickly return to it next time.

4. Enter your Password: six digit birth date – (example is 072283). If you have

changed your password and cannot remember what it is, you can go online to the

web-advisor and click on the "password hint" link. Also, you can ask for a new

password in Blackboard and it will email you a confirmation link.

this class after August 20, 2008, you must send your instructor an email so you can

be added into Blackboard. The information your instructor needs is your student ID

number, your complete name, your birth date, month and year, and your area code

and telephone number so they can call you if Blackboard will not accept this

information. Area codes are very important!

6. You will then be in the Blackboard Welcome page. In the My Courses section of

the window you see a list of all Blackboard classes you are registered in.

7. Click on the BOT 101 - Keyboarding and Document Processing (Prigmore) link.

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8. You will enter the BOT 101 course web site at the Announcements page. If you do

not see any announcements, click the VIEW ALL tab. Always read through the new

Announcements. You may also wish to print the Announcements.

9. Next, click on the Tools button in the Navigation Bar at the left. Click (select) the

Personal Information link. Click (select) the Edit Personal Information link. Edit (fill

in the textbox) for your first name, last name, and the e-mail address that you prefer

to use for this class. All starred information must be filled in. The other information

is optional. If you change your email address during this course, be sure and notify

your instructor and edit your Personal Information again. Save any changes by

scrolling to the bottom of the window and clicking SUBMIT, OK, and OK.

10. You will notice a My Grades link in the Tools area. This is where you will come

whenever you wish to check the work I have graded. I’ll try to do it by Wednesday,

but if I get behind a bit, don’t worry—your work has been received and will be

graded.

11. Next we are going to do some exploring on the Navigation Bar. Click on the Staff

Information button. There I am! There is my contact information too. Please use

my work phone to leave a message for urgent questions or help!

12. Now let’s check out the Publisher Info button. Click the link for Quick Slides for

Students. The publishers have created these seven PowerPoint presentations to

help you develop as you go through this class. You will only open and read one of

the presentations now. The other presentations you can view as you wish or as

they are assigned. You now will click on the Online Keyboarding Orientation link.

You are asked if you wish to Save or Open the presentation. Click Open for now. It

takes a few seconds for the presentations to load. If you wish to print the

presentations, you need to click Save. After the presentation is saved you have

another Open option.

13. To move forward through the slides, click the mouse or the spacebar. When the

presentation ends and the screen is black, click the mouse or the spacebar to

continue. Click the red box with the white X (Close box) in the upper right corner of

the window to close the window and you are returned to the listing of the seven

presentations.

14. Click on the Assignments button on the Navigation Bar. Use the mouse wheel or

the vertical scroll bar to see other listed Lessons. You will click the Assignment

Schedule link and print a copy for further reference. Also, this is a good time to

click the Technique Evaluation Form link and print a copy for further reference.

15. Click the Syllabus button on the Navigation Bar.

16. Click the Syllabus for BOT 101 for Fall 2008. You need to read the complete

syllabus before you begin your work. I suggest you print it out if you have not

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already done so, and then you will have it to read and make comments on and also

have it for a quick reference as you do your lessons.

17. The last button to check out on the Navigation Bar is the Communication button.

Click it now. You can use the E-mail link to send me emails. Send me an email

now and tell me how this Orientation is going for you. Remember to scroll to the

bottom of the window and click Submit, OK, OK to send the email. If you click the

Rosters link, the Starts With tab, and the beginning letter of your last name, and

press the Search button, you will see your name.

18. Notice above the Roster listed above in a “Breadcrumb Trail”. You are currently in

Roster and it is listed at the end of the trail. Click on Communications in the

breadcrumb trail and you go back one level. Click on BOT 101 – Keyboarding and

Document Processing (Prigmore) (08FL BOT 101 2393) and you go back another

level. Clicking on Courses takes you to the screen on which you entered

Blackboard. You can use the breadcrumb trail links at any time to move backwards

through Blackboard.

19. If you clicked on Courses, re-enter the BOT class web site.

20. One more very important tip that can save you a lot of time in Blackboard when you

feel lost and are looking for something. Click the Course Map button and then click

the Expand All button to see a Table of Contents of the Blackboard site. You can

quickly locate anything you need with this tip. You are now finished with the

Orientation and I hope you have printed it out, made notes on it and studied it

carefully and will follow all the instructions.

21. When you are finished using Blackboard, always click the Logout icon near the top

of the window.

22. Then click the red box with the white X in it (Close box) in the upper right corner to

close the Blackboard window and return to your desktop.

23. Be sure that BEFORE you begin your class work you send me your phone number

in an email and confirm you are active in the class and that you have printed and

completed this Orientation. I also need your email address so I can enter you into

my grade book. If you have already sent me your phone number, skip this step.

24. You are now ready to install your GDP software and begin your Assignments! Click

Course Information on the Navigation Bar and print the two handouts on How to

Install GDP and How to Launch and Use GDP.