Hello students, My name is Joe Escobar and I am your instructor for HST202 United States History at Lane Community College. You are receiving this email (announcement) because you have signed up for the course and you have wisely included your email address in your ExpressLane account information. In just one week from today, Winter Term will start and we will begin our course on Tuesday. ******************************************************************************* First, please read my "open letter" to students located here: http://media.lanecc.edu/users/escobarj/lcc/HST_202.html ******************************************************************************* HYBRID CLASS As you've read in the open letter, this is a hybrid class, with both in class and online requirements. From a survey I gave my students at the end of last term: Over 50% said they logged in to the class at least 4 or more times each week. 60% considered receiving email announcements each week was "extremely important" (so have a valid email address and check it regularly) 75% wanted future students to know that having their own, internet-connected computer should be considered an "extremely important" part of taking this particular hybrid course TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS I included several URLs in my "open letter" to you. One linked to the class Moodle website, one was a short video clip I put online, and the other was a PDF file of history quotes. It is very important that you successfully access these now. If there are any problems, figure them out on your own, update your Quicktime plugin and/or web browser software, contact the LCC student help desk at SHeD@lanecc.edu, use a friend's computer or one in an LCC computer lab, or drop the class. All technical issues you may have should be solved now, before the term begins. Technical issues, beyond the LCC Moodle server going down, will not be valid excuses for failing to meet class deadlines and complete class assignments. EXPECTED WORKLOAD Most students know that a 12 credit class load is equivalent to full time. But it is NOT full time just because a student is in the classroom for those 12 hours. Each hour in class requires 2 to 3 hours of homework and studying OUTSIDE of the classroom. THAT is where "full time" comes from. A 12 credit class load will require 36-48 hours of your time, both in and outside of the classroom. A 40 hour work week is considered a full time job. The same goes for a 12 credit college workload. These hourly requirements are no different for hybrid courses. So, theoretically, my 4 credit class will require 12 to 16 hours of your time each week. If you are not willing to dedicated the time necessary to be successful in this class, then you should strongly consider dropping the class. I would much rather you realize this expectation now, save your tuition money and/or find another class, rather than to complain about it at the end of the term when it comes time to evaluate the course. THE TEXTBOOK & READING I was a slower reader when I attended college, so I appreciated any advanced notice the instructors could give me. In that same tradition, I offer you this information. We are starting the first week with material from Chapter 10, Toward an American Culture. It might be a very good idea to get an early start on your reading now. As a matter of fact, I've also "opened" the first computer quiz on Chapter 10 in Moodle. Since the quiz is for practice only, the score does not matter, and you can take it as many times as you'd like, I'd really be impressed with students who took the initiative and got that done before class begins next week. Well, that's all of the news I have for you now. I look forward to meeting you next week and working with you during the term. Until then, Joe Escobar History Instructor Lane Community College