HISTORY V101
Section 002
Dr. Powers
Fall, 2008
COURSE MATERIALS AVAILABLE
THROUGH COMPUTERS
Aside from the textbook, most of the
essential course material usually provided in workbooks and handouts is
provided through computers. If you don't know how to use a computer, you'll
need to learn the basics right away. This guide is intended to inform you just
what materials are out there, and then to provide basic information on how to
get them. If you've already been here at least one semester, you shouldn't even
need the second part. If you need more than this guide, see me.
I.
THE H:\TPOWERS\HIST101 DIRECTORY ON
THE LAB SERVER
Each networked computer in the USC
Sumter main computer lab is connected to a directory on a server (in addition
to those on the individual computer's hard drive and on any external sources
such as floppy disks and CD's). That directory is designated as the "H
drive." On that directory is a
subdirectory named TPOWERS. Under that subdirectory is another subdirectory
named HIST101. Using "My Computer" or Microsoft WORD, or
"Windows Explorer" or any other word processor or file management
system you prefer, go to H:\TPOWERS\HIST101 and you should find the following
folders:
ADMIN folder, containing documents of an
administrative nature.
GUIDES folder, containing materials which are
intended to help you learn more effectively.
HANDOUTS folder, containing course materials which
supplement textbooks, lectures, etc..
OUTLINES folder, containing OLD course outlines at
the beginning of the semester. We'll be developing outlines for the course as
we go along, and copies will be posted here, replacing the old ones. There will
probably not be too much difference between old and new, though, so if you want
to use these to look ahead, please feel free to do so.
FILELIST ("List of Computer Files") is a document
which lists each file on the server, the subdirectory in which it appears, a
brief description, and the point in the course when you need to read it. It
acts as an index to these computer resources. You’ll find it in the ADMIN
folder.
The standard word processor on the computers in the
USC Sumter main computer lab is Microsoft WORD 2007. Sometimes, in Word, it's
difficult to get to the H:\ drive, because it doesn't appear to come up when
you try to open a file. What probably WILL appear is a line saying "Labs
on 'USC Sumter\home\stu' [H:]" The screen may cut off the last part of the
line, not permitting the reference to the H:\ drive to appear. If you can't
find a way to the H:\ drive, look for that line.
Remember that if you're going to use the computers
in the Main Lab, you'll need to bring a 3.5" floppy disk or a “pen drive”
(or “flash drive” or “USB drive” or whatever you want to call it) with you and
insert it in the computer.
If you have any problems getting to any files, or if
you still need a quick lesson on how to turn on the computer, load a word
processor, and read, copy, or print files, just let me know.
II.
THE WEB PAGE
I've got a World Wide Web page for
my courses. Most of the material noted above, as well as some additional
material, is there. The URL is:
http://www.uscsumter.edu/~tpowers/
Once you're there, just follow the
links to "Courses for Fall, 2008 and from there to "History 101."
Don't ignore the other materials of
a general nature on the entry page. The readings aren't long, but you might
find some of them very useful.
Be aware that the process of
converting text documents to a format usable by web pages sometimes affects the
structure of the document. Those on the web page may not look like those on the
server. You'll still be able to read everything, but the format may be
different. The best formats are in the documents on the server, but that
probably won't make any real difference.
What's on the web page is what's on
the server. Use the "List of Computer Files" document as an index.
There's something on the web page
that's not on the server, in addition to the articles of general interest
referred to above. There's a page called “
I will be making selective use of the BLACKBOARD site for
this course. Most of what can be done in BLACKBOARD can be done through the
website or server, but as many students are now accustomed to BLACKBOARD, or
will need to become accustomed to it, I’m going to use some of its features. I
do not at this time plan on using BLACKBOARD for everything, but I will use it
for providing you with course information and materials and generating the
class e-mail list. BLACKBOARD is also the only means of taking the pre-class
chapter quizzes.
To get into BLACKBOARD in the first place, you’ll need
your userid and password. These are the same as you use to get into your University
E-Mail account. Goto http://blackboard.sc.edu
(or just go to the USC Sumter home page (http://www.uscsumter.edu),
go to the bottom of the page, and click on “Blackboard.”) At the BLACKBOARD
welcome page, click on “Login.” Enter your userid and password where indicated
on the login screen, and click “login” or hit the <enter> key. This
should bring you to your personal BLACKBOARD welcome page. Find the list of
courses you’re enrolled in, and click on HIST 101. (If you do not yet have your
userid and password, right above the login boxes is a link to “Password Help.”
Click on it for instructions on how to get them and other BLACKBOARD basics/
The BLACKBOARD site is organized differently from the
server or the website.
·
To get to
materials stored under ADMIN and GUIDES on the server and website, click on
“Course Information” on BLACKBOARD.
·
To get to
materials stored under HANDOUTS, and OUTLINES on the server and under
I
will post test and final exam grades on BLACKBOARD for your information. BLACKBOARD
also grades and computes automatically your pre-class quizzes. (To see your
grades on BLACKBOARD, click on the “Tools” button, then go down the list and
click on “My Grades.”)
E-mail is another thing. See the next section.
I will be using the course e-mail
list which BLACKBOARD generates automatically.
UNLESS YOU GO IN AND CHANGE IT, BLACKBOARD
AUTOMATICALLY SENDS ALL E-MAIL TO YOUR UNIVERSITY E-MAIL ACCOUNT! Check that
account daily, or change your address in BLACKBOARD so that the e-mail will be
forwarded to an address you use regularly. I often send out class information
on e-mail, so it’s important that you check it.
To change your BLACKBOARD e-mail address, just go
into BLACKBOARD, then click on TOOLS, then on “Personal Information,” then on
“Edit Personal Information.” Just below your name will be a box for your e-mail
address. Remove the address that’s in there (unless that’s the one you want to
use) and enter your preferred one.
In case you’re new, or for some
other reason didn’t know, USC provides all registered students with web-based
e-mail accounts. The class mailing list which BLACKBOARD constructs
automatically uses your University e-mail address, unless you set it otherwise
as mentioned above. To get to your University e-mail account, goto http://webmail.sc.edu. At the top of the
opening screen should be a line reading “FIRST TIME USERS Click Here”. Click on
that, and you’ll get instructions for logging on.
My e-mail address is tpowers@uscsumter.edu.