Rule # 1: In all correspondence with me DO identify yourself, including
your full name and course reference number. It happens that I teach more
than one online course and the number of students varies from semester
to semester, but your class is not the only one this term. You must ONLY
write your course reference number on the subject line (nothing else!).
I DON'T reply anonymous or inadequately identified e-mails. Keep a copy
of all your correspondance to me you may be asked to resubmit.
Rule # 2: It is likely that I will be off campus while teaching these online
courses, likely in my field station in Mexico. So complications may develop.
Be patient while I take care of the problem. In the event of a complication:
DON'T contact the web master or the Outreach Office they will not be able
to assist you or resolve the problem.
Rule # 3: DON'T call the geology office in the event of a problem, even
if you think is a big, serious problem for you, since the secretaries and
other personnel in the Geology office will not be able to help you. I will
be entirely responsible for making sure that the course moves on.
Rule # 4: I will normally try to answer your e-mails as soon as possible,
I would say during the following three days. DON'T expect an immediate
reply to your e-mails. As indicated in the syllabus, you must ask questions
or clarifications ahead of time. DON'T wait to the day before the assignments
or essays are due to ask questions since I may not be able to reply right
away. Also, keep in mind that you are one of the many students taking the
online courses.
Rule # 5: I will always send a note acknowledging the receipt of your essays
or correspondence. If you DON'T hear from me in five days, contact me again.
DON'T call the geology department office or your school, as they do not
have copies of my records.
Rule # 6: Assignments and essays should be submitted electronically only.
DON'T send your work more than one time. DO check the classroll in the
data base page of the website periodically. Grades will be posted within
the following 8-10 days. Acknowledge of receipt of your work will be posted
within the following two or three days and marked with an X in the corresponding
column. The X will be replaced with the grade as soon as available. It
is your responsibility to check with me if you did not receive it.
Rule # 7: Unexpected changes in the syllabus DO occur, so you must revisit
the syllabus node periodically and also check your e-mail at least twice
a week.
Rule # 8: Be aware that problems beyond my control DO happen during a semester.
For example, the FIU server may go dawn unexpectedly. DON'T panic and if
such is the case wait for my instructions.
Rule # 9: Essays are to be submitted on time and according to the guidelines,
DON'T expect extensions or exceptions, as they will not be granted to any
one in the class. Only electronic submission of essays is allowed. Practice
the submission of essays as attachments of your e-mail in advance, DON'T
wait to the deadline to find out how to submit them since problems occur
at your end. You will ONLY be excused from not submitting essays when problems
due to malfunction at my end (FIU). DO keep a copy of all your files related
to this course at least until the end of the semester. You may be asked
to resubmit a file more than once due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g.,
file corruption during electronic transmission).
Rule # 10: For online, asynchronous, self paced courses: DON'T expect face-to-face
or telephone contact with me since that would be the exception, all the
contact with me should be via e-mail. DO feel free to write to me as many
times as you need to ask questions or for clarifications. DON'T wait until
the end of the semester to know your performance in the course, visit
the classroll page periodically.
Rule # 11: DON'T expect negotiations or exemptions in this course, all
the administrative matters will be ruled by the stipulations in the syllabus.
Rule # 12: DON'T panic, access codes will be sent during the first week
of the semester. DON'T call the geology office or the Distance Learning
Office
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Well, it may seem
like too many rules and regulations but they are meant to expedite my teaching
and facilitate your learning in these online courses. At the long run we
all will benefit from these rules and I am confident that we all will have
a GREAT SEMESTER.
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