HI 216 Online

Latin America since 1826

Fall 2008 Semester

Check Course News often. Things change and so must you. Hot Peppers

Welcome [Bienvenidos] to Our Cyberspace Learning Community

  • Watch a brief video welcome from Dr. Slatta
    Custom Slatta Search
    Welcome to HI 216, NCSU's first online history course, now celebrating its 10th anniversary. This latest incarnation is new and improved-- thanks to good suggestions from students. Your course graders and I are here to help you succeed! I'm looking forward to retirement sometime in the next decade, and I need you to be very successful-- and pay for my Social Security! Check out the course site map to help you visualize the various components and structure of the course. We'll look at the world differently in this course. Check this out for example. Interested in sampling some Latin American foods? See this Triangle-Area Mexican and Latin American Food Stores (Tiendas).

    If problems, arise. . .

    Adverse weather? It's always perfect weather in cyberspace, so assignments are due come rain, sleet, or whatever. OK, power outages may provide an exception. For Campus Adverse Weather status, call 919-513-8888 or check the NCSU home page.

    If you have a family or personal emergency that impedes your course work, contact Parents and Constituent Services at Box 7306, NCSU, Raleigh NC 27695-7306. You or a parent may also call toll free during business hours at 877-568-5733 or email ncsuparents@ncsu.edu. That office will contact your instructors. For a personal health issue, get documentation from a physician or the NCSU health center.

    First things first

    • Most importantly! Be honest. Are you and distance learning compatible? If you have had difficulties in classroom courses, you will likely find an Internet-based course even more difficult. Take this short self-assessment testing your readiness for distance ed.
    • Read what the ECU Distance Education program lists as characteristics of a successful DE student. How well do you match up?
    • If you’re new to distance learning in general, then take the NCSU virtual orientation to DE. Items 1 and 2 are especially important.

      HOW CAN I SUCCEED AS AN ONLINE STUDENT?

      The successful online student taking Internet courses learns to:
      1. learn to use required technology, especially computers, Vista, the Internet;
      2. manage time well, be self-disciplined, avoid procrastinating;
      3. invest required time [four to six hours each week on each course];
      4. be well organized;
      5. read and follow written instructions carefully;
      6. actively participate, share ideas, and engage fully in online discussions;
      7. when in doubt, asks questions;
      8. be flexible, adaptable, and open-minded about the online experience.
        Online courses offer a large degree of convenience and flexibility, but it's important to note that these courses require the same level of commitment and effort as attending a class on campus.
        [Source: Adapted from ECU Distance Ed program]

        Getting down to business

      9. OK, you're on board. Welcome! Bienvenidos! Unity email address made official for students As of August 13, 2007, all official email correspondence from the university should be sent to students’ Unity email addresses. This includes email regarding student account information, eBILLs, and correspondence from instructors regarding classes. Students have been notified of the change in the email address that is associated with their records in the student information system. Instructors should continue to use students’ email addresses provided by Registration and Records. The university implemented these changes because of the increased use of email for official communications and the need to have confidence that the email is being delivered to valid student email addresses. Students still have the option of forwarding their email to another account.
      10. Next, see what this DE specific course entails. All reading and writing assignments appear, logically enough, on the assignments page. Assignments are due on the date listed-- put another way, they assignment must be submitted (not begun) by the listed due date. Secondly, some assignments you evaluate and respond to discussons posted by your fellow students. Your responses are due the very next due date, regardless of whether that day's assignment is a quiz or a discussion. Replies to Monday discussions are due Thurday; replies to Thursday discussions are due by the following Monday.
      11. Buy the two required books (see the "books" page). "I don't have my book yet" is not a valid excuse for missing an assignment.
      12. Check the "Assignments" page to see what is due when. You have a 3 to 7 day window to submit each assignment, so NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS ARE ACCEPTED. The course has a "no-faulty" policy on missed assignments. Read the grading page carefully for details.
      13. Read completely and thoroughly the "how to" page. It explains the required formats and other standards and procedures for all assignments. Refer to it when submitting assignments throughout the semester.
      14. Read carefully the "grading" page. It explains important requirements and penalties, such as a final grade of F for too many missed assignments.
      15. Do not under any circumstances miss the first two assignments. "The History Department employs a MANDATORY DROP POLICY. This means that unless you have notified the instructor in advance that you will be absent, you will automatically be dropped from your class if you fail to attend the first two meetings of a course that meets two or more times a week or the first class of a course that meets only once a week. Your place in the class will be assigned to someone on a wait list for that class." IN HI 216 online, failing to submit an assignment on time is equivalent to failing to attend class.

    HI 216 Online Quick Reference Menu

    Basics of Course Navigation Details of Course Navigation Internet Tutorials to sharpen your online skills Ideal Distance Learner Profile
    Classes Dr. Slatta Teaches Active learning Fast Facts: Quick References to Basic Info Computing and Software Issues
  • Need a little something to get the history juices flowing? Check out what happened on this day in history
  • Where does this course fit into your curriculum? It fulfills the Humanities and Social Sciences History GER for a non-English speaking culture (Group 1). What does that mean to you? Check with your advisor or NCSU Advising Central. Select major/minor, go to your college, and explore the course options and requirements that you have to fulfill.
  • A big thanks to various NC State units that have supported the improvement and development of my online and classroom teaching.

    Basics of Course Navigation

     Dr. Slatta
    1. Use the menu along the left side of each page to move to different areas of the course. You are now reading the 216 Home Page. Check the course description page for a full discussion of what we're doing and why, including learning objectives. Here's a recent picture of me and my TA. Word of advice, pilgrim. Deal with me. You don't want to have to deal with my TA.
    2. You'll be using an innovative collaborative learning tool called Wikispaces. Check it out: Wikispaces
    3. Who's running this show? You can learn a little more here: Dr. Slatta's brief bio. The Find Dr. Slatta page gives you my office hours, FAX and phone numbers, and a link to my "Home Range" where you can learn more about my teaching, writing, and other professional activities. Even though this is an online course, you may of course come visit me in person. You may also Send me email or an IM--handle: drslatta
    4. Most importantly, decide whether you are a good candidate for a distance learning course like HI 216 Online. Are you an independent learner? Are you motivated enough to work with minimal faculty guidance and intervention? Can you budget your time to complete tasks without frequent prompting? Are you organized? Are you intellectually curious? Are you bold enough to ask for the instructor's assistance when you need it?
    5. Read the Profile of a Successful Distance Learner. Ask yourself how well you match up with the characteristics of the learner most likely to succeed in this type of course. If you match well, you should succeed as a distance learner. If the match is not there, you may face serious problems ahead.
    6. Both instructors and students need to practice effective communication.
    7. According to Sara Dulaney Gilbert, author of How to be a Successful Online Student (McGraw-Hill, 2001, p. 215), success distance-learning students have the following characteristics:
      • Are actively involved in their learning
      • Can focus on their goals
      • Prioritize their responsibilities
      • Reach out for the assistance they need
      • Pay at least some attention to their health and wellness
      She suggests using the very good advice to online students at Virginia Tech's Self-Help Information Page.

      Details of Course Preparation
    8. After you've read the Course Description and understand what you will be doing and why, buy the two required books. They are available under HI 216 in local campus-area bookstores. You may also order them online from Barnes and Noble Online or other online bookstores.
    9. Stay in touch! Make certain that the email address that you use is the one listed with NCSU. That's the only way I can communicate with you. Your Unity ID is the default address. If you need to change it, go to the NCSU online directory or to Registration and Records.
    10. Is your background in Latin American history weak? You may wish to consult an additional textbooks on Latin american history. Most are available in D. H. Hill Library. Just remember that the key course skill is not textbook regurgitation; but rather the analysis of primary sources.
    11. Examine the Assignments Page that summarizes the required research, reading, writing, and due dates. I may update assignments during the semester, so be certain to check it online. (Web sites disappear, stuff happens, so we just adjust, just as in a regular classroom course.) Read carefully the course Grading Policies. The "How to" page explains how to do lots of stuff. Explore all the areas in the menu on the left. Be certain that you know:
      • when assignments are due [assignments page];
      • how many assignment you can miss [NOT MANY!--read the grading page]
      • how to take online quizzes using Vista
      • how to participate in online discussions [See the "How to" page and the "Help" feature in Vista.]
      • In addition to learning about Latin American history, you will learn important, useful computer, research, organizational, and writing skills.

      Computing and Software Issues
    12. Practice SAFE COMPUTING and learn the computing skills you need! If some skill needs a tuneup, visit the NCSU Computing Essentials Page for tutorial help. Bad things can happen to good people. Keep disk files of all assignments that you email to me if case an email server malfunctions. Use the button on the left to check the status of NCSU Networks. If a system goes down, you'll find an announcement on that page.
    13. Back up all files regularly. Hard disks crash, floppies go bad, servers crash. Always, always, make back up copies. A computer disaster is no excuse for missed assignments! Email is not infallible. If I request a second copy of an assignment, you must be able to produce it.
    14. Course pages should be readable at any resolution. Increase or decrease your browser's font size if necessary. I don't put any fancy odd coding into these pages, so they should work with any frames-capable browser. However, if you use another resolution and encounter difficulties, inform the instructor. Older browsers may also create difficulties, so upgrade to the latest version available.
    15. You'll need an up-to-date virus checking program, like Symantec's Norton AntiVirus [free to NCSU students.] You may also use MacAfee or another similar program.
    16. Help Me! Get the help you need! Go to my Internet Help and Tutorials Page to Improve your computing skills. For library resources, see the NCSU Library Distance Learning Services for Students Page for suggestions and services provided by D. H. Hill staff.
    17. Have other specific questions? Check Help Page, an area with nuts-and-bolts instructions on various course activities. You will also find a link from the help page to FAQs, Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't find an answer, post your question or comment in the "Study Hall" section of the WebCT Vista discussion area, or ask the instructor via email.
    18. Accessible web content: I've made every effort to keep all web pages accessible to all students. If you find an image without an alternate caption or some other access problem, please let me know. You may also review NCSU's accessibility guidelines for web pages.
      Please check my Acknowledgements and Credits Page for a list of "thank yous" to the people, institutions, software creators, and web sites that have contributed to my various web pages and online course materials.
    Warning All materials © 1998-99-2000-01-02-03-04-05-06-07-08 by Richard W. Slatta These instructional materials have been created by and are copyrighted by Dr. Richard W. Slatta. You may not establish links to nor copy, reedit, or redistribute the information in these pages in any form, electronic or printed, without Dr. Slatta's written or email permission. I am happy to share my work, but you must request permission. That's why it's called intellectual property. Disclaimer: this course is offered by North Carolina State University for academic credit, but the specific materials and views on these pages are not reviewed by nor endorsed by the University.
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