Hello and Welcome:

As you are officially registered for the online course - EST 571, I'm writing to welcome you and to request that you fill out the Course Questionnaire ( http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/oconnog/q.html ) as soon as possible but not later than the first week of class.

Students traditionally register for online courses thinking it will be easy and won't require much time. To prepare you for the course and to let you know what is invloved I have prepared a web site with observations and recommendations from former students:
http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Class/est571go/reviews.html


Many will say that they learned much and had fun but that it wasn't easy. You have to be an independent learner, willing to resolve problems on your own, and have the ability and perseverance to complete assignments without being reminded. This is not your traditional face-to-face environment and, while help is only an e-mail away, there is little hand holding. Computer literacy is more than simply owning a computer. Familiarity with the technology ( E-mail, FTP, Telnet, Web browsers, etc.) or a dogged determiniation to learn, goes a long way toward sustaining a good comfort level with this course.

Look over the entire course ( http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Class/est571go ) to make sure you are aware of all the issues related to online learning and that you are prepared for this experience. While the course is not finalized at this point, it will be by the first day of class. To get a quick overview of the entire course go to: http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Class/est571go/cooverview.html.

If you have any questions please E-mail me and I'll do the best I can to answer them.

You may use your personal e-mail if you promise to always sign your e-mails. All registered students must have an active e-mail address. All course work (projects) will be posted on a web page, created by you, and housed on the University server.

If you are not already comfortable and familiar with the Internet, you will need to allow yourself extra time for each assignment to become so. Normally, a three-credit class requires two hours of work for every hour of class during a 15-week semester. If you are new to e-mail, the World Wide Web, and other Internet technology, you should schedule even more time for the course. Further, you should plan on checking your e-mail and accessing class materials ( Course Web site and Blackboard ) at least three times a week. This is a minimum and you will be better off if you check your e-mail and work on the class at least five or six days a week. If you do not have Internet access in your home, you will need to make at least three trips a week to the computer you intend to use for this course. The more active you are in the class, the greater your likelihood of success.

You might also want to look at the FAQ page I have put together for this course: ( http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Class/est571go/faq.html ). It should answer many of your questions, but if not, feel free to fire away.

I'm looking forward to working with you and hope that you will get as much out of the course(s) as I have in putting it together.

On the other hand, if you decide to drop the course, for any reason, please do me the courtesy of letting me know by e-mail as soon as possible, as I am being pressed by other students wishing to gain access.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Gerry O'Connor

E-mail: est571go@sparky.ic.sunysb.edu

or

E-mail: oconnog@sunysuffolk.edu