LitMUSE

For those of you taking an online class in which there are reading quizzes to be completed, I’d like to remind you what I said the first day of class: your short answers will often be marked incorrect by the computer. Computer’s are dumb. Therefore, I double-check everything before giving you a final grade. Do [...]

Just a friendly reminder for those of you taking an online course from me this semester: the first day is mandatory. Please be sure you attend the first scheduled day of class for an important orientation. If you miss it for any reason, your final grade is dropped by a letter. Please be sure you [...]

Today, I’m announcing a new back-end to LitMUSE: LitMUSE.edu. Several of my more advanced courses will use this system, while other online sections will continue to use Humanities Online.
LitMUSE.edu uses Wordpress MU, BuddyPress, and bbPress, so think of it as Facebook does Blogging. BuddyPress makes Wordpress MU (multi-user) a social community much like Facebook: users [...]

I have published a survey about this web site that I would like to encourage all students to take. See the explanation. If you complete the survey, you may leave a comment below, on our feedback site (preferred), or send me an email. The survey is anonymous, so all I need is for you to [...]

In posting to the forum, please keep the following in mind. Please note: a “forum” contains “posts” or, even more accurately, “threads.”
Write using paragraphs. No big blocks of rambling text. Yes, this is an informal response, but you must still consider good writing. Have a point to make; this is called a thesis statement in [...]

Or are they users? Think about it: are web sites read like traditional books or newspapers? Or are they used, like a hammer or Ziploc bag? Or both? Yes, web sites are containers for information, but so are books. Books are also used like tools: they have parts that require a certain literacy to utilize. [...]

The back-end server for LitMUSE has a new home: MSC Humanities Online. It’s still running Moodle, but I just switched servers: from an old Linux server to a new Apple Xserve. So, if you’re looking for the old login, you won’t find it. Go to the new site, and use the same login name and [...]

If you sign up for an online course, know that the first meeting is mandatory; if you miss it for any reason, you will be counted as a “no-show,” your final grade will suffer by one letter, and you will find it very difficult to get started in the course on your own. After this [...]

From the MSC Academic Catalog: “Students who wish to receive a degree must demonstrate that they are competent in the use of technology.”

Consult your individual course requirements for the specifics of your daily writing. In general, blog entries and forums should have a minimum of 350 words per entry or thread, respectively. See also Blogging: Some Considerations and Some Notes on Forums. You might also have a look at Tips for Writing.
Comments should always be thoughtful and considerate. [...]