MSC Humanities Online

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 password you used on LitMUSE. You can also click on the “MSC Humanities Online” button on the side, or the link to the right under “Students.” Email me if you have any questions or difficulties.

Online Courses

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 first meeting, we will not meet in a classroom again. All evaluation, discussion, and lecture will take place online using this server. Also see Considerations for Online Courses for more information about who is most likely to succeed in online classes..

Technology Competency

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

Read more

Writing in the Forum

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. You might also have a look at Tips for Writing.

Comments should always be thoughtful and considerate. See Commenting Online for a more detailed explanation.

1101 Online Introduction, Fall 2007

1102 Online Introduction, Fall 2006

Commenting Online

In writing comments on a blog or forum, you should try to add to the conversation the entry begins. First, has the author done a good job in carefully considering her position? If not, your comment might indicate what has been omitted and provide additional ideas for her to consider, including your own. You should respectfully encourage further thought — deeper thought. No one wants to read entries that just skim the surface of an issue, so comments should help direct continued investigation.

Read more

Blogging: Some Considerations

In this course, your blog should represent your critical and creative ideas and feelings about the literature read, ideas discussed, activities assigned, and all other aspects of the course. Topics for your blog entries may occasionally be assigned, but often they will be chosen by you and they should be about 350-500 words.

Read more

Writing on a Wiki

When writing for a wiki, think of yourself as contributing to an encyclopedia. Wiki.org provides a succinct definition:

The simplest online database that could possibly work.

Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. Wiki supports hyperlinks and has a simple text syntax for creating new pages and crosslinks between internal pages on the fly.

Read more

Considerations for Online Courses

So, you’re thinking about taking an online literature or composition course? Please read the following carefully before committing to a very challenging course.

First, take this brief survey. Take the results seriously.

Read more