Lesson 1, Email #2: Intro Work Graded

Dear Class,
I have graded everything from the Introduction lesson and I am pleased to report that every single student has done every single assignment. What a great way to start the semester. Here is a little bit of class-wide feedback:
 On the "Lest They Forget" quiz, I gave you full points on the short-answer questions if you answered them. Because that quiz is designed to show you some typical answers after you submit your work, you've already done the learning by the time I get to the quiz. Thus, the full points.
 On the "Cycle of Learning" assignment, I was blown away by your responses. I love that you were able to pinpoint areas that need work in your life and propose plans for improving. Thank you for trusting me with your experiences and thought process.
 I read all of your journals and responded to all of them. I won't typically respond to your journals (even though I want to!) because my time will be chiefly devoted to reading all course assignments (just like you), grading your essays, and working with you in the discussion boards. One small note about the journals: please do not copy and paste entries from other journals you write, or from other blogs or class assignments. This is called "recycling." Review the journal guidelines, and enjoy a little extra time writing.
 Please click on "Grades" at the top of our class page to see how you are doing so far. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Keep up the great work!
 Love,
Sister Bowen

testing links

Sentence fragment handout
How to Write With Style by Kurt Vonnegut (optional reading)
Student Examples of Love Letters
(these links don't work--please see the email I sent the class with the PDF's of these documents)

Lesson 1 Email #1

Dear Class,

I have some good news for you.

Good news #1: I have changed the settings for this lesson so that the "Mark this Activity Complete" function still exists for some assignments, BUT you can move forward without marking the activities complete. Let me know how this goes for you. If you like it, I'll do it for the rest of the semester.

Good news #2: Some of the links are still incorrect in Lesson 1 (the fragment worksheet, the optional reading entitled "How to Write With Style", and the student examples of love letters) so I have pasted the correct links at the top of my Lesson 1 Notes From Instructor. I tested them as a student, and they worked for me. I hope and pray they work for you--let me know if they do not.  If you wonder how to get back to my "Notes from Instructor" after clicking on a link, you just click on the Lesson 1 "Notes from Instructor" on the left-hand side of our class to be brought back to my notes.

Good news #3: If you did not attend an Open House, you can still get credit for attedning by going to my office and answering questions I posted there. The questions were erased somehow over the weekend, but I have high hopes that they will stay put this time. Here is the link to my office. Remember to click that you are a guest, type your full name, and click "Enter Room." You'll be taken to the office. Just email me after you complete the activity if you need me to add a point to your participation score from last week.

This will be a busy, good week of class because you get to do some creative writing and review great writing. Hopefully, technology will not thwart us all as much this week.

I feel like cheering you on with Joseph Smith (with a little poetic license):

"Brethren [and sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause [of learning more about writing]? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren [and sisters]; and on, on to victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:22).

I have been reviewing the Restoration with the Young Women--the Restoration was hard work and there were so many glitches. It is amazing that the Church survived through all the many obstacles. But that didn't make the message any less precious, and I hope you will savor the content of our course, even with the glitches. I know we can do this together, and do it well.

You are in my prayers.

Love,

Sister Bowen

Email #2 to class during introduction week

Dear Class,

I have achieved a minor miracle--as of 10 minutes ago, I have read everything everyone has posted in their journals, on the discussion board, and in the Course Questions folder. It has been wonderful getting to know you and working to serve you. I feel like Superwoman! Here are a few things to keep in mind as the Introduction Lesson comes to a close:

 

1) The Introduction Lesson Work: Remember to get everything completed by Saturday night at midnight (your time). The list of assignments is posted on the Introduction Lesson main page, and I'm pasting it here:

(the list didn't paste--darn!--just look on the Introduction Lesson Main Page)

(Remember that the material in the "Notes" row is incorrect. Your Introduction lesson work is all due by Saturday night at midnight, based on your time zone.)

 

2) Late Work: Because we are at the start of a new semester, my late work policy will be more lenient during the Introduction Lesson and Lesson 1 than it ever will be again. If you can get everything completed for this Introduction lesson by Saturday, I won't deduct any points from your Introduction Lesson work--even if you posted your Wednesday assignments late. If you submit Introduction work next week, I'll dock a letter grade for everything submitted late. After Lesson 1, I won't accept late work except in the most extreme circumstances (like hospitalization). I ask that everything be submitted on time except in the rarest emergencies.

Our syllabus says: "Late Work Policy: Assignments are due on the day indicated. No late work will be accepted without permission from the instructor. Work that is late hampers your ability to fully participate in the course and will be accepted only at your instructor's discretion. Inform your instructor before the assignment is due. Any late work that is accepted is subject to a penalty as determined by your instructor." Please work to get all of your work in on time. Plan ahead so you can meet the deadlines.

 

3) Open House: I have had so much fun getting to meet you in our Open Houses! Today at 6 pm, MT, I will host the last Open House here. Just click on the link, click that you are a guest, type your full name, and click "Enter Room." I look forward to meeting with you! If you are unable to come to this last meeting, and you have not yet come to an Open House, I have good news. Rather than schedule myriad alternative meetings, I invite you to go to my virtual office on your own time and complete the assignments I will post there. That will "count" as having attended an Open House. To get to my office, click the link above, or go to the "My Instructor" folder and click on the virtual office link right by my school picture.

***One more thing about these open houses--many students have written in their class journals about dreading meeting online with other students. They worry that they will have to make time for these meetings, and worry that they will be graded according to group work. That is not the case. I am only hosting Open Houses this week so we can get to know each other, and so you know where to go if you want to use my office to meet with me, or interact with other classmates. I will be in the virtual office every Wednesday night at 8 pm, MT, and you are always welcome to come visit me there and ask questions. But you will never again be required to come to a meeting in my office. Do you feel better?

 

I hope I have answered some questions for you, and I hope this Introduction Lesson week has gone well for you. Keep up the great work, and let me know if you have further questions (on the Course Questions board, or via email or text: 208-241-2889). I am praying for you!

 

Sincerely,

Sister Bowen

Announcement on Day 2 of Class

Dear Class,

I promise my announcements won't be this constant as things settle down in the class. Here are a few updates:

1) I have heard from several of you that certain links don't work for you in the Introduction Lesson. I have notified Curriculum Development of this problem, and they will check all the links. Just do what you can in the meantime.

2) I dropped the two problematic quiz questions from the Syllabus quiz. You will take the quiz, and then see on the score review that two questions have been deleted. Also, you have the chance to take this syllabus quiz two times--make sure the second time is your best time, because that's the one the computer records. To retake it, click on the button to take the quiz again, found in the bottom right-hand corner of your quiz.

3) I have also appealed to Curriculum Development to get rid of "Mark this Activity Complete" for future lessons. I have used your reasoning to support this choice, and I think you have great reasons. I'll let you know when I hear back on the suggested change. For now, you will have to methodically work through the lesson to get to all the materials for the week. We'll keep our fingers crossed:).

4) Finally, keep in mind that there are two more Open House meetings left this week. One will be tomorrow evening (Wednesday) at 8 pm, MT. The last one will be on Friday evening at 6 pm, MT. Email me alternate times if my scheduled open house meetings cannot work for you.

I'm having so much fun getting to know you! Keep working hard--I promise the course material will be enriching and your writing assignments will be meaningful if you pray to grow from these experiences. I know this from personal experience! While I felt drawn to Pathway and wanted to teach it, I was worried that I wouldn't like being part of a basic English class. To my complete delight, this has been my favorite curriculum so far. I hope you love it too!

Sincerely,

Sister Bowen

Lesson 1 Notes, (based off Torri's notes--I'll adjust them more as I work through Lesson 1)

Lesson 1: April 29 - May 4

Dear Class,
Today we really get into your coursework. At this point you should have already reviewed the main page for Lesson 1, so you have a pretty good idea of all the work you will be required to complete this week. It may seem like a lot at this point, but let's take it one week and one day at a time.

I want to remind you that I am praying for you, I have faith in you, and I am here to support your efforts. Writing is not always easy, but I know that with Heavenly Father's help, we can do hard things. Righteously do your part and I promise the words will come. Also, remember what we are taught in D&C 100:15, "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly."  We can do this!

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Video Tour of the Classroom

Watching the video below will give you an idea of what to expect this week:


If you cannot see the video player above, you may need to install an Adobe Flash Player. You can view the video at this URL: http://screencast.com/t/dkYsLCzaC

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Hints for Success

• Extra Credit Opportunity: Submit your draft to the Writing Center! When you use our BYU-Idaho Writing Center's FREE services, you will learn more and submit superior work. You will also earn an extra point on the essay you submit to the Writing Center; when you submit your final paper on Saturday, tell me one thing you learned from your writing tutor. You can post this in the "comments" box when you submit your essay. Hint: You will need to contact the Writing Center early in the week (Wednesday at the latest) in order to receive feedback, or make an appointment before your final paper deadline.

• Meet Your Deadlines: As the Syllabus states, assignments are due on the day indicated. I expect you to turn your work in on time (the earlier, the better!) Of course there are extenuating circumstances that may prohibit you from meeting deadlines.  Except in very rare cases, consider the deadlines for this class set in stone. In many things I am very flexible, but in order to best serve you, I am firm with deadlines. The assignments for Lesson 1 (this lesson) are due on Wednesday and Saturday of this week. 

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Do You Have Questions?

Please post your questions on our Course Questions Discussion Board. If your questions are personal, please email me instead.

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Time to Dive In!

Indicate that you have read these notes: "Mark this Activity Complete." 

You can do hard things! Let me know how I can support your efforts. 

Sincerely,

 Sister Bowen

Introduction Lesson Monday Announcements 1 and 2:

1)

Class Has Begun!!!
To:	Spring 2013 - ENG 106 ~ 31 (ONLINE)
From:	Tara Bowen
Created:	Today 7:53 AM
Expires:	Mon 04/29

Dear Class,

I was too excited to get much sleep last night. School has begun! Please read my Introduction Lesson email in your BYU-I email account and jump right in. Remember that you have homework due by Wednesday, so it's best to get started right away. One more cool note: I just learned that an essay I wrote is posted on Time Out For Women's website. Here's a link to my article: http://tofw.com/Wings-Fly-Tara-Bowen/s/819

Sincerely,

Sister Bowen 

2) 

Dear Class, 

I am loving what I am seeing so far. Here are a few more things to keep in mind: 1) The syllabus quiz is imperfect. Two questions (regarding when lessons open--It should say "Will open one and a half weeks early on Thursday in order to accommodate students who want to get started early." ) and regarding when things are due (discussion boards aren't due until Saturday) are being addressed by Curriculum Development. Because of these imperfections, I am allowing you to take the Syllabus Quiz two times. Just read the syllabus carefully, and do well the second time around, if you haven't already aced the quiz. 2) Keep in mind that you can not move forward through the Lessons without marking materials as "complete." You can see where to click that at the bottom right-hand corner of your screens. Don't worry that you haven't mastered the material before marking it complete. Just mark it complete when you are ready to move forward. You may come back later. 

Sincerely, Sister Bowen

Introduction Lesson Notes From Instructor

Sister Bowen's Introduction Lesson Notes for April 22nd-27th

---

Dear Class,

You found "Notes from Instructor" for the Introduction Lesson. Wahoo! By now, you have:

A) replied to my welcome email, which I sent last week and posted as "Notes from Instructor" in the "My Instructor" folder (if not, please do so after reading these notes!)

B) read my Introduction Lesson email (if not, go to your BYU-I email and read it, please)

C) scrolled through the "My Instructor" and "Course" folders and

D) read through the "Introduction Lesson Main Page" in the Introduction Lesson.

You can see that you have quite a bit to do this week. The best way to make sure you do everything required is to methodically go down the list of tabs in the Introduction Lesson and complete each activity. Because you mark each of the activities in the lesson "complete", you'll be able to see where you left off if you log off for the day, and jump back in the next day. Here are the deadlines this week (pulled from the Course Schedule in the Course folder):

Due Wednesday at 11:59 PM (local time) of the Introduction Week

• Orientation to Online Learning at BYU-Idaho
• Syllabus Quiz
• BYU-Idaho Writing Center
• Lest They Forget quiz
• Living a Life of Honor

Due Saturday at 11:59 PM (local time) of the Introduction Week

• Update Your Personal Information
• Cycle of Learning for Growth
• Getting Acquainted Discussion Board
• Virtual Open House
• What Questions Do You Still Have?
• Personal Journal Reflection
• Attendance Report
• Weekly Report

Keep in mind that you need to attend a brief (15-20 minute) Virtual Open House in Adobe Connect this week with me. Here are the meeting times. Pick the one that works best for you:
Tuesday: 12 pm, Mountain Time

Wednesday: 8 pm, Mountain Time (This is my office hour, so I'll be in the office for a full hour.)

Friday: 6 pm, Mountain time

If none of these times work for you, please email me a few times that work for you, and I will email you back with one of your workeable meeting times. I look forward to meeting you! 

To come to our Adobe Connect virtual office, you will click here and then click that you are a guest, and type your full name. You then click "enter room" and you'll be in our class office.

If you have questions about this lesson, post them on the Course Questions board. I'll be checking my emails, phone, and the Course Questions board daily.

I love you, and I am praying for your success and happiness!

Sincerely,

Sister Bowen

Introduction Lesson Email #1, Monday, April 22nd

Dear Class,

I am so excited to begin our class together! This week, you will complete all the work in the Introduction Lesson folder. Here is a short video suggesting how you can get started successfully in this class, and achieve the tasks in this particular lesson. As the video demonstrates, clicking on our class in I-Learn, and reading through the "My Instructor" folder and the "Course" folder before you start working in the "Introduction" folder will help you quickly familiarize yourself with the course. You will get to know me and the class better, and that's a great way to start things off! 

A few things to keep in mind as you begin working through our course:

1) I have posted my "Welcome to Class" in the "My Instructor" folder. I ask some questions in that welcome message, and you  need to email me your answers. Many students have already emailed me, but I am waiting to hear from some of you. So read the welcome, and email me back, please.

2) Remember that my emails and "Notes from Instructor" are mandatory reading. They are my "stand at the front of the class" time, and you cannot succeed in the class without reading them. Please check your BYU-I email account daily, and watch for announcements in the course as well. The announcements serve as alerts regarding emails in your in-box, posted grades, or slight adjustments in the course.

3) I am praying for you, and I am excited to learn with you! Here is a spiritual message to help you through the day:

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus sayeth the Father: ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:20).

Sincerely,
Sister Bowen