Welcome to the class (online)

Agenda for orientation meeting, Philosophy of Science ONLINE
Thursday, August 25, 8-10 PM
IS 134A

Welcome to the class. What it is, who I am, one minute course description.

How the "online" format will work:

Normal class: you do the reading, write about it, show up for class to hear a lecture about the material and discuss it with the class.

This class: you do the reading, discuss it online with your classmates (and me), write about it, access learning objects (video clips, slide shows, web pages, etc.) online.

Discussion happens online (WebCT)

Learning objects via WebCT (some will only be accessible after you have completed particular assignments).

Reading: same as it ever was

Essays: still written individually, but you have the advantage of discussing the readings they're about with classmates before writing the essays.

Certain parts of the class (like how quickly you move through the content modules) will have somewhat flexible pacing. Others (like Group Tasks and Journal Club) will not.

Orientation to WebCT

Basics:

Finding the course and getting in:

1. Use your browser to get to http://sjsu.webct.com and click on Login to my WebCT.

2. Enter your WebCT ID (W+last seven digits of SJSU student ID). If you're not enrolled yet, use "phil160OLguest" at your WebCT ID.

3. Enter your password. (At the moment, "fall," but you'll change it to something more secure soon.) Click Log In.

4. Click on Phil 160 – Philosophy of Science. This is the WebCT homepage for our course!

Email tool:

1. Click on E-Mail. (On the course homepage, this has an icon in the shape of a mailbox. Or, you can click on the E-Mail link in the Course Menu list on the left side of your screen.)

2. Setup forwarding from your WebCT inbox to your external email address: Click Message settings.

3. Under Mail Forwarding, in the Forward my mail to text box, enter the external email address. Click Update.

4. To read your messages

5. To send a message

Calendar tool:

1. To see what is scheduled

2. To add your own item to the calendar

Discussion tool

1. To read a post

2. To reply to a post

3. To start a new thread within a topic

Quizzes:

Sample quiz ready to go. (No, it doesn't count toward your grade!)
Be sure to save your answers before submitting the quiz!

Assignments:

Sample assignment ready to upload.
Clicking "Help" in the Assignments area will give you detailed instructions about how to upload files.

Where to find things:

Course Basics has reading response essay questions and guidelines, the reading response essay rubric, discussion rubric, group task rubric, notes on discussion etiquette, etc.

Group Tasks has materials for the group tasks (instructions, materials to read, etc.).

Modules has materials corresponding to particular weeks of the course. These may include crucial slides from the lectures, printable handouts of key slides, and readings.

Supplements will contain odds and ends posted to supplement readings, discussions, etc.

Discussions is where all the discussion of readings, lectures, group tasks, etc., will take place.

Greensheet has all the assignments listed (reading, essays, discussion, group tasks, quizzes, research assignment, etc.).

FAQ has answers to frequently asked questions.

Discussions

1. Discussions of reading assignments.

2. Discussions of group tasks.

7 group tasks over the course of the term, which you'll do with a small group of your classmates.

3. Discussions for "Journal Club".

Researching a scientific finding or question in the scholarly scientific literature and in the popular literature. GOAL: Analyze how assumptions and argumentative strategies differ when scientists are communicating with other scientists vs. when they are communicating with lay people.

FEEDBACK

The student-to-student (and student-instructor) interaction in this class is likely very different from what you're used to! Be sure I know how it's going for you.

SHORT GROUP TASK (how is science different from X?) – do right now to get a feel for the process.

First "real" group task due Friday, September 2 at 11:59 PM!

Questions?

Add codes distributed as needed.