Using E-mail/Internet

Goals and Objectives:

Being able to use the internet resources and e mail have become essential skills for students at MTSU. Many instructors have their syllabus, course assignments, practice tests, review sheet, notes etc. on-line. Using the in ternet, then, has become skill we must teach to meet the objectives of the U101 course. Click here for an example of a course web page

Many of the course assignments for U101 will be on the web because it is a place to make resources and assignments available to students that may not be available elsewhere, keeps MTSU resources up-to–date, and gives students practice using the in ternet in this course so that they can comfortably use it in other courses.

When students get a frank account, they are given a user name (login) and a password. However the first time they log in, they are asked to change their password.

You will probably want to meet in a computer lab for this day to help them change their passwords and to give the time to become acquainted the U101 pages and how your class might use them.

Resources

It is important to check early to see when and where computer labs are available for your students to use. (Although students can do this assignment on their own, it is helpful to do it together as a class.)

Jim Adams from Academic Services (5413) might be able to arrange someone from his office to come explain to your student how to change their password, about e-mailing, and the internet.

Some ideas of where labs are available http://www.mtsu.edu/Facilities/CompLabs/

Since you are doing this assignment very early, you might also check with OIT to see if the Windows or Mac Training lab are available or maybe one of the writing or other classroom labs might be available during the time your class meets.

Ideas and Activities

Have students log on their frank account. The frank account can be used to get to library resources among other things, but students will primarily use it for e mail. The e-mail program is called pine. (The intern et is not accessed through frank.) First make sure students have changed their passwords. (Frank password must contain six to eight characters with at least two alphabetic characters and at least non-alphabetic character) See the IT Handbook page 7 for more information. http://www.mtsu.edu/~oit/students/IT_Handbook/frankpswrd.htm

After passwords are changed, have students practice some basic e-mail commands such as creating and sending a practice message.

See page 10 IT Handbook for E-mail basics of Pine

http://www.mtsu.edu/~oit/students/IT_Handbook/pine.html

Remember: frank is case sensitive.

In addition to beginning e-mail activities, you will want student to use the internet to get to the U101 page and the MTSU homepage.

Assignments and Follow-up

  1. Access the U101 page or any other page such as the MTSU Homepage Study Skill help page.
  2. Explore the page by clicking on various elements.

III. E mail your instructor:

Tell two or three things you found interesting on the page you explored. Ask at least one question. Include where you found a computer to use for this assignment.

Your instructor will reply to you within the next day or so after you send your message--probably the same day.

Check your messages and let your instructor know that you received a reply

Or

You might want your students to write you a letter of introduction or any other assignment to give them practice with e-mail and establish a line of communication between the student and the instructor.

Or have students email students in the class and copy it to you. Student and faculty e mail addresses can be found on the MTSU Electronic Directory

 

Possible Journal Assignment

Discuss how you think you will use technology in your classes. Include your previous experiences with computer, fears or problems you may face. Where you think you will use the computer most often.