Week 2: May 18
REMINDER: If you need to get back to Week 1 use the "previous specials" link above

• Chat with the Owner
• Appetizers this Week
• Setting the Table
• This Week's Menu: History and Overview of IT
  • Manager's Special: Defining Instructional Technology
  • Chef's Special: History of Instructional Design & Technology
• Proceed to the Checkout Counter
• Next Week's Specials

Chat with the Owner

Many of you have done a great job of getting your many tasks as well as course assignments completed this week. The first week of an online class is always difficult because of the need for orienting yourself to the layout of the course in addition to familiarizing yourself with course assignments and requirements. Given this, I think most of you are making good progress.

From your experiences this past week, I am issuing the following reminders:

• Please be sure to include your first and last name along with the course you are in (EME 6812) in ALL emails you send to me. I have many students in several courses. Many of you have the same first name and some have the same last name. Your email address does not always identify clearly who you are. If you want me to respond to you in a speedy manner this is the best way for me to be able to answer any question or check on anything. I wish I knew who everyone was by simply looking at the email address it came from but this is not going to happen the first weeks of class. To be safe, so I know who it came from, SIGN YOUR EMAIL!
• Remember that when you send a note to the listserv it goes to EVERYONE. If you are reading a message sent to the listserv and you hit the reply button to answer someone's question then remember that this goes to everyone on the list. If you want to answer specifically to someone then you will need to send them an individual email - do not hit reply - (Another good reason to include your name and email address in all communication). Please turn any auto reply functions you have running within your email program to off for this course - this generates error reports every time someone sends something to the listserv.
• When you send a message to the listserv, everyone else will get it but you will not. The listserv assumes you don't need it since you sent it. If you want to save a copy, carbon copy yourself or use your email settings to save it for you. There are also directions you can follow to set your personal settings to receive the mail you send if you choose to do that.
• Any technical difficulties should be directed to the Mentor - Melissa. Feel free to copy me on it but I will generally let her assist you on technical matters.

I am looking forward to getting to know everyone through the icebreaker threaded discussion. I have read many of the posts and see that we have a varied group of people which always makes for lively discussion and a good course.  Several of you have gotten the idea of replying to those who reply to you - kudos to you. Everyone should continue to spend time this week reading others' posts and replying to them as well as others who have replied to you.  I have already received many reaction papers. I will read these and provide grades and feedback this week. I hope the course meets everyone's varying expectations.  I will certainly try my best - the Cafe Crew aims to keep their regulars coming back week after week for great meals and conversation.

Check out the Week 1 checklist at the checkout counter. Normally, this will not be posted until Friday each week, but the first few weeks I will try to have it up early so you can use it to check your status. I know some of you are completing assignments as I am writing this so please do not be alarmed if you have a blank. I will update it on Friday so you can see if I received your assignments or not. If there is a blank in any box beside your number then that means I have either not yet assessed that assignment or have yet to enter it into the gradebook so there is no reason to email me or Melissa in a state of worry. On Friday, that blank will either turn into a "0", a "L", or a "X". A "0" if your assignment is not completed, a "L" if completed but turned in after 5 PM on Tuesday (today), or an "X" if turned in on time. At any time, if you have questions about the checklists then email Melissa so she can follow up with you.

This week I have added a new feature.  What I will be asking you to fill out each week is a Cafe Comment Card related to the previous week's activities at the Cafe.  You should view this as an opportunity to play a role in the design, development, evaluation, and perfection of this course for you and future cafe regulars.  What I would like is your honest opinion of the readings, activities, and other assignments.  Your feedback will assist me in making changes in the current course as well as making changes in future semesters.  I sincerely hope you will provide me with positive feedback on the things you do like as well as constructive feedback on how I could improve this course.  The link to these comment cards will be in the table setting section each week.  They are not time intensive so I hope you all take the time to fill them out.

This week you will be replying to your classmates' posts.  If you have not read the requirements for threaded discussions (in the week 1 instruction), make sure that you do so.  To clarify the requirements, you are to respond to 3 original posts, as well as to your classmates' replies to your original posts.  Make sure that you recognize the difference between an original post, a reply to an original post, and a reply. (See graphic below)

This week, we'll begin to take a look at the definition and history of the field of Instructional Technology. Please pay special attention to the way in which I write up each of the topic discussions.  As you should know by now, one of your assignments in this course is to lead a discussion during one open mike night. As a guide for you, I am providing models for you over the next several weeks.  The text we are using for this course is brand new so much of the information is current.  However, in the field of IT, even a "just-published" text is probably somewhat outdated and much current information can be found via the WWW.  Given these conditions, you should note that in each of my topic discussions I not only summarize what was in the text, but I also expand and bring in the current thinking related to the topic.  I do this by drawing on my own knowledge and experiences as well as reading other sources and searching the web.  I will expect the same of you as you lead your discussion on open mike night. So, pay special attention to the level and types of detail I provide in my discussions over the next few weeks so you can do your best work on assignment #2. I also welcome other creative ways in which you may choose to perform on your chosen open mike night but please approve them with me so I can make sure the cafe can accommodate your needs.

It's going to be an exciting week!

Appetizers this Week

• Begin to define the field of Instructional Technology
• Look at the history of IT and take a stab at predicting the future

Setting the Table

While many of you completed your table setting tasks for last week, some have not. 

Task # 1:
If you have not yet joined the course listserv do so NOW. This is an important part of our communication to insure that you receive any current information about the course. The list being used for this course is called "itseminar".  Instructions for subscribing to the list are under the listserv link on the communication page.

Task # 2:
Review assignment #2 and identify someone you would like to partner with to complete the requirements. Choose a chapter that has not yet been chosen by other classmates (first come, first serve) and send your partner's name and the chapter you choose to lead to me in an email. It will be important for you to identify a partner and together identify the topic you would like to lead so you can begin work immediately. NOTE: Anyone who has not sent this information to me by 5 PM on Tuesday, June 1 will be assigned a chapter at random so please make sure to complete this so you have some choice in your assignment.

Task #3:
Finally, it is important that I am always able to get in touch with you when necessary. In most cases I will do this by email. Therefore, I would like for you to check the class list and the email I currently have for you to make sure I have the appropriate one. If I do not, please email me with the correct email. In addition, I would like for you to email me with the name you preferred to be called and your home and work numbers in case email fails us.

Task #4:
Please fill out the following comment card:

• Week 1 Comment Card

Call on the Cafe Crew

• Email Dr. Curda
• Email Melissa
• Email listserv and see if a peer knows the answer