CIS105 Hybrid Welcome Letter

Welcome to CIS105 Hybrid!

I'm glad you have decided to join us this semester. For this hybrid class (a combination of face-to-face and online components), plan on 10-14 hours per week, with 1 hour and 15 minutes in class. I am here to help and guide you as much as possible. Feel free to ask for help at any time. I am happy to answer any questions you may have, but you have to ask.

The best way to contact me outside of class is through e-mail. My turn-around time for e-mail is about 48 hours except weekends/holidays), although I may often reply much faster than that. The time it takes me to return your message may depend on several things: I might want to research the answer, I might have several other messages to respond to, or the server might be down. Be patient, and I will respond as quickly as I can. Or, feel free to stop by my office during my office hours (you'll find them on my home web page).

If you have not already done so, (and you want a "head start" for class, one of the first things you should do is access your MCC Portal email account. This email account will be used during the course (I will not be sending emails to your personal email address.) It's free and easy to do; just use your MyMaricopa ID (MEID). To access it, go the following link: My MCC. In addition to our class time, you will have access to much of the course information through WebCT beginning Tuesday, January 17 or Thursday, January 19 depending on the section you selected. (Use the same password you set up for your MyMaricopa email account).

You will be using MCC's multi-purpose lab to do much of your work. Because of this, you must have a free MCC Student ID to enter the lab (and a reminder that no children/guests are allowed to accompany you).

If you want to complete your lab work from home, you will need access to the Internet, Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010 Professional (includes Word 2010, Excel 2010, Access 2010, and PowerPoint 2010) for this course (a 180 day trial of the software does come with the the textbook bundle). Note: If you are using a MAC, you will need to install Bootcamp OR Parallels software AND Windows XP (or later) to run the Office 2010 software. (You can use Firefox to access the MyITLab tutorial/assesssment software, but you will still need Office 2010 to complete Access --the database for CIS105--and PowerPoint. You can also use the MCC lab for any portion. If that is your plan, you must have a free MCC Student ID to enter the lab (and a reminder that no children/guests are allowed to accompany you).

This course is structured to take sixteen weeks (plus the final). Attendance at all classes is highly recommended. You will receive a syllabus on the first day of class with all of the details/requirements for the class. Assignment deadlines are firm and you are responsible for meeting them. Assignments will include reading, projects, lecture questions, presentations, labs, online access, group discussions and projects, exercises, quizzes, and online tests. You can view a sample schedule of assignments here.

Although the emphasis of the class is technical skills and concepts, many of the assignments you will complete promote skills which will help you to be effective in your present and future learning as well as in the community and business world. They include critical thinking, team work through collaborative learning, ethics, interpersonal skills, civic engagement, and organization. Before class begins, check your course info page, and don't forget to check your Net IQ for fun. You may also take the Distance Learning Quiz to check to see if this learning method is for you. If you have any questions before class, please contact me at debdt83701@mesacc.edu . Once your course begins, you should use the WebCT course mail to contact me.

If you are on campus, please feel free to stop in and say hello. My office hours are posted on my home page.

The course beginsTuesday, January 17 or Thursday, January 19 depending on the section you selected, and I will email you before that time (if you have an MCC Email Account). I'm looking forward to a fun and informative semester. I hope you are too!

Deb Fells
MCC CIS Faculty, Business and Information Systems Department

CIS105 Information Page