How to Begin a Course
To begin this course, first familiarize yourself with the Course Syllabus, located on the left navigation menu. The course syllabus lists all of the course policies, the course schedule, and includes all of the coursework (readings, viewings, and assignments) listed chronologically and divided into learning units.
When you are familiar with the Course Syllabus, click on Learning Modules on the left navigation menu, and select “Week 1”. All of the course materials, assignments for the week, and due dates will be displayed. Please note that all weeks of the course are viewable, but assignments can only be submitted in the week they are due. This means that you can see all of the discussion questions prompts and assignment requirements in the Learning Modules, but submission links will be unavailable prior to the week these deliverables are due. Unless otherwise noted, plan to finish all work by Wednesday at 11:59 pm eastern time (ET). Exception: the last week of class is only five days; all work will be due that week by Sunday at 11:59 pm ET.
Links to online resources, such as UNE Library resources, APA style guides, and general assistance are contained in the Student Resources tab on the left navigation menu. Student Support services are also linked for you on the left navigation menu.
If you have any questions, please contact your instructor immediately using Course Messages on the left navigation menu or the contact method listed by your instructor in Announcements.
Succeeding as a Digital Learner
To be successful as an online student, you should:
- View Web-based courses as a convenient way to receive your education, not as an easier way.
- Be willing to share life, work, and educational experiences as part of the learning process.
- Be willing to communicate through writing.
- Be able to think ideas through before responding.
- Be willing to challenge ideas and to accept a challenge.
- Accept critical thinking as part of the learning process.
- Be self-motivated and self-disciplined.
- Be committed to keeping up with the coursework and to participating actively in the discussions.
- Be willing to commit about eight hours each week to your coursework.
- Be willing to “speak up” if problems arise.
- Be willing to communicate immediately regarding technical difficulties or any areas of confusion so that problems can be corrected or addressed for everyone’s benefit.
- Have access to the necessary computer equipment and supported software. See the Technical Requirements page for specific details.
- Be committed to being part of a high-quality learning experience and to doing your part to make that experience a success.
Modified from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Netiquette
Netiquette or “network etiquette” is the contemporary term for the proper way we communicate and interact with each other using email over the Internet.
Our text-based communication is vital in this course since it is the primary—and possibly only—way we will connect with each other. Please be careful and considerate in all your communications with each other and the instructors. The additional information here is useful for broad understanding of the online communication.
- The online medium is poor at conveying tone. Consider what you are saying and remember that your intent might not be inferred by your readers (fellow students and instructors). Take a moment to re-read everything you write: assume that it will be taken in the worst possible light. And extend courtesy to others: assume the most charitable light possible. Both of these will make communication easier and far more civil.
- If you feel angry or frustrated, give yourself time before submitting a response, possibly even overnight. If you aren’t sure how something will come across, ask someone else to read it over and give you feedback. Always re-read or preview messages on the discussion board or email before sending them.
- Use capitalization, punctuation and properly constructed and grammatically correct sentences in the same way that you would in any other written document. Sending an e-mail in all UPPER-CASE is the equivalent of shouting in some one’s ear. ONLY use upper-case words when trying to make a point. Typing the entire message in bold may be interpreted the same.
- “Flaming” is a virtual term for venting emotion online or sending inflammatory emails to a person(s) that have caused that person(s) to respond in not-so-nice words, defensively or flamingly. It’s basically a verbal attack in electronic form. Flames are unproductive and injurious to the parties involved.
Things to consider before venting electronically:
- Would I say this to this person’s face?
- Would I want this student’s family to read this?
- Am I putting the reader(s) in an awkward position?
- How would I feel if I got this email message?
Consider the recommended guidelines to follow when communicating through e-mail or a discussion forum:
- When quoting another person, edit out whatever isn’t directly applicable to your reply. Take the time to edit any quotations down to the minimum necessary to provide context for your reply. Nobody likes reading a long message in quotes for the third or fourth time, only to be followed by a one-line response: “Yeah, me too.”
- Focus on one subject per message and always include a pertinent subject title for the message, that way the user can locate the message quickly.
- Capitalize words only to highlight an important point or to distinguish a title or heading. Capitalizing whole words that are not titles is generally viewed as SHOUTING!
- Be professional and careful what you say about others. E-mail is easily forwarded.
- Cite all quotes, references and sources and respect copyright and license agreements.
- Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Without face-to-face communications, your joke may be viewed as criticism.
Student Resources
Style Guides
- Purdue OWL APA Formatting and Style Guide
- APA Style Website
- Beins, B.C. (2012). APA style simplified: Writing in psychology, education, nursing, and sociology (1st ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
Blackboard Tutorials and Guides
IT Help Desk Contact Information
- Phone: Off campus: Toll free 1-877-518-4673
- Email: helpdesk@une.edu
- IT Help Desk Self Service: helpdesk.une.edu
General UNE Resources
- myUNE – This is your portal for e-mail and campus resources such as campus life, academics, university news, and the university calendar.
- Ask Student Accounts – The Office of Business Services is your source for information about your student account including tuition bills, refunds, payment plans, health insurance, etc.
- Registrar – Contact your registrar with questions regarding your academic records, course offerings, and academic policies and procedures.
- Financial Aid Office – For assistance with financial aid, visit this site for more information.
- Academic Integrity Statement – The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the university community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. (For more detailed information and the complete policy, use the link above.)
UNE Student Assistance Resources
- UNE Online Student Handbook – UNE Policies and Procedures – The policies contained within this document apply to all students in UNE’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student’s responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
- Student Support Portal – The Student Support portal contains important information relating to your graduate program including links to support services, academic resources and financial aid matters.
- Student Access Center – The Student Access Center works to ensure that the University promotes respect for individual differences and that no person who meets the academic and technical standards needed for admission and continued enrollment at UNE is denied benefits or subjected to discrimination due to a disability. Toward this end, and in conjunction with federal and state laws, the University provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students.
- The Student Academic Success Center (SASC), a department within Student Support Services, provides a comprehensive array of academic support including placement testing, courses, workshops, tutoring and individual consultations. Content area support includes; Developmental Math, Writing Resource Program and ELL Services. The Online Learning Assistance Center specializes in support online students.
UNE Library Resources
- Resources for Health Informatics students – This link will take you to a guide developed specifically for students in the Health Informatics program, with links relevant to your research needs.
- Online Students – This link will provide you with resources and access to library catalogs, databases, full-text journals, writing resources and style manuals, and general library assistance.
- Contact a librarian – This link will put you in touch with one of UNE’s reference librarians.
- RefWorks – A web-based bibliography