Frequently Asked Questions about this Course (IDSB10H3)

What is an online course?

"At the University of Toronto a course is considered to be fully “online” if it has been designed such that all of the instructional interaction occurs without the student and instructor being in the same physical location (with the exception of final or interim assessment requiring attendance on campus no more than once per term.) Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous web-based learning technologies."

http://www.teaching.utoronto.ca/topics/teachingcontexts/online-learning/toolkit.htm 

*Note that an online course is different from other Web-option courses offered at UTSC. These are usually large enrollment courses with video recording of in-class lectures and make available to students enrolled in regular courses. IDSB10 is entirely online and there is no in-class equivalent to the course.

Why is this course being offered online?

Increasingly learning and working are taking place exclusively online, supported by various social media and organizational processes. While face to face classroom learning remains important, it is crucial that students also acquire the information and technology literacy skills that are increasingly important in our knowledge driven society. This course also provides students with the opportunities to engage in critical discussions on timely issues, participate in student centered and resource based learning, and practice or model the processes of peer learning and collaboration in an online environment.

What if I have an accessibility issue or special learning needs?

We have made every effort to ensure that the web pages, audio and visual materials and related resources meet with basic web accessibility requirements. You should be able to use all the common web browsers (Firefox, Explorer, Safari, etc.) to access the course materials. If you should encounter any accessibility issues, please contact the instructors immediately. In addition to support from the course instructors and teaching assistant, you will also find additional supports for learners from the various services at UTSC. Visit the following link for more details on services available to support your learning:

https://portal.utoronto.ca/bbcswebdav/institution/UTSC/learnersupport.html

How do I access and participate in the course?

To access the course, you need to log onto Blackboard via the University of Toronto Portal <http://portal.utoronto.ca>. You should see the link to the course once you are in Blackboard (BB). Once in the course site, you will see links to the various tools and resources. Many of the tools and resources are outside of Blackboard but going through BB is the easiest way to get to the various links.

When does the course start and end?

The course will start the week of Sept. 10th and run for 12 weeks, ending the week of Nov. 26th.  As there is no specific class time, students will be given a one week period for each weekly topic to complete the weekly lecture, assigned readings, and online activities for that week.

When will weekly lecture materials be posted? How long will I have to access it?

Weekly materials will be posted on Monday at 9 am of every week. Once posted, all the lecture and learning materials will remain accessible to students for the duration of the course. However, there are online activities, weekly discussion questions, and assignments with specific due dates and you must complete these activities by the due dates, which will be clearly marked on the course calendar.  

Is there a textbook for this course?

We are not using a textbook for this course. All assigned readings will be available on Blackboard or via the class wiki. We also encourage students to submit links to relevant readings or learning resources.

How often should I log on to check the course?

You should log in at the beginning of each week to begin reviewing the course materials for that week. There is approximately two hours of lecture materials online each week and one hour of online activity Readings will take up 2-3 hours per week. And online discussions and weekly exercises will take approximately two hours per week as well. You should access the course regularly throughout the week to participate in online discussions and share your thoughts on the readings and the weekly theme.

Do I have to attend any tutorials?

You should have signed up for a tutorial when you registered for the course.  Please note that participation in tutorials will take place online.  This means that there will be NO specified time or date at which you must "attend" the tutorial.  All participation will be routed through Blackboard, and through your tutorial section. Because of the large class size, online discussions and exercises will be managed according to smaller tutorial groups. Each student should sign up to one of the four groups at the beginning of the course, and students should stay in the same group throughout the term. Please be sure to remain within your tutorial group when discussing tutorial specific discussion questions and engaging in tutorial specific activities.  Please note, however, that students are also encouraged to start their own discussions either on the wiki or Blackboard.  These discussions need not be tutorial specific, and everyone is encouraged to take part across tutorials!

How often am I expected to participate in tutorials?

Each week,  when new lecture material has been posted, discussion questions and online activities will be posted on Blackboard. Some weeks will focus on discussion questions, other weeks there will be online exercises which require students to work in pairs or in small groups.

How will my participation be assessed? How will my participation grade be calculated?

Participation will be marked according to both the quality and regularity of your participation. The quality of your participation will be assessed according to the thought and insight put into your comments and participation in activities. Please note that a good participant not only speaks, but listens to others.  Students should seek to discuss, critique, and build upon the thoughts and work of others, as well as contribute their own insights.  Students should not merely engage in a monologue with themselves, participation implies some for of engagement with others! (Note, that this may not apply to eager students who are among the very first to start discussion or build activities). The regularity of your participation also matters.  Remaining silent through the semester and putting all of your participation in during the last week of the semester will not earn you full marks. 

What is a wiki? How do I access the wiki?

Many of the course activities conducted throughout the course will be organized around the course wiki.  A wiki is an online collaborative platform which will allow students to add content, and post links to online materials.  A wiki is different from Blackboard, as it lets students, as opposed to only the Professor and TA, shape the course of its development.  Students are encouraged to add interesting resources and engage with their peers on the wiki over the span of the course.  This might include, for example, discussion on video clips or media sources that relate to the course material. A link to the course wiki will be available from the course site on Blackboard.  Students MUST request access to the wiki, which will be approved by the course instructor. This should be done within the first week of class.  Please note that students must register for the wiki using the name which appears on Blackboard.  This is so the instructors and TA can track your participation across Blackboard and the course wiki.  If your names on Blackboard and the wiki do not correspond, it becomes difficult to track your participation, and you may not receive credit where credit is due.  Ensuring this will be the sole responsibility of the student.  It will not be the responsibility of your TA to settle any discrepancies in your identity between Blackboard and the Wiki.

How do we write the final exam?

A three hour conventional final exam will take place during the exam period in December. The exact date will be determined by the Registrar's Office in November.  Students who do not attend UTSC classes should ensure that they are able to attend the exam in person at UTSC. The format of the exam will be discussed and posted online one month prior to the exam.