1 Section1 (Cont.) Joining the Online World By Mohammad Alnasiri

2 Outline n AOU FirstClass System n Exercises n Conclusion

3 AOU FirstClass System n There are three ways to access FirstClass 1.Through the web browser –Messages are displayed as part of web page –FirstClass (FC) server provides forms for you to reply 2.FirstClass client –Connect you with FC server –Through FC client you can do the following: –Store messages in folders –Change the expiry dates to save –Set up mailing lists book & address book –Check who else online

4 AOU FirstClass System –Real-time chatting –Search for specific message –Easy to create web pages Use the red CD to install FC client 1.Click OK on error message about completing server setup form 2.Type name of server on server box oufcnt4.open.ac.uk 3.Enter your user ID and password 4.Click save button 5.Return back to FC login window 6.Enter password and click login button

5 AOU FirstClass System 3.FirstClass version of the offline reader Provides you with a small, private server, called FirstClass Personal, which runs on your hard disk. Periodically connects to the OU FirstClass server to update the messages for you, and stores them. You can't see who else is online at the AOU server or have real-time chats with them. The advantage of this version is to reduce the internet cost by working offline.

6 AOU FirstClass System n FirstClass system consists of: Mailbox: –Flag: Red Message not read White Message not sent –Subject: »Re Reply to message »Re(2) Reply to reply »Fwd Forward message –Sender name, Message date, Message size

7 AOU FirstClass System Address Book: –List of frequently contacted persons Calendar –Arrange appointments History command –Check out who sent, replied, forwarded messages and at which time & date

8 AOU First Class System – Types of FC Conference TG Conference –Used by students & tutor for communicate & conduct discussions OU service new conference –Put up by OU’s Learning & Teaching Solution (LTS) –Benefits for all FC users –Not specific to any one course –Here you can find important announcements like: »New facilities »Times when FC not available (routine maintenance)

9 AOU First Class System –New messages automatic open OU service new conference TU170 Notice Board Conference –Contains sub conferences related to TU170 –Example: »TU 170 Technical help conference: Provide help in specific areas where you might be having difficulties

10 Section2 Effective Group Working Online

11 Outline n Study skills n Reading n Writing n Effective study n Effective group work activity n Conclusion

12 Study skills –Best techniques for understanding Reading Taking Notes –Read chapter2 from “the science good study guide” book Use “Acrobat Reader” software

13 Reading –Managing your approach to reading –Interest in subject Effective learning –To develop interest in subject Link reading with questions interest you Figure out why others interest in this topic Connect subject to your own experience You are the person who has to do learning Construct positive approach to what you are studying

14 Reading – Underlying reading purpose to develop subject understanding: Add new concepts to those you are already possess Understanding explanations you have not met before Building new mental models of how things work Incorporate new information alongside that which you already posses

15 Reading –Reading for study purpose is not simply pass eyes through words ! –Reading is a set of practices : Setting reading target Underlinning (if appropriate) Stopping to look forward or backward if you lose Checking other sources (if difficult) Monitoring your progress from time to time Changing your approach (as necessary)

16 Writing –Science writing Report what you mean exactly –No-more, No- less (precise) –Scientific report consists of: »Descriptions »Analysis »arguments

17 Effective study –To Study effectively you need Manage your feeling Make subject interesting Accept technical language and take it in your stride Scientific writing –At the end, ask yourself: Are you getting better grasp of the subject? If your answer is No, you are wasting your time & change the activity

18 Effective Group Work Activity –To improve your skills of effective group work You need: Improve online group working skills Build effective working team

19 Netiquette: Social conventions of computer conference Author: Gary Alexander 1.Going for agreement –Understand people view –Don’t impose your view –For genuine consensus to take place: –You should not suppress your own views in favour of the majority views. –A person with strong disagreement should stick to his own point of view.

20 Netiquette 2.PCPs ( Practical Communications Principles) PCP1: Thank, acknowledge & support people freely –Example: Thanks, I like your comment, I agree with so –Don’t ignore people –People should feel appreciated PCP2: Acknowledge before differ –Example: What I think you mean? Have I get that right? My own view differs as follows. – If you disagree with someone »Restate what other person said »Other people know that you try to understand them »Take your point of view seriously

21 Netiquette PCP3: speak from own perspective –Example: Here’s how I see? How I feel about? –Don’t generalize & don’t put things in absolute –Don’t use “it is fact…” –Put others views between quotation “xx says ….” 3.Avoid ‘flaming spirals’ –Someone take offensive at someone else’s message where no offense was intended, and reply angrily. The first person may then respond angrily and so on … –Solution: »Try to understand other people point of view »Don’t respond angrily »Show that you understand the other's point of view and you don’t mean to offend others

22 Netiquette 4.Use emotions on messages –Important because you do not see faces or body languages on conferences –There are conventions for expressing your emotions in messages –Ex: I’m joking ! 8-) joke, isn’t sad ! 8-) feeling –Writing in capital letters means: SHOUTING0 5.Caution when quoting other messages while replying to them –You should only quote a few lines of someone‘s message when replying to him. Only those parts are you are going to comment on them. –Quotes are indicated by the ‘>’ symbol at the beginning of each quoted line.

23 Netiquette 6.Where to write what Before send message Check if it addressed to most appropriate place 7.General style Keep message short. If you have more to say keep it in attachment file Take subject line seriously, and make sure it is clear –People see subject line before message content, then decide to read it or no! 8.Legal issues If you copying something related to someone else You should put it between quotations marks.