FutureU Student Web Book Contents — Volume 2

Make the Most of Learning Online
Volume 2: Mastering the Process of Online Learning

Understand the generally accepted standards for frequency and style of participation.
Know the appropriate use of language for online interaction.
Understand the accepted standards for online document formatting.
Understand what a pixel is and how it is used.
Practice using evolving subject lines in messages.
Understand the concept of conversational “threading.”
Understand the concept of language “chunking.”
Consider a range of strategies for successful online interaction.
Review four checklists of tips for success at online interaction.

Acknowledge the importance of safety and comfort to the online learning process.
Break down the components of an appropriate environment for online study.
Consider seven guidelines for preventing computer-related injuries.
Analyze the ergonomics of your own workstation.
Learn the unique time management skills required for efficient online study.
Recognize three types of environments used for online communication.
Consider four possible methods of reading on a computer screen and their different purposes.
Understand when, when not, and how to print out information.
Learn how to take notes on the computer while reading on screen.
Learn how to save pages to disk.
Learn how and when to download files.
Understand and practice bookmarking.
Learn how to adjust the size of your computer’s viewing area.
Learn how to change the print size on your screen.
Practice adjusting the colors on your screen.

Acknowledge five challenges and nine benefits to sharing computer files.
Learn the five pieces of information to include on the cover page of any assignment you submit by email.
Learn how to protect your computer from viruses.
Learn when to use rich text format.
Understand accepted standards for delivering extra-large files.
Understand the value of conversion software and where to get it.
Learn eight steps for attaching a file to an email message.
Practice sending a typical assignment file.
Read an article on foolproof file enclosures.

Acknowledge the value of careful planning for Internet research.
Learn a 14-step strategy for successful Internet research.
Practice each of the 14 steps.
Visit an online dictionary, an online thesaurus, and up to three online library catalogs.
Understand and practice “uncovering.”
Learn what a “gopher” is, and practice using the first one ever developed.
Understand the difference between two broad types of search engines.
Compare up to nine popular search engines and learn how to choose the best one for various types of research questions.
Consider various search strategies.
Visit up to seven database sites.
Understand boolean operators and how to use them in your Internet research.
Understand how to evaluate resources found on the Internet.
Hone your critical thinking skills.
Try out a software program for record keeping.
Understand the accepted method for citing quotations from Internet sources.
Visit a site full of Web searching tips.
Take an electronic tutorial on Web searching.
Read an article about copyright and fair use in the digital age.
Visit up to five online citation guides and learn about the most popular print-based style guides.
Acknowledge the legal and moral obligations associated with copyright.
Understand when you can and cannot legally copy someone else’s work.
Review 10 important rules for determining when a document is in the public domain.

Acknowledge the individual participant’s responsibility to an online group.
Recognize 10 activities that any group can do together and eight benefits of doing them online.
Understand the benefits and limitations of seven different types of media used for online group interaction.
Understand the 11 steps to starting an online group.
Look at a template of guidelines for group procedures, behavior, and shared values.
Understand alignment and recognize seven possible levels of individual alignment with group goals.
Understand the difference between discussion and dialogue.
Explore up to four Web sites that introduce group process tools.
Learn two valuable tips for successful chatting.
Understand both qualitative and quantitative harvesting.
Understand weaving.
Recognize the resources necessary for collaborative learning.
Understand the differences between traditional learning and facilitated collaborative learning.
Understand the eight steps that occur in the formation of any collaborative group.
Learn 15 tips for successfully facilitating an online study group.
Practice planning an online group activity.