Frequently Asked Questions

Technical

What are the sign-on and passwords for the course?
For various reasons, certain areas of the course are closed to the casual browser.  I will give you the sign-on and password at the first class meeting.  Upon successful registration for the course you can e-mail me and request the sign-on and password for the course in which you are enrolled.  I will then send you this information by return mail.

How much computer training do I need to complete this course?
Little to none.  You should be comfortable with a computer, know how to use a browser and e-mail. Please do not ask me technical questions.  I am a computer user, not a geek.

How sophisticated does my computer have to be?
You should have access to a computer equipped with at least 16 megs of RAM, be on the Internet, and have a java-enabled browser.

Course Operation

How many class meetings do we have?
My web-enhanced classes are designed to present all previous in-class lecture material completely over the Internet.  I have posted lecture/presentations, instructor essays, assignments and study guides on all my pages, I expect them to be used.  You are required, however, to attend (physically and mentally) class discussions and special presentations.

What are the requirements for the course I am taking?
All requirements are clearly spelled out on the course pages.  Included you will find assignments, study guides and practice quizzes and exams.  All of this is intended to help you master the course material.  Should you have any questions on this material please e-mail me at felwell@rsu.edu.  Be sure to include the course number of the class you are asking about.

"How come there are no test dates on the web page?"
Test dates, as well as other vital class information, are announced in class or through e-mail.

How do I find out my grade?
Your final grade will be sent to you by RSU.  If you ask me through e-mail for your final course grade I will lower it by one letter and send it back to you by return mail (so it is recommended that you do not ask).

Why is this course so dull?
The Social Sciences are dull to the dull.  If you do not have interest in the social world around you it is probable that you will not find this course particularly interesting (or any of the social sciences).  Personally, I love this stuff, and enjoy initiating others to the craft.

What can I do with a social science degree?
Contrary to popular belief, you can do fine.  Sociology, anthropology, political science, history and  psychology are all liberal arts (the most inherently interesting being sociology).  Many social science undergraduates go on to graduate school in one of the disciplines, go to professional schools (public health, law school), or take entry level white collar positions with private or public organizations. There is a site off of my HomePage that presents some educational statistics of recently enrolled students in the social sciences throughout the country.

Are web-enhanced courses as good as traditional on-ground courses?
Well, students are exposed to the same type of presentational material on-line that I used in my class lectures.  When I lectured in class, I normally modified my presentation in response to students in the classroom--such as explaining a concept in another way when I see looks of confusion; cutting to the chase when many students are losing interest.  I loose this ability to tailor the presentations on the web.

On the other hand, putting the lectures on-line allows a wealth of visual aids to increase student comprehension.  It also allows the student to go through the presentations at their own pace, repeating sections when required.  Finally, if a student still needs further clarification they can ask for it during class meetings or directly through e-mail.

I have found that student performance improves with web-enhanced courses when compared to courses using the traditional lecture format.

Dr. Elwell, when you get time or opportunity, can you provide thru email a little advice on how to paste/copy/cut (whatever!) your online lectures to Word so that we can print them out to help us study?  I am a computer illiterate when it comes to copying things from net to Word.
Ok, here is what you do.
1) Open your word processor, select new document, and then minimize
2) Open your browser and go to the online lecture
3) press the "A" button under the slide this will turn it into text.
4) With the left button on the mouse pressed down, run your mouse over the text you wish to copy.  Release the mouse button and text should be highlighted.
5) Go to the "File" pull down menu (in the upper right hand corner) and click on "copy."
6) Minimize your browser and maximize your word processor, click "edit" and then "paste."
7) Repeat the process for each slide you desire to copy.
8) Print out the document for notes.

The slide show was really designed to make it difficult for students to copy.  There is value in looking at the information on line and taking notes (this, it is widely believed, helps students retain their reading).  Whatever you do stay away from copying the slides and highlighting the essential points.  Such a practice is both wasteful of resources and not much good in helping you truly master the material.