HI 216 Online

Latin America since 1826
HI 216-601: Fall 2009 Semester

Check Course News often. Things change--check for course updates. Updated: October 23, 2009 Hot Peppers

Welcome [Bienvenidos] to Our Cyberspace Learning Community

Welcome to HI 216 online, NCSU's first online history course, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2008. This latest incarnation is new and improved-- thanks to good suggestions from students.

Your course graders and I are here to help you succeed! I'm looking forward to retirement sometime in the next decade, and I need you to be very successful-- and pay for my Social Security! Check out the course site map to help you visualize the various components and structure of the course.
  • Fall 2009 Students: Your coures assignments and readings will be upated by mid-August. I will email you when the course has been revised. Stay turned.
  • Interested in sampling some Latin American foods? See this Triangle-Area Mexican and Latin American Food Stores (Tiendas). This is simply a public service--I don't get kickbacks from places listed.

    If problems, arise. . .

    Adverse weather? It's always perfect weather in cyberspace, so assignments are due come rain, sleet, or whatever. OK, power outages may provide an exception. For Campus Adverse Weather status, call 919-513-8888 or check the NCSU home page.

    If you have a family or personal emergency that impedes your course work, contact Parents and Constituent Services at Box 7306, NCSU, Raleigh NC 27695-7306. You or a parent may also call toll free during business hours at 877-568-5733 or email ncsuparents@ncsu.edu. That office will contact your instructors. For a personal health issue, get documentation from a physician or the NCSU health center.

    First things first

      HOW CAN I SUCCEED AS AN ONLINE STUDENT?

      The successful online student taking Internet courses learns to:
      1. be certatin this particular course is right for you. Read these comments from prior students to help you decide.
      2. learn to use required technology, especially computers, Vista, the Internet;
      3. manage time well, be self-disciplined, avoid procrastinating; [weak time management is the leading cause of failure in online courses.]
      4. invest required time [see explanation below];
      5. be well organized;
      6. read and follow written instructions carefully;
      7. actively participate, share ideas, and engage fully in online discussions;
      8. when in doubt, asks questions;
      9. be flexible, adaptable, and open-minded about the online experience.
        Online courses offer a large degree of convenience and flexibility, but it's important to note that these courses require the same level of commitment and effort as attending a class on campus.
        [Source: Adapted from ECU Distance Ed program]

        Getting down to business

      10. OK, you're on board. Welcome! Bienvenidos! Unity email address made official for students As of August 13, 2007, all official email correspondence from the university should be sent to students’ Unity email addresses. This includes email regarding student account information, eBILLs, and correspondence from instructors regarding classes. Students have been notified of the change in the email address that is associated with their records in the student information system. Instructors should continue to use students’ email addresses provided by Registration and Records. The university implemented these changes because of the increased use of email for official communications and the need to have confidence that the email is being delivered to valid student email addresses. Students still have the option of forwarding their email to another account.
      11. Next, see what this DE specific course entails. All reading and writing assignments appear, logically enough, on the assignments page. Assignments are due by the date listed-- put another way, the assignment must be submitted (not begun) by the listed due date and time. Read the grading page carefully for details. In some cases, you may submit assignments early.
      12. Buy the required book(s). (see the "books" page). "I don't have my book yet" is not a valid excuse for missing an assignment.
      13. When an assignment calls for using online primary sources or documents, use the Primary Sources link.
      14. Read completely and thoroughly the "how to" page. It explains the required formats and other standards and procedures for all assignments. Refer to it when submitting assignments throughout the semester.
      15. Finally, consider the time commitment that you can make to this course. Can you devote enough time to be successful? Remember that classroom courses meet for 3 hours per week. We expect homework to take about double that time--that means at least 9 hours per week per course. Summer school is even more demanding. Classes meet 90 minutes per day, 5 days of week--that's 450 minutes. We estimate time for homework equal to class time-- another 450 minutes. That's an expected commitment of 900 minutes per week-- 15 hours. The good news is that I reward improvement over time. So a slow start can be compensated for by a strong finish. You should also become more efficient as you better understand the nature of the assignments and about analyzing historical sources.

    HI 216 Online Quick Reference Menu

    Basics of Course Navigation Details of Course Navigation Internet Tutorials to sharpen your online skills Ideal Distance Learner Profile
    Why Study via Distance Ed? Glossary of Latin American terms Fast Facts: Quick References to Basic Info Computing and Software Issues
  • Need a little something to get the history juices flowing? Check out what happened on this day in history
  • Where does this course fit into your curriculum? It fulfills the Humanities and Social Sciences History GEP for a non-English speaking culture. What does that mean to you? Check with your advisor or NCSU Advising Central. Select major/minor, go to your college, and explore the course options and requirements that you have to fulfill. Do remember that courses taken for S/U [Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory] credit cannot count in your major or to fulfill the GEP. To count in the major or for GEP, coursses must be taken for a letter grade.
  • A big thanks to various NC State units that have supported the improvement and development of my online and classroom teaching.

    Basics of Course Navigation

     Dr. Slatta
    1. Use the menu along the left side of each page to move to different areas of the course. You are now reading the 216 Home Page. Check the course description page for a full discussion of what we're doing and why, including learning objectives. Here's a recent picture of me and my TA. Word of advice, pilgrim. Deal with me. You don't want to have to deal with my TA.
    2. Who's running this show? You can learn a little more here: Dr. Slatta's brief bio. The Find Dr. Slatta page gives you my office hours, FAX and phone numbers, and a link to my "Home Range" where you can learn more about my teaching, writing, and other professional activities. Even though this is an online course, you may of course come visit me in person. You may also Send me email or an IM--handle: drslatta
    3. Is your background in Latin American history weak? You may wish to consult an additional textbooks on Latin american history. Most are available in D. H. Hill Library.

      Computing and Software Issues
    4. Practice SAFE COMPUTING and learn the computing skills you need! If some skill needs a tuneup, visit the NCSU Computing Essentials Page for tutorial help. Bad things can happen to good people. Keep disk files of all assignments that you email to me if case an email server malfunctions. Use the button on the left to check the status of NCSU Networks. If a system goes down, you'll find an announcement on that page.
    5. Back up all files regularly. Hard disks crash, floppies go bad, servers crash. Always, always, make back up copies. A computer disaster is no excuse for missed assignments! Email is not infallible. If I request a second copy of an assignment, you must be able to produce it.
    6. Course pages should be readable at any resolution. Increase or decrease your browser's font size if necessary. I don't put any fancy odd coding into these pages, so they should work with any frames-capable browser. However, if you use another resolution and encounter difficulties, inform the instructor. Older browsers may also create difficulties, so upgrade to the latest version available.
    7. You'll need an up-to-date virus checking program.
    8. Help Me! Get the help you need! Go to my Internet Help and Tutorials Page to Improve your computing skills. For library resources, see the NCSU Library Distance Learning Services for Students Page for suggestions and services provided by D. H. Hill staff.
    9. Have other specific questions? Check Help Page, an area with nuts-and-bolts instructions on various course activities. You will also find a link from the help page to FAQs, Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't find an answer, post your question or comment in the "Study Hall" section of the WebCT Vista discussion area, or ask the instructor via email.
    10. Accessible web content: I've made every effort to keep all web pages accessible to all students. If you find an image without an alternate caption or some other access problem, please let me know. You may also review NCSU's accessibility guidelines for web pages.
    Warning All materials © 1998-99-2000-01-02-03-04-05-06-07-08-09 by Richard W. Slatta These instructional materials have been created by and are copyrighted by Dr. Richard W. Slatta. You may not establish links to nor copy, reedit, or redistribute the information in these pages in any form, electronic or printed, without Dr. Slatta's written or email permission. I am happy to share my work, but you must request permission. That's why it's called intellectual property. Disclaimer: this course is offered by North Carolina State University for academic credit, but the specific materials and views on these pages are not reviewed by nor endorsed by the University.
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