BIO326 : Getting Started

1. Read this page.
2. Read the help page, which includes access to technical help.
3. Look at the overview of the course.

New students are encouraged to obtain an account on the student unix computer DANA. DANA gives NAU students, who agree to abide by proper ethical standards, access to the internet including electronic mail, the Cline library on-line catalog, world wide web home pages (http:), and usenet news.

Accessing these sorts of Internet services requires establishing an electronic identity (essentially an electronic mail address). This can be done by acquiring a computer account on the DANA machine. Any currently enrolled student, who is willing to use these resources responsibly, is permitted an account on the DANA machine.

BIO326, "Ecology" is divided into five modules, and each of these modules contains three topics. You should read and complete each topic in order.

Generally, each topic will consist of required readings from the textbook, presentation of online materials, online activities and assignments, and some form of communication.

See an overview of the modules, topics, and activities for this course.
(You should print the overview and check off each item as you complete it).

BIO326, "Ecology" is organized into a few main areas. Buttons for these main areas appear on every page throughout the course. These main areas are:

• Help
  The help page is designed to help you deal with technical issues and problems related to this course.

  For assistance with the content of the course, review the material on line and in your readings, contact your classmates, or contact the instructor.

• Getting Started
  This is the Getting Started Page. "Attending" a course over the internet is different from attending a course on a traditional campus. This page will help you learn how readings, assignments, communication, and other course functions are handled in a virtual classroom environment.

• Syllabus
  The syllabus contains important information about the course. As with any course, you should read the syllabus carefully before beginning any course work.

• The Class
  This is a description of the class and what to expect.

• Communication
  To communicate with any member of the course - student(s) or instructor - visit the comunication page.

• Library
  The NAU Cline Library has many resources available to students. These and other resources are available from the library page.

• Instructor
  This is the instructor's personal home page.

• The fourth edition of The Economy of Nature by Robert E. Ricklefs (ISBN 0-7167-2815-X). It is published by W. H. Freeman & Company. This text will be available from the Northern Arizona University Bookstore, which you may obtain in person or by order.

Throughout the course, required textbook readings are marked in the following manner:

TEXTBOOK READING:

The on-line lessons provide an outline guide to the textbook. Within the on-line lessons are links to other web pages that provide additional material you should investigate. These lessons are marked throughout the course in the following manner:

ON-LINE LESSON:

Throughout BIO326 you will be asked to complete activities using the internet. You will either be directed to material on the web by links on these activity pages, or you will be asked to search the web for information on a particular topic.

Each set of review questions is marked with this icon

Each exercise is marked with this icon

Each web activity is marked with this icon

Each test is marked with this icon

Communication with the instructor in BIO326 is conducted primarily by e-mail messages. You may also call the instructor on the phone number listed below. If there is no answer when you call, you may leave a voice message.

When you receive a message from the instructor to the entire class, the e-mail addresses of all the students in the class will appear in the header of the message. You may use these addresses to contact other students, or you may post a message to the class newsgroup. However, the class newsgroup, especially for off-campus students, has proven difficult to use in the past.

Assignments from you will be logged into the electronic gradebook when they are received. The grades will be added subsequently. Your current grade in the course will be calculated automatically. You may view the entries for you in the electonic gradebook by clicking on the following link:

CHECK: Check on Assignments and Grades