ANT 101 Web Course
Frequently Asked Questions:

If this is your first web course, you should get familiar with Blackboard Learn. All coursework will be assigned within the Blackboard Learn shell, and all email needs to be sent through Blackboard Learn.

Do I need books for this course? Yes We will be using the most current edition of Clark Spencer Larsen's book, Essentials of Physical Anthropology plus InQuizitive. You can purchase the book directly from the publisher at a significant savings.

Student computer help desk: toll free 888-520-7215, local Flagstaff number - 523-9294. You can call them M-F for help with your computer.

(I have actually received the following question) I don't like computers, do I need to use one for this web course? Yes, this is an online course. It calls for using a variety of materials on the Internet. If you don't like using computers, this might not be a good section of ANT 101 to be in. Several sections of traditional ANT 101 courses are offered on campus, and equivalent courses are offered at community colleges througout the state..

My computer is slow! What do I do? Avoid using the NAU server from noon to 5 PM on weekdays. It is always slow then, particularly if you're calling in from off-campus. If you have web courses every semester, you should consider getting a DSL line from your phone company or a internet service from your cable provider. If you live in a rural area, you might want to consider getting satellite service.

Do we have set class times? No, work at your own pace. But, you must finish specified material every week. As you will see from the syllabus, you must participate in on-line discussions throughout the term.

What do I call you? Students can never make a mistake by being informal with their professors. At a four year college or university, you should *always* call the professor "Dr." If the professor does not have a Ph.D., he or she will tell you. Using "Dr." also avoids the problem of is it Mr.? Miss? Ms? or Mrs.? Never call the the instructor's by his or her first name until he or she asks you to do so. (This goes for any boss or supervisor you have at any job!)

When are things due?. All tests, quizzes, discussions, and assignments are due at the specified time, according to the NAU computer clock in Flagstaff. Note: time changes in March and in November. Flagstaff is on Pacific Daylight Savings Time March - November. Flagstaff is on Mountain Standard Time November - March.

Can I submit assignments late? As a rule, no. The biggest problem in a web course is that you are working alone. I worry about people falling behind and not being able to catch up. E-mail me if you're going to be away for a while. Submitting late assignments is often not a problem if you make arrangements ahead of time. However, I rarely allow students to submit more than one assignment late.

The videos don't work! What do I do? This course has several videos. NAU uses Kaltura to stream videos, and you do not need any special software to watch the videos. The most common problems are that your computer does not allow popup windows from Blackboard Learn or that your security software is preventing the video from playing. Call the Student Technology help desk if you have problems.

Please email me through the Blackboard Learn system if you have other questions. (SGS)

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