Your MAPP ONLINE course has been developed in a password-protected, Web-based environment called WebCT. Once acquainted with this software, most people quickly settle in and find it to be an enjoyable learning situation. As with any computer-based application, an optimal experience depends to some extent on having certain basic skills, equipment, and machine configuration. Please take a few moments to review the following information. It will help you get the best results from your online experience. Subjects include:

    Computer Skills – What do you need to know?

    Computer Hardware and Accessories

    Computer Software Requirements and Accessories

    How Do I Get My Books?

    How to Begin Your Online Course

    Technical Support

Computer Skills – What do you need to know?

General Skills

You’ll need to be able to locate, open and close files and use a mouse. You should also be able to use a word processing application. Recommended skills include cutting, copying and pasting text from one document to another and toggling between two applications. Some helpful online tutorials can be found on the MAPP web site in the technical support section:

http://www.uchsc.edu/ahec/mapp/techsupport

Taking an online course that is being taught at UCD for the first time? This includes: Research (Clinical Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice), Survey of Pathophysiological Process, Health Systems & Policy in Society, and all the UCD Nurse-Midwifery courses.

If this is your first time taking an online course that is taught at UCD, you must demonstrate your computer competency and proficiency with WebCT.   Call UCD's Office of Student Support (303-315-4313) and ask about the WebCT Computer Competency module.   You will not be given access to the course until you do this!

Internet Skills

You must be able to send and receive e-mail. Additionally, it is recommended that you be able to find a web site when provided with an Internet address (URL), be able to search the Internet for specific topics, and upload and download files. Sites that offer downloads generally guide you through the process as soon as you click on the material you want to acquire. Whether you are a "newbie" or an expert, here is an excellent site full of information about the Internet and how to use it:

http://www.albany.edu/library/internet/

If you feel your skills need improvement…

You are encouraged to "buddy" with someone with whom you can improve your skills.   If you need technical help and you are a MAPP student, you may call your local Area Health Education Center (AHEC) or the MAPP Office.  In addition, consider asking someone in your home, workplace or community for assistance. You can also use online or CD-ROM-based courses and tutorials, local computer courses, or seek assistance from your local or Home Institution library.

The creators of WebCT at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, have links to WebCT student manuals.  These provide an explanation of WebCT tools.  

Go to:

http://www.webct.com/docs/

and click on "Student Manuals"

Computer Hardware and Accessories
Please note that MAPP TELELEARNING CENTER COMPUTERS meet all of the hardware and software requirements for MAPP ONLINE courses. The student is responsible for finding an Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Computer/Memory

Online courses involving WebCT require that you have a computer equipped with Windows 3.1, Windows95, or MacOS. It is recommended that you have a minimum of 16 MB of memory. Disk space is not usually an issue.

Internet Access

You must have access to the Internet. To maximize the benefits of your online course, it is best to have access from your home. You may use a student account provided by your university, or an account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as AT&T,  Rocky Mountain Internet, or US WEST.  Students are discouraged from using "value added" services such as AOL and Prodigy (if you use AOL or Prodigy, contact the MAPP office so that we can inform you of some of the problems you may encounter).   You connect to your Internet account through your phone line. Though it is possible to have a direct connection (ISDN or T1), most people access the Net by using a modem to dial into their account.  To search for an Internet Service Provider in your area, go to:
http://www.isps.com/

Modem

Since the data on your computer must be translated through a modem to send information out onto the Internet; and the data on the Internet must flow through your modem to arrive on your computer screen – the modem is a very important component of the quality of your Internet experience.

Many newer computers come equipped with a modem. But if your computer doesn’t have one, or you need a new one, try to get the best you can afford. Do some research. There are many modems on the market and choices can be confusing. Computer magazines often have consumer reports comparing different brands for reliability and other qualities. Because online courses may use a lot of interactivity and graphics, speed of data transmission is a major consideration. A modem rated at 33.6K is the slowest you should consider using. At that speed, you will experience long waits for pages to load, or for material to be downloaded on to your computer. Besides being very frustrating, this may result in higher connection costs from your ISP and your phone service provider. An investment in a 56K modem is highly recommended.

Computer Software Requirements and Accessories
 

Web Browser

Originally, the Internet was totally textbased – there were no graphics. The browser is the software that allows your computer to display the colors and graphics on web pages. In order to participate in an online course, you must have a Java-capable World Wide Web browser application such as Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer. Your ISP will usually supply this when you subscribe, or you can download it from the Web.

WebCT works best with Netscape.  Netscape Communicator (version 4.0 or higher) is preferable, but Netscape 3.0 Gold will work.  Microsoft’s Internet Explorer for Windows (version 3.0 or higher) will work with WebCT, as will Internet Explorer (4.0 or higher) for Mac, but there are some incompatibilities. It is always best to get the latest version of any browser, if possible.

Netscape is recommended for WebCT. It is free for students and may be downloaded from http://home.netscape.com/.

Other Essential Software

Many documents on the Web are in Adobe's PDF format. To view and print PDF files,  you need Adobe Acrobat Reader. You may download it free at: http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html

If you have audio capability on your computer you will need to download and install Real Player (audio & video) in order to listen to some of the audio files available to you via WebCT and the Internet. (These may not work very well if you are on at less than 28.8.) Although the company sells the more sophisticated versions, the basic RealPlayer is available free at:

http://www.RealPlayer.com/

You should also have QuickTime (video), available free for both Mac and Windows at:

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/

How Do I Get My Books?

• For courses taught by UCD faculty (Research, Health Policy/Leadership, and Advanced Pathophysiology) go to:  http://www.uchsc.edu/bookstore/  and click on "Distance Learning Textbook Ordering", or call (303) 315-5725 or (800) 591-2884.
  

• For courses taught by UWY faculty (Advanced Practice Roles ) go to: http://www.uwyobookstore.com/ or call the University of Wyoming Bookstore at 307-766-3286.
  
  
• For courses taught by UNC faculty (Advanced Health Assessment) call the UNC Bookstore at 970-351-2136.
  
  
• For courses taught by Beth El faculty (Theory) go to: http://www.uccs.edu/~storeboo/, or call 719-262-3242.
  
  
• For courses taught by Regis faculty (Advanced Pharmacology) go to: http://www.regis.edu/spstestsite/bookstore/bookstore.htm, or call
  (303) 458-4150 or 800-798-4153

  **Make sure you allow sufficient time for the delivery of your books!!**

How to Begin Your Online Course

MAPP ONLINE COURSES HAVE DIFFERENT WEB ADDRESSES!!

For Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Practice Roles, Advanced Physical Assessment , and Philosophy and Theory,  enter the World Wide Web (WWW) address or URL http://www.uchsc.edu/ahec/mapp in the Location (Netscape) or Address (Internet Explorer) text box of your web browser and press Enter.

For Research (Clinical Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice), Survey of Pathophysiological Processes, Health Systems & Policy in Society, and Nurse-Midwifery courses, enter: http://freenet.uchsc.edu:8900/

1a. If you go to http://www.uchsc.edu/ahec/mapp, you will see (Fig. 1):

 
Fig. 1

Click the "ONLINE Courses" link.

  1b. If you go to http://freenet.uchsc.edu:8900/   you will see (Fig. 2):

Fig 2

Click the "Online Courses" link

2. Next, for both locations, you will next see a listing of courses.  Click on the course you want to go to.

 Technical Support

Check out our WebCT Student Manual for WebCT technical support
(http://www.uchsc.edu/ahec/mapp/techsupport/webct/)

If you have technical questions, please feel free to contact the appropriate resource person listed on the following table. You should contact your course instructor for questions related to the course content (paper topics, due dates, readings, modules, etc.) and your advisor for information on which courses to take.

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