I Am Registered – Next Steps

SO, I AM REGISTERED…NOW WHAT?

Once you are registered for courses, you begin your Hiram career and we are here to help guide you!

So, once you are accepted, meet with your academic advisor, and register for classes, what are the next steps you need to take?

Your courses will open one week ahead of their start date, so you can start accessing the information and materials.

Log Into Moodle and Look Around

The first step is to log into Moodle and review your course materials.

To do this:

  1. Visit my.hiram.edu and click on “Moodle.”
  2. Enter your Hiram username (username only, no @hiram.edu) and password and click “Log In.”
  3. Look around and get comfortable with Moodle. If it is your first time visiting Moodle, check out the “Hiram Technology Resources 101” listed in the first box in the upper right-hand corner of your Moodle landing page.  This will provide you with some of the basics of how to navigate Moodle, as well as provide guidance on other technology you have access to at Hiram and how to utilize it.

I am in Moodle, Now What?

FIRST GLANCE

Once you feel comfortable with Moodle, if your course(s) are open, they will show up on that landing page you arrive on when you first log into Moodle.  Click on the course name and it will take you into Moodle.

It is important that you understand how the class is structured and how to navigate around. Just browse around and get a feel for it. That way, if your instructor refers to a Moodle tool later in this document or your course syllabus, you should have some idea of 1) what it is, 2) what it does, and 3) where to find it.

GETTING STARTED, COURSE DESCRIPTION, STRUCTURE, & GOALS, AND THE COMMUNICATION AND INTRODUCTIONS MOODLE MODULES

The Getting Started module provides essential basic information about the course. The Course Description, Structure, & Goals outlines the course description, how the course will be structured, and the learning goals associated with the course. The Communication and Introductions module provides introductions about your instructor and their preferred communication methods, both in how they communicate with you and how you should communicate with them.  So be sure to navigate around to find the course materials and all online tools that you are required to use for your online class activities. Remember to click the weekly button to find all required class activities.

READ THE SYLLABUS

You will want to download the syllabus and course schedule. Read them carefully a few times. Different instructors have different deadlines for online activities. Become very familiar with them. You might want to print the syllabus with the schedule and tack them up somewhere easily accessible.

TEXTBOOKS

Textbooks are required the first day of the term. This information is listed within the syllabus, at a minimum.

YOUR FIRST DISCUSSION POST

After you feel comfortable with Moodle and the course materials you are ready for your first discussion post (if required by your instructor). Remember – you are in the college now – do not use instant messaging abbreviations and symbols. Your future career will depend to a certain degree on your writing skills. Check the Online Etiquette (Netiquette) link in the left-hand column of Moodle and follow guidelines for creating e-mails and discussion postings.

CHECK YOUR HIRAM EMAIL

Develop a habit of checking your Hiram email every day. Moodle will notify you when you get new mail, but it may end up in your Spam or Junk folder (it should not, but every now and again, it does). Your Hiram email acts like your “snail” mailbox: the mail might be sitting in the box for days if you do not come and get it.  You are responsible for any messages missed, so it is crucial you check your Hiram email AND the Moodle Announcements for your courses daily.

TIME MANAGEMENT IS CRUCIAL

Do not delay your work submission until the last moment. There could be hundreds of other students who might be trying to do the same thing and guess what – yes, the system can get overloaded, slow down and even freeze on you. While technology is great, it can still fail, so always plan ahead!

SPREAD YOUR WORKLOAD

Do not try to get everything done in one session. “Cramming” online activities does not help you process and retain any knowledge. For this reason, we recommend you log into your online class two or three times a week as your instructor may set up different deadlines for different class activities.

DO NOT SKIP DEADLINES

Although online courses are flexible, you still must do your work. The longer you wait the further behind you get. If you fall behind, contact your instructor immediately, explain the reason, and ask for options. Communication is key!

ASK QUESTIONS

Again, communication is key! If either a course activity or a course requirement or anything else in the online classroom seems to be “fuzzy” and not clear enough, do not hesitate to ask questions. It is not fair, however, to ask your instructor to clarify the assignment a few minutes before the assignment is due and use it as an excuse for missing the deadline.

It should not come as a surprise that online education is individual learning that requires self-discipline.

If you feel that your lifestyle and personal and/or work commitment might prevent you from putting the maximum effort into online learning, talk to your academic advisor now.