PHCC Logo - Click for Home Page Patrick Henry Community College - Name   The myPHCC link has been developed to help students access on-line resources commonly used by PHCC students and staff.

6 Quick Links for Distance Learners

Preparing for Distance Learning

 Common Questions and Answers

for use with courses in...

Principles of Economics I and II
Survey of Economics
Personal Finance
Psychology For Business and Industry
Cross-Cultural Psychology

with Mr. Tom Meyer

 

Six Quick Links for Distance Learners

1.

 Rules for Making UserName or User ID and Password  for use in Blackboard, and in MyEconlab.com and Gitman/Joenk Xtra.
2.

 Instructions for navigating courses  designed by Tom Meyer
3.

 Four Facts About Each Syllabus

4.

 Four Facts About 15-Module Calendars

5.

 Each Module Has Two Daily Class Outlines : Parts I and II
6.

 Common Questions and Answers

Preparing for Distance Learning
 

Students enrolling in a distance learning course for the first time are required to complete the "Preparing for Distance Learning" course.

For students who are confident in their computer skills or who live outside the PHCC service area... Take this course online by contacting our webmaster Mr. Mark Nelson mnelson@ph.vccs.edu or by calling 276 656-0275.
For students who live within the PHCC service area... You can work with our webmaster, Mr. Mark Nelson, in person about improving your distance learning skills.  Mark conducts several sessions on PHCC/s campus on skills for distance learning students.  Contact him for times and locations at mnelson@ph.vccs.edu or by calling 276 656-0275.

 

 

 
Rules for Making Username (or User ID) and Password

Mr. Meyer's students work with several software packages:

1.  Blackboard -  The Virginia Community College System creates Blackboard accounts for every enrolled student.  Mr. Meyer puts traditional in-class students and distance learning students into the same Blackboard electronic delivery methods course.  All  Blackboard students gain access to Mr. Meyer's courses on the first day of class.


2.  MyEconLab.com  - I encourage every student enrolled in  Principles of Economics I and II  , and every student enrolled in  Survey of Economics  to use the same Username (called a UserID) and Password when enrolling in MyEconLab that he or she may already be using in Blackboard.  (That way if you forget the procedure, as the instructor I can help you, by directing your attention to item #4 below.)  You have to have a paid-up current subscription to MyEconlab that comes with a newly purchased textbook.  Alternatively, you can contact Addison-Wesley and request to purchase your subscription if you bought a used textbook. 

Addison-Wesley General Switchboard is:  (800) 859-1017
Addison-Wesley Tech Support is:  (800) 677-6337

3.  Gitman/Joehnk Xtra  - I encourage every student enrolled in  Personal Finance  to use the same Username (called a UserID) and Password when enrolling in Gitman/Joehnk Xtra that he or she may already be using in Blackboard.  (That way if you forget the procedure, as the instructor I can help you, by directing your attention to item #4 below.)  Alternatively, you can contact Thomson / Southwestern Publishing Co. and request to purchase your subscription if you bought a used textbook. 


4.  Infotrac - Students taking PSY-119 or PSY-126 can type the Passcode which is issued with the   Cross-Cultural Psychology  or with the  Psychology of Business and Industry  textbook to gain access to the online library of papers coded by topics suggested at the end of each chapter in the text.

5.  Blackboard Usernames and Passwords:

For returning distance learning students Contact our webmaster, Mr. Mark Nelson at (276) 656-0275 or mnelson@ph.vccs.edu if you are finishing up an "Incomplete" letter grade.
For new students Your username will be your first initial PLUS your last name PLUS four digits assigned by the Virginia Community College System.

Your default password is the date of birth you reported in the form MMDDYY, in which MM are the two numbers indicating the month of birth, DD are the two numbers indicating day of birth, and YY are the last two numbers of the year of birth.  You can inquire of the webmaster how to change your default password, and you may be asked to change your password when security conditions tell us it would be prudent to do so.

As an example:  Jake Housenberg was born on January 4th, 1979.

Jake's username will be:  jhousenberg####
Jake's password will be:  010479

 

Blackboard Usernames will be the first initial, whole last name and the four (4) digits number assigned by the Virginia Community College System.

Blackboard Default Passwords will be the two-digit month of reported birth, the two-digit date of birth and the last two digits of year of birth.

When unable to gain access to Blackboard log-in, type the following into your browsers:
http://bb.vccs.edu .

Use the Back Door approach when BlackBoard becomes inoperable. 
1.  Type http://www.ph.vccs.edu/eco into Internet Explorer.  Clicking your mouse on this link takes you to Mr. Meyer's instructor homepage. 
2.  Click on the course title you are enrolled in.  This will take you to the course homepage.  Much of the information stored in BlackBoard already resides at this location. 
3.  You will not gain access to your grades nor email nor discussion group capability, nor to the other functions performed exclusively by the Blackboard system when using the Back Door approach.

 

 

 


  Instructions for navigating courses designed by Tom Meyer 

1.  Use Internet Explorer to bring your computer to my Instructor-homepage http://www.ph.vccs.edu/eco .

2.  Click your mouse on the course you are enrolled in.  This will take you to a Course Homepage.

3.  Each course-homepage provides links to the syllabus and to a 15-module calendar.

 


  Four Facts Each Syllabus 

1.  Read the syllabus within the first week of any course. Print yourself a copy of the syllabus if you want to.

2.  Mr. Meyer's syllabi at Patrick Henry Community College contain four menus; each menu is a table of links to further information.  Items on each menu are arranged in alphabetical order.  However, if a link is printed in a larger type size, it is considered more important than surrounding links.
 
3.  The four menus are:

Getting started
 

The Getting started menu is for distant learners and students enrolling in Mr. Meyer's courses for the first time.

Links are in alphabetical order.
This menu has links that tell you what resources you should have to begin, (such as textbook and study guide), and how to contact our webmaster for tutorial help if you want to be successful as a distant learning student.
Need-to-know
 


The Need-to-know menu is the most important menu for all students!

Links are alphabetized.
Pay most attention to those links set in large font size .
Nice-to-know
 
Look in the Nice-to-know menu for administrative information/

The nice-to-know menu contains school policies (such as the honor code) and instructor policies (such as late work).
For-your-information The For-your-information menu need only be needed in extraordinary circumstances.

It contains links to information for inclement weather days, emergency information, safety information, etc.

4.  At the bottom of the syllabus in each course is an Affidavit ("I am ready to begin" statement).  You should send the instructor a copy of the affidavit by the time you begin Module 2 of each course.


 

 

  Four Facts About 15-Module Calendars 

1.  Scroll through the 15-module calendar within the first two weeks of the course and print yourself a copy if you like.
 
2.  The 15 modules take you through the course from start to finish.  Each module may look like the one that follows, and has distinguishing links in it. 

3.  Each module has links to two complete daily class outlines. (Some of my courses even have alternative lesson plans.)

4.  Click a sample module for the course you are taking:

Sample Modules

an Economics course
 		 a Personal Finance course a Psychology course

 

Sample Module from an Economics Course
found within the 15-Module-Calendar of each course

Module 1

Assignment

Read and Study:

Chapter 01 Getting Started

in your text and study guide.


Course Objectives

Master these:

Course
Objectives

 

 

 

 


 

 

Timeline

Students should keep up with the following timeline, by clicking the links colored red.

ECO201W1
Lesson Plan Part I January 14, '03
Lesson Plan Part II January 16, '03

Additional Help

If BlackBoard server fails: (1) use Internet Explorer to link to the instructor home page: http://164.106.143.4/eco and 
(2) then click on the homepage for Principles of Economics I.

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Class Outlines

Do the homework in the Lesson Plan links and read the Chapter Lecture link:

Lesson Plan
 Part1

Lesson Plan 
Part 2

PowerPoint Slides

Chapter 01 Lecture

Getting Started

 

Alternate links are enrichment but are not required reading:

Alternate Lesson 1

Alternate Lesson 2

Alternate Lesson 
Slides

 Chapter Overview

In this chapter you are introduced to:
(1) the subject of making wise choices about using limited resources;
(2) the model building that makes economics a science; and
(3) rational decision-making.

 

You find the complete set of modules for the course you are enrolled in by clicking your mouse on the link called 15-Module Calendar on the course homepage.

 

Reading from left column to right column, notice that each module is numbered so that you know in what order to study them.  Beneath the module number are links to the course objectives (the skills you must be able to demonstrate), and, except for Cross-Cultural Psychology, expect to find links to PowerPoint slides.  

In the second column from the left, the dates during which different sections of the course will be accomplishing that module are listed. 

In the third column from the left, the title of the module is listed between sets of primary and secondary lesson plans.  The module title corresponds to the chapter title and study guide chapter title you should read and study.  The links called Lesson Plan Part 1 and Lesson Plan Part 2 refer to daily class outlines that can be used advantageously.  Each daily class outline: begins with a Review; lists Course Objectives; is followed by Class Activities; and contains a Summary and Homework.  The alternate lesson plans are provided with some lessons, but are not required study, and should be seen either as alternative lesson plans taken from other textbooks, or as further enrichment material. 

The right-hand column in the 15-Module Calendar contains a brief description of the contents of the chapter you should read and study.

  Each Module 
  Has Two Daily Class Outlines: 
  Lesson Plan Part 1 and Lesson Plan Part 2 

Use Lesson Plan Part 1 and Lesson Plan Part 2 of any module as daily class outlines.  

Expect to find the following pattern of information in Economics courses
under links called "Part 1" and "Part 2" in each module:
  • Admin/Review  (to cover any administrative answers to questions,
    or answer questions asked about previously assigned work)
  • Class Activity  (organized by course objective)
  • Summary
  • Homework
    • The economics homework is to:
      •  read the chapter title specified in the 15-Module Calendar by the date given in the 15-Module Calendar,
      • complete the study guide for the chapter title specified in the 15-Module Calendar. 
         

 

 

Here is a second sample module:

  • Clicking the link called "Part 1" (or "Part 2") will take you to the daily class outline for a specific lesson scheduled for the Module whose number you wish to choose.

  • Clicking the link called "learning objectives" will enable you to discover the things you will accomplish during each Module.
     

 

Sample Module from a Psychology Course:
 

Module 1

 

 

Human Relations and Yourself

Objective 1

 

 

  

Part 1

Tuesday
August 24, 2004

Objectives 2,3

 

 Part 2

Thursday
August 26, 2004

Objectives 4,5

Each module has specific learning objectives for you to do.

Click learning objectives, then click the Module number.

The first learning objective in every module is a red objective.  Do the red objectives at home before coming to class.

Do the blue objectives during class time, or after class time with your instructor and classmates.

The left-hand column above tells you:
-  the module numbers (according to the sequence of instruction);
- the chapter title from the text you should read before coming to class; and
- specifies red or blue learning objectives

The right-hand column above enables you to click on "learning objectives" to discover what you will accomplish during the day on which you are scheduled to complete "Part 1" and the day on which you should complete "Part 2."

The center columns above enable you to determine the course objectives, the date for which the class is scheduled, and the number of the learning objective or objectives you should be mastering.

Here's a sample of a Part 1 daily class outline for a Psychology class.
Every daily class outline will begin with a series of links or bookmarks, that take you to the work assigned for that day.

 

Module 1 Part 1 - Psych 126 - Human Relations and Yourself
 

Bookmarks:

Review/Preview
Learning Objectives		 Class Activities Summary Homework

 

Expect to find the following pattern of information in Psychology courses
under links called "Part 1" and "Part 2" in each module:
  • Admin/Review  (to cover any administrative answers to questions,
    or answer questions asked about previously assigned work)
  • Class Activity  (organized by course objective)
  • Summary
  • Homework
    • The psychology homework is to:
      • read the chapter title mentioned in the 15-Module Calendar by the date given in the 15-Module Calendar,
      • (learn how to and then) copy the web page for each daily class outline into
          Microsoft Word,
      •  type in your answers for the  material shaded green ,
      • change your  print to red , and
      • email your completed daily class outlines back to the instructor.
         

 

Sample Module from a Personal Finance Course

Module 1

Assignment

Follow these 4 steps:

(1)  Read & Study:

Chapter 01
Title: Understanding the Financial Planning Process

in your text and Workbook.


Course Objectives

(2) Master these:

Course
Objectives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Timeline

(3)  Keep up with the timeline.
Click and study the Lesson Plan links in blue on dates shown in the following tables: 

For Tuesday / Thursday Students
Lesson Plan
Part I		 Jan 10, 2006
Lesson Plan
Part II		 Jan 12, 2006

 

For Monday / Wednesday / Friday Students
Lesson Plan
Part I		 Jan 09, 2006
Lesson Plan
Part II		 Jan 11, 2006
PProblem Solving Session Jan 13, 2006

Additional Help

Server Failure

If BlackBoard server fails:

(1) Learn to link to the instructor home page by typing http://164.106.143.4/eco into Internet Explorer, and 
(2) then clicking on the homepage for Personal Finance.

 

 

Daily Class Outlines

(4) Send  Work_at_home tasks in Lesson Plan 1 and 2 to tmeyer@ph.vccs.edu
as attachments to email before taking Exam 1 during Module 5.

Lesson Plan 1

Lesson Plan 2

 Chapter Overview

1.  Personal financial planning has a positive impact on your standard of living, spending, and wealth accumulation.

2.  Personal financial planning is a six-step process:
Step 1 - define goals;
Step 2 - develop tactics and strategies to achieve them
Step 3 - implement those plans and strategies
Step 4 - monitor and devise budgets and control mechanisms to stay abreast of progress;
Step 5 - use financial statements to evaluated results
Step 6 - redefine and revise goals as circumstances change.

3.  Good planning is specific, attainable, and revised throughout your changing life cycle.

4.  Key environmental influences in planning come from government data on inflation, unemployment, and GDP, and from businesses and other consumers and investors.

5.  Your earnings are determined by your age, marital status, education, geographic location, and career.

6.  Flexible career planning takes account of changes in your interests, needs, education, and on-the-job training.

 

 

  Common Questions and Answers 

Do you still have questions?  Here are three common question areas.

1. If you need technical help with Blackboard,

with your computer, or

a publisher , contact ...		 Blackboard webmaster:
mnelson@ph.vccs.edu		 Computer repair technician:
ftatum@ph.vccs.edu		 Addison-Wesley
Tech Support:
(800) 677-6337

Thomson
SouthWestern
Tech Support:
(800) 423-0563

Infotrac Tech Support:
ti-support@galegroup.com

 

2. For questions that can be answered by
our Learning Resource Center staff:

If you need a proctored exam at a distance learning site, contact: cford@ph.vccs.edu.

If you need help writing, contact: awilliams@ph.vccs.edu.

If you need tutorial assistance, contact our Learning Resource Center or tbriggs@ph.vccs.edu .

If you need library resources, contact breynolds@ph.vccs.edu.

If you need textbooks, contact our bookstore (276) 656-0319.

 

3. For email and voicemail questions

Step 1.
If you need clarification about materials in my courses, refer to your syllabus, to the 15-Module Calendar, to the instructor homepage at http://www.ph.vccs.edu/eco , or contact: tmeyer@ph.vccs.edu  or leave voicemail at (276) 656-0283 during Fall and Spring semesters.

Step 2.
Always identify yourself AND the course you are enrolled in
( FIN- 170, ECO-120, ECO-201, ECO-202, or PSY-119 ), when asking questions, because
my answers are course specific!

Step 3.
Please provide a telephone number and your BlackBoard email address for me to reply to.

For security purposes, and by school policy, I cannot contact you using an email system other than BlackBoard.



 


"A penney saved is a penny earned."

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link%3D/art_and_music/people_art_archive.html                                   

Love for Econ springs eternal! All people smile in the same language!

 

   

It‘s your future. Plan it!


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Last update:  08.20.2006

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