Using the Course Blog

In HIS 241, spring 2008, we will be using a blog (igorsrussianhistory.blogspot.com/) instead of blackboard (learn.vccs.edu) to exchange comments about the weekly readings and assignments. Students can either post and respond on the course blog, or they have the option of creating their own blog for use in the course.

In the course, you must post to the blog a total of ten times with each posting being worth 5 points for a total of 50 points. In addition, you can earn extra credit for additional postings/responses (up to a limit of 25 points, 5 points for each additional posting). Please note that you must post to the blog to successfully pass the course; if you do not participate on the blog, then you will earn a reduced final course grade.

Navigating and Using the Course Blog

The course blog is at igorsrussianhistory.blogspot.com/. When you go to that site, you will see at the very top right a search feature that you can use if you want to search for something specific on the blog. Below that is the blog title. In the left column of the blog, you will find some administrative tools, such as a list of books, some links, etc. The right column of the blog is the main content section. Right now in that column, I have some sample postings of items relating to Russia that I have noted over the past few months. But during the course, this is where I will post some comments on the weekly readings and information on the course assignments. My postings will be organized by date.

There are two ways for you to read and respond on the blog:

If you click on the title of one of my postings, such as "Parades in the Soviet Union," you will see all the relevant comments that have been added to the blog by other viewers. You can add your comment by clicking on the "Post a Comment" link towards the bottom of the screen.
- Type your comment in the large text entry box, then add your username/password if you already have an identity. Preview and publish your comment. If you do not want to use a username identity, you can click on "nickname" and put your first name in there. (I have to know who you are to give you credit.) Then preview and publish your comment.
The other way that you can add a comment is by clicking on the "# comments" link on the main page. You will find one of these links under each of my main postings.
- Type your comment in the large text entry box, then add your username/password if you already have an identity. Preview and publish your comment. If you do not want to use a username identity, you can click on "nickname" and put your first name in there. (I have to know who you are to give you credit.) Then preview and publish your comment.

Each post should be a substantial intellectual contribution (instructor discretion).
- Some points to consider:
  - You should write anywhere from three to eight sentences, although you are free to write something longer.
  - You should comment on something that you found interesting in your study of Russian history for the week. It could be anything; it does not have to be profound!
  - Your post should observe the rules of good English usage.
  - Remember that your post will be accessible to, i.e., viewed by, the general public. So make it good.
- The following are some examples of postings that are not meaningful:
  - Hi
  - Agreed
  - Interesting point
  - Good
  - Ugh
Your posting can be a comment on an assignment, a remark about the week's reading, a response to another student's posting, a note about the material being studied in the course but you cannot just post an assignment (either paragraph or paper).
Please remember that you must submit your paragraph and paper assignments directly to your instructor by email for grading. The blog is just for discussion.
Finally, to receive credit for a posting, you should be posting during the current week of your course (instructor discretion). When you are in week 3 of the course, you should post about week 3 of the course, but you can also post to future weeks of the course, and maybe I will accept a post for a past week (maybe).

Creating and Using your own Blog
If you do not want to contribute/post to the course blog, I invite you to create your own blog for use in the course. I used blogger.com to set up the course blog and recommend that you use it also. It is simple to register and set up a blog. Once you have done that, you must inform me of your blog's url so that I can monitor your postings throughout the semester. I will also let the other students know, so that they can also post there. I will award extra credit for the creation and use of your blog; the point amount dependent on the excellence of your work.
Blue Bar

Online Blackboard Gradebook
We will still use Blackboard to record and check grades in the online gradebook. If you need to, please read Getting Started Online for an official introduction to Blackboard.

For Blackboard, your login name is the first part of your email address before the @email.vccs.edu. The password is your date of birth (mmddyy), although you can change your password by going to my.vccs.edu. If you have any problems, please contact the college help desk at 703.426.4141 (ithelpdesk@nvcc.edu).

After your login to Blackboard, you will see a screen with a list of your courses. Click on a course. Then you should see a button for your gradebook along the left side of the screen. Click on that button, and you will see your course grades. To exit from the gradebook, either "logout" (top of the page) or simply close the browser window. If you have problems, please contact the ithelpdesk@nvcc.edu.