Cyberbiology Announcements

June 27, 2006 - Last announcement of the semester... I'll be working up your grades later this morning and posting them in an envelope on my office window later in the afternoon.

June 26, 2006 - Mulch movers. Today is the deadline! If you're name is in red... please let me know what are your intentions.

June 18, 2006 - Alright... I've been on campus more than I've been at home over the weekend! I'm taking a personal day tomorrow (Monday). I will respond to e-mails and BlackBoard postings Monday evening. Couple of announcements:

• Check your schedule... just a couple of things left to do...
  • Complete the end of course evaluation (see link on blackboard). Don't worry, I won't see what you say - it's anonymous. But, I will be able to see if you completed an evaluation or not... so please do complete it. I really do appreciate the feedback so I don't feel like I'm teaching in a vacuum.
  • Don't forget about Test #4.
  • And oh yes... don't forget about the final exam. Click on the link at the end of your schedule for more information and details. As for the hours of the learning lab, I'll ask about them when I get back to campus Tuesday and post another announcement and update the final exam page. Naturally, you can contact them directly to learn about their hours so you can plan accordingly.
  • I've been invited to give a series of talks at Virginia Tech's Master Gardener College (advance training session for Master Gardeners from across the state). Whoopie! I'll be on the Virginia Tech campus from Wednesday through Friday. However, I won't ever be too far from that wonderful Virginia Tech library and the ability to respond to your e-mails and Blackboard postings. So, it will be business as usual.

June 16, 2006 - How are things going? Reminders:

• Deadline today for LeafLab, Microscopy Quiz, & Test #3.
• Those of you doing the extra credit... please check that your name is on the schedule (link on homepage). 
• We are getting close to the end... Soon, the course evaluation will be popping up on BlackBoard. Please complete it when you take your last test on BlackBoard.

June 11, 2006 - All right... I'm done... After spending All day Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on campus.... I'm going to take a couple of days off. E-mails and BlackBoard postings will be returned very slowly on Wednesday and Thursday. I'm thinking about a road trip to our wild and wonderful state located next door.

June 11, 2006 - I posted your midterm grades on BlackBoard (on the "grades" page). Your official interim report are on my office window ready for you commuters to pick up early Monday morning if you so desire). Remember.... the last day to officially withdraw from the course (without a grade penalty) is Monday. And the withdrawal process is between you and admissions (I'm not a part of it).

June 10, 2006 - I posted the information about earning extra credit on our homepage (look for the link Extra Credit Opportunity). On that page you'll be able to see your name in red when you propose a time and then turned to green after you complete the wood chip hauling to the research plot. Please visit the page, read all the information, and then e-mail me with questions, requests, reservations, etc. 

June 10, 2006 - I need Jennifer Hayden to contact me via e-mail.

June 5, 2006 - Keep those questions coming... I'm putting the finishing touches on our lab activities for Friday/Saturday. It may be helpful to look back through the postings and responses on the BlackBoard discussion board. I'm going on a little road trip tomorrow (Tuesday; June 6). If you need me be sure to e-mail or post on BlackBoard tonight or before 6:30 AM tomorrow. Assuming I don't have anymore surprises with my vehicle, I should be back behind my computer late Tuesday evening.

June 2, 2006 - How are we looking for next weekend? I'm beginning to get organized. I've been doing a little tweaking on the pages describing what we will be doing during our mandatory meeting. Most notably, I've been going through pages and adding BIO 101-62 to pages that only had 101-60 before. (This is the first summer we tried running two sections simultaneously). Again, if you are in BIO 101-62, your lab/midterm will be on Friday. If you are in BIO 101-60, your lab/midterm will be on Saturday. Regardless of which link you click on (from the schedule page) you will arrive on a page that describes what we will do on your assigned day. Be sure to print out all the handouts (see the link Terms and Concepts; and there are additional links to print from this page as well).

June 1, 2006 - Two announcements:

• Things are pretty quite on BlackBoard. Any questions? Give a holler. (or perhaps it has to do with the second announcement...)
• If you have been experiencing technical difficulties at this time you are not alone... apparently there are "connectivity problems" between Verizon and the Virginia Community College System (Richmond). The technicians are aware of the problem and hope to have it fixed later this afternoon.

May 31, 2006 - Well.... I had every intention of being on campus this morning. My truck presented me with a little surprise - a flat tire. In the process of replacing the tire I stripped the nuts. So.... I decided to walk home and re-evaluate my options. When I clear my mind I will return to the truck and do something, but it won't include driving to campus today. I'll return home later this afternoon (I hope) and respond to e-mails and BlackBoard postings.

May 26, 2006 - TGIF ;-)  By now y'all should be falling into a rhythm of listening to lectures, answering the questions that go along with the lectures (linked from each title on the schedule page). You probably have noticed the yellow boxes on the schedule mark investigations, quizzes, and/or tests. Note those dates of availability when the quiz/test will be available on BlackBoard. Please, I beg of you not to wait until the last day, last hour to take the quiz/test. Murhpy's Law is sure to dictate that your computer will hiccup or crash resulting in your being unable to take/complete your quiz. The next morning I end up getting dozens of e-mails from frustrated students asking me to reset their quizzes. You're on-line students - show us some of that self-starting, independent learning characteristic of on-line students. Mark those dates of availability on your personal calendar, forehead, bathroom mirror... whatever. As always, if you encounter a problem with BlackBoard when taking a quiz/test please e-mail me for a quicker response. Again, let me know via e-mail (murrayj@brcc.edu) and not the BlackBoard discussion group. Thanks ;-)

Great job posting general questions on BlackBoard! Keep it up. Those questions rattling around in your head are probably also rattling around in the heads of your classmates.    

May 24, 2006 - Good morning... and how are we doing out there? Everyone getting an earful from Dr. Wolfe? Couple of announcements today:

• I believe you have a rapidly approaching deadline to complete an investigation (see schedule, click on Science & Scientific Method link) and then take the quiz (quiz is on BlackBoard) by Friday night. This is a gentle reminder... please check your schedule and KNOW THOSE DATES... I usually do not make gentle reminders and leave the responsibility of completing your tests and quizzes up to you since we are all adults :-)
• You should have read everything - my welcome letter, syllabus, schedule, announcement page, FAQ... all of these are linked from my homepage.  
• The next couple of weeks are pretty whacky for me. I'll be checking the BlackBoard discussion board and e-mails routinely. However, if you need to personally meet me I recommend e-mailing me and making an appointment. I actually work better, and for longer periods, from home than from the office. But taking time to drive to campus to meet a student will also be a priority with me :-) Don't be shy! Today, for example, I'll be giving a tour of the campus arboretum and my research projects to some folks from the VA Department of Forestry and the VA Cooperative Extension Service. Later in the morning/afternoon I'll be talking to a reporter and photographer... needless to say, for the last week I've been out in my research plot getting things ready. The campus arboretum starts at the tennis courts and wraps around the northern, western, and southwestern portion of the campus (running along much of Rt. 11... it's my office when I'm on campus and the weather is nice. But it is best to e-mail me and make an appointment. Then I'll put down the shovels and saws and gladly meet you in my office (J111).
• Oh yes... make sure you get onto BlackBoard, start a thread on our discussion group and say Howdy to everyone.

May 22, 2006 - Hello, hello, hello! We are officially underway. A couple of announcements:

• Whoops! I had an old draft version of my syllabus on our website until this morning (technically, the first day of class). The updated and official syllabus for the course is now posted (see link from homepage).
• For those of you that have not rec'd the welcome letter (late registration, parent's snail mail address, dog ate it...) please see the link in the May 6 announcement. If you haven't done so, please click on over to BlackBoard and introduce yourself to your classmates and then take the practice quiz (don't panic... the practice quiz does not count as a grade). Please accomplish these tasks today so I can get a handle on the size and composition of the class.
• Get started on the Thinkwell lectures and other assignments. I know it seems like a lot when you look through the schedule page but you can do it. Jump in and see how many lectures you can process today. This will help you budget your time so you can stay on track with posted deadlines. I recommend writing these posted deadlines on your personal calendar, personal agenda, and/or mirror in your bathroom.
• So far I only have the 101 schedule posted. I know a number of you will be taking 102. I hesitate posting that schedule because it often leads to confusion (not to mention a bunch of 102 students suddenly jump in on the discussion board with 102 questions). An important date for you 102 folks to keep in mind is you mandatory "cybersaturday" date... Friday, July 14 for BIO 102-62 folks and Saturday, July 15 for BIO 102-60 folks. The mandatory date for 101 is posted on your schedule.
• Continue posting your questions on BlackBoard. I'll do my best to answer them as quick as possible. Read all of the posts on BlackBoard, I think you'll find it helpful as you learn to navigate your way around this course. Jump in, the water is fine! 

May 8, 2006 - The letter will be leaving BRCC in mail tomorrow morning. I'm not sure when you will be able to access BlackBoard... as soon as I find out I'll let you know (here on this announcement page). In your letter you will find an invitation to attend the college's Internet-Based Learning Orientation to be held on campus in the Plecker Auditorium on May 18 from 6 PM - 7 PM. Some instructors (sorry, not me) will also be available after 7 PM to meet their students and answer questions.

May 6, 2006 - Hello early birds! I'm impressed. You found my stuff without any assistance. Good job! On Monday I will be mailing a welcome letter to you. I will be using the address you have on file in our admissions office. If you're impatient and want to see it now click here: Summer 101 Welcome Letter. When letter reaches the rest of your classmates I'll offer up another announcement with further instructions.

Archives (Announcements)

• Fall 2001
• Spring 2002
• Summer 2002 - Part 1
• Summer 2002 - Part 2
• Fall 2002
• Spring 2003
• Summer 2003 - Part 1 
• Summer 2003 - Part 2 

• Fall 2003
• Spring 2004
• Summer 2004
• Fall 2004
• Spring 2005
• Summer 2005
• Fall 2005
• Spring 2006

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