Basic Info about the Course

This is the email I sent out last week...just wanted to post it for newly registered students to reference.

Because the summer schedule is compressed into six weeks, it's important to hit the ground running.  Please get the assigned text, The Sociology Project: Introducing the Sociological Imagination before the course begins...here's a link:
http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/Sociology-Project-The-Introducing-the-Sociological-Imagination/9780205093823.page 

I've been teaching this class for several years, but am revamping it significantly for this session, so I'm excited and have a renewed enthusiasm for the course.  In addition to the new textbook, we're going to experiment with two new online platforms as part of the course.  Both of these platforms are available via your sunyorange.edu gmail account (you're reading this email, so I'm assuming you're looking at a similar screen).

• First, Google+.  If you're not already familiar, look to the upper left corner of your screen.  You should see a link that says "you+"  Click on that link and activate your Google+ account.  I will establish a circle for the class and post some announcements there over the course of the semester (as such, you'll likely soon get some alert from me that you've been added to a circle).  Also, I plan on holder regular "hangouts," which are webcam chats that can allow for a bit more face-to-face interaction.

• Second, we will also be using Blogger for posting our written assignments.  If you look at the top of this screen and see the link labeled "More," you can highlight it and a drop down menu will appear.  Blogger is one of the choices.  Select it and activate your own personal blog.  I encourage you to set the access to "private."  Once you set up your account, look for mine http://harrissociologyonline.blogspot.com/ and "follow" it.  Once you do, I will follow your account.  This will all make more sense once you explore the site more and the class gets going.

• Of course, though, Angel will be the primary platform for course activities and that shell will be open the weekend of May 18.

We've still got a few weeks before the class begins, but the quicker you familiarize yourself with the site and the platforms we'll be using, the better.  

Feel free to contact me with any questions you have.