TO:                                   World Regional Geography On-Line Students

FROM:                         Lisa Keys-Mathews, Assistant Professor

                                                Department of Geography

                                                lkeysmathews@una.edu

SUBJECT:                Welcome to the World of Geography!

DATE:                        August 14, 2003

Thank you for enrolling in World Regional Geography On-Line - GE102INT through the Department of Geography at the University of North Alabama.  Your class is located through Pipeline and WebCT through the University web address http://pipeline.una.edu.  Once you login, go to “My Courses” and select “World Regional Geography”.  You automatically have an account in the Pipeline systems.  Your ID is your first initial, middle initial and last name.  Your password is your six-digit birth date.  Logon to Pipeline as soon as possible.  Contact cpsupport@una.edu if you need any assistance.  

Your account and password for the course are “rgeo_student” and “regional”, respectively.  Please check out the site and prepare your first assignment, which involves emailing me a short biography and creating an “Autobiographical Map”.  

 This course requires a textbook, base maps, and atlas as follows:

To get acquainted, please read the various components of the class listed on the course home page and scan the course outline.  World Regional Geography On-Line is organized over sixteen weeks.  During each week you will read the assignments regarding a topic(s), understand a series of concepts and complete an exercise.   You should consider the "ideas and terms" section at the beginning of each chapter as your study guide for the tests.   You will take exams on-line through the Pipeline program. You automatically have an account in the Pipeline systems.  Your ID is your first initial, middle initial and last name.  Your password is your six digit birthdate.  Logon to Pipeline as soon as possible.  Contact cpsupport@una.edu if you need any assistance. 

In addition to map quizzes and exams, you will be assigned to a team periodically and you will complete  team discussions on an assigned problem or question.  Your team will conduct the research, solve the problem or answer the question, and an assigned team leader will report your findings to me.    Because this is an on-line course where there will be no on-campus “classroom interaction,” you will conduct on-line threaded discussions that will be a part of the group projects.  I believe that this type of interaction will further your understanding of world regional geography. 

Each weekly section will start on Monday.  Please think of this class as you would a M/W/F class, e.g. most assignments are due on Sunday by midnight.  Please note that this class will require you to maintain a good schedule.  I will not accept late projects, except under verifiable, extenuating circumstances.   Please check out the sections on “Learning in an On-Line Environment” and “How to be a Good On-Line Team Member.” Both of these pages will help you prepare your thoughts for this course.   Success in an Internet on-line course requires motivation, organization, and innovative thinking.    Also remember that an Internet-based course, by nature, is a “living document” and as we progress through the semester I will make changes as needed to enhance the course.

In conclusion, I am glad that you signed up for World Regional Geography On-Line  and I look forward to working with you this semester.  Let me know if you need any assistance.  You may reach me at 1-800-TALK-UNA ext. 4640 (long distance), 765-4640 (local) or even better, email me at lkeysmathews@una.edu.  I wish you great success as you study World Regional Geography.