TIMELY TASKS

This is a list of items you will need to take care of at the beginning of the semester. Check back occasionally to see if additional items have been added to the list. Remember which item numbers you have accomplished.

1. Check to see if you have access to electronic mail and the World Wide Web:

Through a currently active email account at East Stroudsburg University (do nothing).

Through a formerly active email account at East Stroudsburg University (submit renewal form).

Through a private Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as America Online, Microsoft Network, Sunlink, etc.

2. If you do not have access to the internet, submit an account application form at Academic Computing in Stroud Hall 301 (unless I have already collected an application and submitted it for you in class). It takes about a week for the account to become active. Forms filled out incorrectly will be posted in Stroud 301; you should check these and make a correction if your account is not operating within a week of submission.

3. Familiarize yourself with Netscape and the World Wide Web using the computer labs provided at East Stroudsburg University. In particular, check out the information provided by ESU, the Department of Communication Studies web pages. Experiment with Search Engines, such as yahoo, in order to begin learning to find resources on the World Wide Web.

4. Purchase the books for the class and 2 computer diskettes (3 1/2" IBM compatible) for use during the semester.

5. Familiarize yourself with an IBM-compatible computer/word processor (preferred format is MS Word). Papers and other course assignments MUST be submitted in a format that can be converted using MS Word 6.0 software. Problems in conversion could result in grade penalties and delays.

6. Test your electronic mail account periodically to find out when it is active. REMEMBER YOUR PASSWORD! Once the account is usable and you can log on, learn how to use the Pine software provided on the ESU system for electronic mail. Read the handouts provided in class and in Academic Computing at ESU concerning the Pine software and accessing the ESU system.

7. Subscribe to the email discussion group for the course. Send a message to majordomo@esu.edu which reads only "subscribe cmst-media userID" (no quotation marks). Your userID consists of a name (such as bsmith) and a computer system (such as esu.edu) and looks like bsmith@esu.edu or something similar. Remember, if you have internet access through a company or organization other than ESU, your address will not have the esu.edu at the end, but something different in its place.

8. Remember, to unsubscribe from the discussion group at the end of the semester. Simply send a message to majordomo@esu.edu which reads only "unsubscribe cmst-media userID" (no quotation marks, use your own userID).

9. To contact the administrator of the discussion group (your professor) send electronic mail to ggetz@esu.edu or to owner-cmst-media@esu.edu (be sure to include your name and question).

10. Be prepared to help other students accomplish these tasks once you have reached this point. Practice using Pine to send email messages and continue studying the Netscape software and the World Wide Web. Check this list periodically throughout the semester for additional tasks.

11. Participate regularly in the discussion by sending messages (AFTER you have completed task #7) to the address cmst-media@esu.edu and reading messages sent by your fellow students and your instructor.

12. Complete weekly assignments as indicated in class, in email, and on this web site.

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