Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is an online class that employs the D2L class management system for:

• Content
• Discussions
• Assignments
• Weekly Zoom rooms (optional)
• Final Presentation (online Zoom room - required)

The course is taught through textbook materials (zyBooks), other materials, and online discussions.

Assignments, Discussions, zyBooks and Presentation Learning Modules:

• Each learning module will typically ask you to complete the following activities:
  • Read/Watch/Practice: You will be provided with reading, videos, and interactive content via the ZyBooks learning platform. You should read, watch, and complete the practice & challenge activities. These are graded activities.
  • Discuss: You will be asked to participate in a discussion related to the learning module content.
  • Apply: You will be asked to complete an assignment 

zyBooks Modules

• Each learning module will prompt you to complete a corresponding ZyBooks module. The ZyBooks modules contain reading, interactive learning, videos, practice activities and (sometimes) challenge activities.

Module Discussions

• Each learning module you will be asked to participate in an online discussion related to the topics & key concepts covered in the learning module. You will typically be asked to make a material (not superficial) post and reply to two of your classmates original posts. These are graded activities. Detailed instructions can be found under "Content" in the learning modules.

Module Assignments

• Each learning module will also ask you to complete an individual assignment related to the learning module topics & key concepts. Detailed instruction can be found under "Content" in the learning modules.

Final Presentation

• Students will complete a final presentation during the last week of class. The class modality determines how the presentation will be delivered:
  • For On-campus/In-person classes, presentations will be given live in class.
  • For synchronous (a.k.a. "remote") classes, presentations will be given live in a Zoom virtual meeting.
  • For full online classes, presenters will make a recording (with audio and/or video) and submit the recording to D2L.
• Detailed instructions can be found under "Content" in the learning modules.

Required Hardware:

• Reliable access to a computer capable of running the Require Software (see below)
• Reliable access to the internet
• Access to a microphone/headset and webcam (for modalities that require synchronous attendance & participation)

Required Software

You should not have to pay for any of the software required below. Azure Dev Tools for Teaching is a service of the Microsoft Academic Alliance which provides free Microsoft products for students registered in classes that require them.

Operating System:

• Windows 7 or higher (which you can download from Azure Dev Tools for Teaching), or
• The current macOS for MAC users

Word Processing:

• Microsoft Word (included in the Microsoft Office Suite which you can download from Azure Dev Tools for Teaching).

Database Application: 

• Microsoft Access (included in the Microsoft Office Suite which you can download from Azure Dev Tools for Teaching). Note, Microsoft Access is only available on computers running Microsoft Windows. This means if you have an Apple/Macintosh or other computer is not using the Microsoft Windows operating system, you will need to gain access to one that does. If you do not have access to a computer running Microsoft Windows that you can install the full version of Microsoft Office onto, consider these additional options:
  
  • Visit a local campus and use the PCC computer lab
  • Use Boot Camp, Parallels or VirtualBox (or other similar solutions) to create a Windows partition so that you can install the full version of Microsoft Office with Microsoft Access from Azure Dev Tools for Teaching
  • Use the Propeller Virtual Desktop to remotely connect to a PCC lab computer over the internet (which will have MS Access installed). Note, this is the most challenging option because it can be difficult to run the software through a web browser and you have to email/upload your work to yourself or you will lose it once you sign out of the Propeller remote desktop.

Supported Web browsers:

• The latest versions of Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome or Safari

File & Folder Compression Software (a.k.a. "Zip" programs):

• These are typically included in with operating system. 7Zip is another downloadable option.

Text Editor:

• The latest version of Notepad++ or Brackets will make HTML & CSS much easier with great built-in tools to help auto-complete parameters and highlight errors.

Diagram Software:

• MS Visio which you can download from Azure Dev Tools for Teaching
• Draw.IO is another free, web-based option

Integrated Development Environment (for writing Python code):

• Download Link: PyCharm Community Edition
• Website: https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/

Video Conferencing/Virtual Meeting Software (if required for class)

• You can download or sign in to Zoom directly (using your @pcc.edu email address), and
  
• You can find Zoom meetings by clicking "Zoom" in the main D2L navigation bar