How does the online anatomy course work?

First of all, if you can answer "yes" to ALL the following questions, online distance learning may be an attractive option for your educational needs. If you answer one question "no," you may want to resolve or improve in this area prior to attempting this online course.

• Am I self-directed, highly motivated, and self-disciplined?
• Can I set a personal schedule (set aside plenty of study time of a minimum of 9-12 hours for lecture and 6-9 hours for lab per week) and complete assigned work by the required dates? Note: This does not include time spent on campus in lab.
• Are my writing and communication skills better than average?
• Do I try to solve problems and work through difficulties independently?
• Can I read and follow detailed instructions on my own?
• Am I already comfortable with using the Internet as a means of communication and research?
• Do I own or have access to a computer with Internet access and e-mail?

The lecture will be taken online. We do not meet on campus for lecture at any time during the semester.

The lab will meet on campus on a scheduled day in lab K3350 Kopp Hall. We will communicate using e-mail and bulletin board discussions all within a Course Management Software program called Course Compass. Note: We will NOT be using D2L for this online course.

• We will use primarily asynchronous communication in this course, which does not happen in real-time. In other words, we will communicate asynchronously without needing to have a common time available for us to meet online. E-mail is an excellent example of asynchronous communication. So are electronic bulletin boards. I WILL EXPECT that you will be checking your E-mail every day (excluding weekends and holidays) and that your actively utilizing the online resources on the course website. A variety of lecture resources will be available to you including:
  • Detailed Lecture Notes in .html and .PDF formats. Video Lectures of the course content on CD-ROM (by Thinkwell) Multimedia resources with illustrations, animations and video.
    • Media formats include .gif, .jpg, QuickTime, Flash, ShockWave, Windows .AVI, Java, and JavaScript formats.
    • Browser Plug-in's are required to view these resources (see below).
      • Browser Plug-ins Required
        (Free Downloads)
        Adobe Acrobat Reader
        Macromedia Flash
        Macromedia Shackwave
        QuickTime Movie Player
        
  • A Comprehensive Textbook Website with practice quizzes and learning activities for each chapter.
  • Lecture Exams/Quizzes will either be taken in the MCTC Testing Center, online or both.
  • You will maintain an anatomy coloring book (See syllabus).
  • Labs will include hands on investigations of human anatomy using dissected specimens, models, microscopes and computer simulations.
    • Writing assignments, lab quizzes and major lab practicals (exams) will be given.

WHAT MATERIALS WILL I NEED TO PURCHASE IN THE BOOKSTORE?

Textbooks can be purchased in the MCTC Bookstore: I encourage you to purchase the textbooks online. It will save you a big hassle of waiting in line at the bookstore.

To purchase your books online, go to the following URL:
http://www.mctcbookstore.com/

Required Textbooks/Course materials

1.)

Human Anatomy, 5/e
Elaine N. Marieb, Jon Mallatt, Wilhelm
*Required

2.)

Thinkwell's Biology with George Wolfe video lectures
*Optional

Note: If you purchased the Thinkwell Video Lectures for Principles of BIology (BIOL 2200), you do not need to buy this item again.

3.)

The Anatomy Coloring Book, 3rd Ed.
by Wynn Kapit, Lawrence M. Elson © 2002
*Optional

4.)

Pack of 24 colored pencils or pens with gray and black
(No crayons).
*Optional

Purchase Student Access Code for Course Compass web site must be purchased online. You will need a valid credit card to purchase access to the online materials for this course. Price is $20.00

1. Use the following Course ID: not available
2. College zip code: 55403
3. Set-up your account user ID and Password
   

*Required

HOW DO I ACCESS THE COURSE WEBSITE?

The official course website can be accessed at Course Compass:
http://www.coursecompass.com/
Note: First time users need to purchase an access code.

You can also access the course website indirectly through your You can also access the course website indirectly through your Desire2Learn (D2L) account:
http://d2l.minneapolis.edu/

HOW CAN I DOWNLOAD / VIEW THE COURSE SYLLABUS?

The syllabus for this course is available in two formats. You can download it in MS Word (.doc), and Adobe (.pdf) formats.

M.S. Word Syllabus

Adobe Acrobat

Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Follow these easy steps to get yourself started.

1. Download and read the course syllabus. Be sure you understand all aspects of the course before you proceed. My expectations of you and myself as your instructor are all discussed in the course syllabus.
2. Purchase the textbooks from the Minneapolis College Bookstore.
3. Purchase the Access Code for the Course Compass Website online. You will need a valid credit card to purchase access to the online materials for this course.
   1. Use the following Course ID: not available
4. Navigate the Course Compass Anatomy Website and get yourself familiar with the online resources that are available to you.
5. Read the weekly announcements on the course homepage and check your online e-mail for specific instructions from the instructor.
6. Read the assigned textbooks pages (See syllabus).
7. View the Thinkwell video lectures if available (See syllabus).
8. Color the assigned plates in your Anatomy Coloring Book (See syllabus).
9. Prepare to take the chapter tests online.
10. Prepare to take the lecture exams online.

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