You can DO THIS!
Getting ready for the upcoming semester.
First, have you got the tools that you'll need?
Adobe Acrobat software is required for most classes, and must be able to create files in PDF format--not just read them. This means that the free Adobe "reader" software that most people have is not sufficient. In the past, Adobe Acrobat was the only option for our students, but there now is some free software available (notably, the Sun-sponsored Open Office project) that will create PDF files. Officially, however, the ETL Program still only supports Adobe Acrobat and related Adobe products. Other products, such as Microsoft Office 2010 Pro edition, will allow you to export your output in PDF format, so look at what you have before making an expensive purchase. Be cautious, however, about websites that offer to let you submit your work to them for a "free" conversion to PDF. You may find that the fine print says that they can use your documents for whatever purpose they wish!
You should now have a GW e-mail account that ends with "@gwmail.gwu.edu". That is the only e-mail address that your instructors should have you using for ETL course-related work and correspondence.
And, of course, you should have your textbooks (see the ETL Administrative web pages). If you live outside the U.S., keep in mind that getting textbooks shipped to you may take some time. Start early and be prepared when classes begin.
What is "Orientation Week"?
Summer Orientation takes place during the week before classes begin. Fall and Spring Orientation takes place during the first week of classes. Orientation is intended to acquaint new students with BlackBoard (Bb), our online learning environment, and it leads both new and returning students through exercises designed to familiarize them with each course and with each other. New students will go through a series of fairly short lessons that we've developed for them to review over the course of a week. Returning students will have a much shorter orientation that will inform them of any significant changes since the previous semester. All students are required to complete the orientation exercises during Orientation Week.
The ETL Program's "work week" starts on Wednesday morning and ends at midnight the following Tuesday. The week before classes begin will be our orientation period. The night before this week begins all students who are registered for classes will be sent an e-mail to their GWU mail acount. This e-mail will explain how to get started with orientation, and it will contain a web address (URL) for the series of required orientation activities. BlackBoard (Bb) for all classes will be made available at about the same time that the orientation message is sent out ... not before ... so please don't be concerned that you can't see your classes listed in BlackBoard until orientation week has actually begun. Because it takes about 24 hours for a new registration to be recognized by BlackBoard, and because all registrations submitted after orientation has begun have to be manually (and slowly) procesed by multiple people, we urge you to complete registration at least 2-3 days before orientation week is scheduled to begin.
Please watch your GW mail account for further information. We hope you have a great semester!
