Manhattan - A Tutorial for Students

Welcome to Manhattan!

This tutorial requires your active participation. Print it now and get ready to log in to your sample classroom!

Keep in mind that this tutorial doesn't provide step-by-step instructions for every procedure. We assume you have at least some familiarity with computers. For starters we'll assume:

• You're connected to the Internet and have used the World Wide Web.
• You know what it's like to send and receive e-mail.
• You can create a file using the Word word processor, and can find the file on your hard drive after you've saved it.

Still here? Good. We're not going to explain every detail. Most people can quickly find their way around Manhattan without any instruction at all. You probably SHOULD be concerned if you have difficulty doing anything this tutorial asks you to do. If you have any questions, please call Western New England College's Educational Technology Center at (413) 782-1778, and we'll do what we can to help. Overall, though, we think you'll agree that Manhattan is extremely easy to use.

What you'll need:

1. A computer. Although Macintosh computers will work fine, virtually all computers at Western New England College are Windows computers. If your computer is fast enough for you, it's fast enough.
2. An Internet connection. America Online is both the most popular Internet Service Provider in the country, and the most troublesome. If you use America Online, be sure you have at least version 5.0 (also see next). If your Internet connection is fast enough for you, it's fast enough.
3. A web browser. You can use either Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. If you use Internet Explorer, make sure you are using at least version 5.0. Version 4.x of Netscape is great, but Manhattan has NOT been tested with Netscape 6.0. DO NOT USE THE WEB BROWSER BUILT INTO THE AMERICA ONLINE SOFTWARE. Instead, connect to AOL as you normally do, then 'minimize' the AOL software and then start the 'real' version of Internet Explorer or Netscape.
4. Microsoft Word. Almost all WNEC online teachers will assume you have Microsoft Word, either version '97 or 2000, which have the same file format. Your teacher will send you Word files and assume you can open, read, and print them. Your teacher might expect you to submit your homework assignments and longer papers as Word files.

You may also need:

1. A CD ROM drive. A small number of WNEC courses will distribute course materials on CD ROM.
2. Speakers/sound capability. A small number of WNEC courses make use of sound, either 'streamed' from a web site, or played from a CD ROM drive.
3. PowerPoint. A few (especially graduate level) business courses might require you to create and submit PowerPoint presentations as part of your course work. A teacher in any discipline might also send you a PowerPoint file to support a lecture or a reading. If you just need to view a PowerPoint presentation, there is no need to purchase PowerPoint, since there is a free PowerPoint viewer available on the Internet. If your teacher expects you to produce your own PowerPoint presentation, then of course, you'll need to have access to the full version of PowerPoint.
4. Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is free software available from the Internet that allows you to read "PDF" files. Some teachers may post information in PDF format on their course sites. You may already have this installed on your computer.
5. RealPlayer. This is also free software available from the Internet that allows you to listen to recorded lectures, which some teachers may make available. Of course, in addition to RealPlayer, your computer will also need sound capability.

Depending on the course, you may need other software as well. For example, certain business courses might require the use of the Excel spreadsheet, or a computer programming course might require the programming language software.

Don't be overwhelmed by this software list! This hands-on tutorial will help you determine whether you have everything you need for a WNEC online course. If you are missing something from the "You may also need" list above, you should check to see whether the particular course you have enrolled in requires anything on the list. Visit the web site at: http://www.online.wnec.edu for detailed information, or contact the teacher of the course.

Your Company's "Firewall"

Plan on taking your course from work? Then do this tutorial from work. Some company networks have "firewalls" that prevent employees from sending files out using Manhattan. If this is the case at your company, you'll need to work out a solution with your company's network managers.

Let's go!

Changing your Password

You should be looking at the Main Menu for the sample Manhattan classroom. There are 15 'buttons' on your screen. The brightly colored buttons each represent one of Manhattan's modules - we'll get to them shortly. But first, let's look at the two black and white buttons near the bottom.

Click on the "Change your Password" button. Follow the instructions and change your password to something other than what you used to login to this sample classroom. Easy, right? Write your username for this sample course here: ______________ and write your new password here: _____________ so you don't forget it.

Exiting the Classroom

Now click on the "Exit Classroom" button. You'll soon see the logout screen. Click on the "Return to Manhattan's home page." link at the bottom, and you're back to where you started from. If you are accessing Manhattan from a public computer, such as one in a lab or a library, then it is very important to click on the Exit Classroom button when you are done with a session. If you are working from a computer that you don't share with others, then it really doesn't matter whether you exit properly or not, although it is a good habit to get into.

Back in

If you're not already at http://manhattan.wnec.edu, then get there. Click on "Student Tutorial", and then "Login to the tutorial course". Login using the username and password you wrote down two paragraphs above. To complete the tutorial, follow these steps in order. It's no big deal if you do things out of order, but some ideas do build upon others.

1. Click on the "Handouts/Notices" button, then click on "Course Syllabus". Read the message and follow the instructions.
2. You should be back at a listing of messages with the words "Handouts/Notices" at the top of the page. (If not, click on a Main Menu button, then click on the "Handouts/Notices" button.) Now click on "Attached Web Sites". Read and learn.
3. Find your way back to the Main Menu by clicking on any Main Menu button you see near the top of the page. (Remember to lose the habit of using your web browser's Back and Forward buttons.) Click on the "Lectures" button and then click on "A Tour of Handouts/Notices". Take the tour.
4. Now you're really getting there! Take the "Handouts/Notices Quiz". It's in the "Self-tests" module.
5. Read the remaining messages in the "Handouts/Notices" module. There's important information there!
6. Go back to the "Lectures" module and take the "Post Office Tour".
7. Take the "Post Office Quiz" in the "Self-tests" module.
8. Use the Post Office!!!
   1. Send a message to the "teacher" of this tutorial course, Steve Narmontas. Attach a Word file. He'll answer you within a day or two!
   2. Send messages to yourself. Read them. Reply to them. Put them in the Attic.
   3. Send friendly messages to at least three other people in your 'class'. If someone writes back, answer them!
9. Read the "Discussion Group Tour" found in the Lectures module.
10. Take the "Discussion Group Quiz" found in the Self-tests module.
11. Use the Discussion Groups!!!
    1. Read the messages.
    2. Add messages to topics that have already been started.
    3. Start new topics.
    4. Ask questions! You'll get answers.
12. Read the "Assignments Module Tour" found in the Lectures module.
13. Take the "Assignments Module Quiz" found in the Self-tests module.
14. Use the Assignments module!!!!
1. Read the assignments and submit the work you are asked to complete.
2. Come back in a couple of days to see if your teacher has responded.
15. Take the "Grades and Chat Tour" found in the Lectures module.
16. Take the "Grades and Chat Quiz" found in the Self-tests module.
17. Use Grades and Chat!
    1. Check your grades. There's probably nothing there, but then again, have you done your homework?
    2. Play with Chat. Chat with yourself if you have to. Better yet, look for the "Chat Schedule" in "Handouts/Notices" and join us some evening!
18. Read everything that's unread. Try different things. Have fun.