Beginnings

1. Log On
2. Check Email
3. Start Up WebCT
4. Load Hypermedia page (optional)

Greetings Programs,
OK ready to GO?

1. 
   Open MS Paint (Start > All programs> Accessories> Paint
2. 
   Click on Image menu>Attributes>set width to 640 and height to 480 pixels> units in pixels> colours> OK
3. 
   Draw a picture that represents your journey through the course, it may be a map , a chart , a treasure hunt or a road map. Include important features, or mile stones, make it colourful.
4. 
   Save file as [yourname]journey, >save as file type gif > save in My Pictures folder on hard drive.
5. 
   Open MS Word (Start>All programs>Microsoft Office>Microsoft Word)
6. 
   Insert your image into the Word document (Insert>Picture>from file>browse to your My Pictures folder
7. 
   Give your Word document a heading using Word Art
8. 
   Underneath the picture write a list. After considering what was on the journey make a selection of those activities lessons, ideas or thoughts that you might like to do accomplish or undertake in the coming year. Include any difficulties you might have in doing these things . Make the list as long as possible.
9. 
   Save the Word document as [your name]ideas.doc > My Documents folder of your hard drive
10. 
    Open up your browser (Start> All Programs > ................)
11. 
    Load up http://webct.vu.edu.au
12. 
    Log On
13. 
    Click on HEB4170 Action Research in Education (2004 S2)
14. 
    Select Communication Tools
15. 
    Select Discussions
16. 
    Select On-Line Class
17. 
    Compose a Message
18. 
    In the subject write your name
19. 
    In the message explain that this is where you will post your word document containing a picture and a list of goals or targets for next year
20. 
    Next to the attachments is a button called browse, click this
21. 
    Navigate to your Word document (try the My Documents file of the hard disk, C drive)
22. 
    Select Attach file
23. 
    Select Post ( at bottom of window)
24. 
    After a while , or right away you should notice some of your fellow students have posted messages as well. You are to select as least 3 of these messages.
25. 
    Click on one to open it.
26. 
    Click on See Attached ( the next step may vary with the browsers but you want to save the file to your hard drive) select the file ( it should end in .doc) Click on the download button. Save the file to the My Documents folder of your computer.
27. 
    Open the file you have just downloaded
28. 
    I want you to critique the file you have just uploaded , look at the picture and read the list. All your comments should be in italics .
    Please come up with some positive comments on what the person has written , I also want you to suggest areas of difficulty in doing these activities and lastly suggest 3 more activities the person could consider.
29. 
    Save the file with a name that adds your name to the front , eg sheryl_bettysList.doc always trying not to leave any spaces in the names.
30. 
    Remember to do at least 3 documents this way
31. 
    Go back to your student email page http://mail.students.vu.edu.au/
32. 
    Log on and Compose a Message . You are going to post your annotated word document back to the person who first wrote it. You will need to take note of the persons name especially how to spell it .
    All email addresses are of the form first.last@students.vu.edu.au , except mine which is peter.thomas@vu.edu.au,
33. 
    Address your email appropriately , subject should be something like here is your work back. Now notice the paper clip with the word Attach beneath it, click this , click on browse, navigate to the file you want., open it , now back at the email window select attach. wait for it to happen then when you see the email window click send.
34. 
    Now go back into WebCT , go into the chat room , if you can see any of the peoples names of the files you have just worked with send them a chat message that they should check their emails.
35. 
    Bonus activity . Go to http://www.transl8it.com/cgi-win/index.pl , use the translator to translate some of your favorite sayings , copy and paste some of the results into the chat rooms and try and get the others to guess what you have written.(See below for more information)

The New English
To many people SMS, chat rooms and email have become a way of life. Researchers have noticed that the English used in these "places" is a little different from the English we find in novels, letters and University essays.
What do you Think?
The Netlingo site calls it Emailish,
check it out
Another Aspect are Smileys or Emoticons
;) :0 :-)
http://www.netlingo.com/smiley.cfm
http://www.chatlist.com/faces.html
http://www.pb.org/emoticon.html
http://www.marshall.edu/
isp/ct107/emoticons.html

If they are too hard try this site http://www.transl8it.com/ it may offer some help.
Old and New English

Finally go to the ABC's Word Map site , this shows a host of regional uses of Words
http://www.abc.net.au/wordmap/
Identify a list of words new to you , take a note of their origins , regions and meanings. This information can also be posted on the message board.