To Take a Quiz

IT-5334: Frequently Asked Questions

Who can answer questions about this course?  Email questions about this course to your instructor.  The Faculty Information page lists your instructor’s email address and office phone.

What time are the weekly assignments due?  Projects and exercises must be uploaded to your web folder no later than 11:55 PM on the day they are due.

Can I test out of this course?  No  Sorry, no test out is available.

Should I be signing into the website a minimum number of times each week?  No.  Feel free to sign into the website anytime that you need to.

May I use my personal or corporate email to communicate with my instructor or advisor?  No.  All email communication from your instructor or advisor will be addressed exclusively to your cincinnatistate.edu email address.  Your instructor has blocked the receipt of email from free email services like Hotmail and Yahoo. If you email your instructor or advisor from your personal or business email account, there is a good chance that they will not receive your message.  Always correspond with your instructor or advisor using your Cincinnati State student email account.

My web page works perfectly, but I received a zero for my project. Why is that?  Always review your work using the latest (non beta) version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.  If the web page fails in IE, the result is a grade of zero for the project.  I will grade all assignments using the latest (non beta) version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.  If functions within the web page fail in IE, a proportional number of points will be deducted.  Final note; turning in a project after the due date (late) will also result in a zero grade.

Is Exercise 1 a Graded Assignment?  Yes, but it does not count toward or against your average (zero weight percent).  EX1 is there to help get you acclimated to your PHP web folder and to Blackboard.  I will enter a grade, along with comments outlining errors and mistakes (if any).  Exercise 1 is part of the Attendance/No Show requirement. See the Attendance and Participation Policy elsewhere in this document.

When I click the Assignments button, the page will not display properly.  To fix this problem, you will need to adjust your Internet Explorer Security Settings.  See the recommended setting below... IT-5334: Frequently Asked Questions

Recommended Internet Explorer - Internet Options: Security Settings  On the Internet Explorer Menu, Click Tools...  Click Internet Options...  Click the Custom Level... button.  Enable - Allow status bar updates via script (to see the Quiz and Exam Timer in Status Bar).  Enable - Display mixed content (to view the Assignments Page without error).

How do I set the proper folder options in Windows Explorer?  Open Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer)  Click on Tools... Folder Options... Select the View tab.  Select Show hidden files and folders.  Uncheck Hide extensions for known file types.

I cannot access my Blackboard courses or see my grades. What happened?  Per Dr. Monica Posey - Academic Vice President, in an email dated 1/19/2012.  To achieve a higher response rate, students will now be required to complete their course and instructor evaluations. At the end of the term, students must complete the evaluations in order to access their Blackboard courses and/or see grades in Blackboard. IT-5334: Frequently Asked Questions

I will be out of town during the term and won’t have access to the Internet. Will that be a problem?  Prior to booking your travel, be sure to confirm that you will have daily access to the Internet.  I have no problem if you choose to travel or vacation during the term when this class is in session. However, if you choose to do so be sure to note that you will not be excused from any assignment, any deadline, any last minute email or instructions. Failure to turn in an assignment or to complete a test because you were not able to access the Internet is no different than waiting until the last minute to do the same and having your home Internet fail due to a power outage, service interruption, etc.  Online classes are very convenient, but there are requirements for these classes just like the requirements in face to face classes. Never assume that you will receive ANY special treatment or accommodation just because you happen to have enrolled in an online class.

A little more detail for Project 1...  There are two types of links. Local content will open in the Primary Content DIV and use a MenuKey. That would be any content that you create yourself. Like your contact information, a picture or your dog, your car, your house, a quick story about you or someone else.  Make the links whatever you want. It is your web page. Be creative. Many students prefer not to talk about themselves, so they make up an imagined business. Then, add links to About Us, Annual Report, Map, Contact Us, Register, Login, etc. Of course, the resulting page can just be a “mock up”.  The Local Content doesn't have to be real detailed. You should have approximately equal numbers of both local and outside content links.  Links with MenuKeys should be included in both the side and the top menu. Links with MenuKeys will open in the primary content DIV.  Outside links would be to Google, Facebook, CNN, etc. They always open in a new window. Include some on both the top and the side menu.

Notice: Undefined index: MenuKey in ...  If the MenuKey isn't "defined" it will cause an error. Here's some code to fix that;

if (isset($_GET['menukey'])) { $menukey = $_GET['menukey']; } else { $menukey = 0; }

switch ($menukey) { case 1: etc.

When watching a video, the video freezes or repeatedly restarts prior to completion.  In most instances, this is a problem with your local machine or your Internet connection.  To solve the problem, try the following; 1. Close all instances of your browser, restart Blackboard, and try the video link again. 2. Restart your computer and try the video link again. 3. Use a different computer on the same Internet connection and try the video link again. 4. Use a different computer on a different Internet connection and try the video link again.  If after attempting ALL of the above fixes, the video fails at exactly the same point each time, contact your instructor with the URL of the video and the exact time (MM:SS) where the problem occurs.

Project 2 Hints: 

More importantly, the fact that you worked a huge number of hours on a project and still received a failing grade is actually the real problem. If you spent only a few hours working on it (aka you phoned it in) and earned a bad grade, that would be understandable. On the other hand, if you worked on a project for a week and really, really worked hard on it and still received a bad grade, then maybe you need to consider a different technology. Such a futile effort is often an indication that you’re just not cut out for this type of work.

Your Web Folder: ftp://itd1.cincinnatistate.edu/PHP1_Lastname1stInitial

Login: cincinnatistate\YourUsername Password: YourPassword

Your Web Site: http://itd1.cincinnatistate.edu/PHP1_yourfoldername eg: http://itd1.cincinnnatistate.edu/PHP1_Lastname1stInitial

Notes:  Be sure to use Filezilla or Windows Explorer as your FTP client.  DO NOT use Internet Explorer.

MySQL Administration and Firefox  There have been connection problems related to MySQL Database Administration and Firefox.  Log into your MySQL Database using Internet Explorer first. Only after successfully logging in using IE should you attempt the same login procedure using Firefox (or Google Chrome, Safari, etc). IT-5334: Frequently Asked Questions

I have a question about a Project assignment. Where do I go for help?  Projects in this online class actually equate to a Test or an Exam.  As in any Exam in a face to face class, you can always ask questions for clarification, but don’t expect help for solving a specific problem.  In most instances, answers can be found in the videos and project documentation.  Also, be sure to look for Project and Exam hints in the FAQs.

How do I purchase an eTextbook for this class?  You can purchase the key code for an eTextbook at the campus bookstore, or you can purchase it online via PayPal. Warning: Do not purchase a key through the campus bookstore web site. In most instances, it will not be delivered before your first assignment is due.  To purchase a key code online, click on the eTextbook Menu link in Blackboard, then click on any Lab Assignment link. For example, Lab Assignment: Exercise 1  Make sure the dropdown matches your online course and click the button.  After you purchase the key code, you will receive an email with a receipt number. This receipt number is NOT the eTextbook key code.

 Within 24 hours, you will receive a separate email with your eTextbook Key Code.  After receiving your key code, enter just your Username (not your full email address), a password, and your 20 digit eTextbook key code and click the Login button.  After registering your eTextbook Key Code, you will only need your Username and Password to access the eTextbook materials.

Will I have access to the eTextbook materials after this class ends?  Yes.

If I have to repeat this class, will my eTextbook key code still work?  Yes.

What happens if I don’t register an eTextbook key code for this class?  If you don’t register a key code, your instructor will not grade any of your assignments.  See the Attendance, Participation, and No Show Policy outlined elsewhere in this document.