Challenge+0+-+intro

toc //Week 0:// =Digital Learning **Challenge "0"** = **Get Ready!**

=**Instructions**=
 * To register for the **Fall 2011** course, complete "**Challenge 0**" (outlined below) -- in which you learn more about the course, as well as register for a Google/Gmail account (they are one in the same). **After** you get your Gmail address, and complete "**Thing 0**," please complete the **registration form** (refer to **TASK - PART 1** below).


 * You must complete **all steps below** to properly register for the course. **Deadline for Fall Registration is SEPTEMBER 18th, 2011.**


 * **On September 19, 2011** I will send an invitation (via Gmail) to each participant, asking you to join a group Google spreadsheet which you use throughout the course to track your progress.


 * **You MUST remember to check your new Gmail account on SEPTEMBER 19th****!** **Throughout the course, we will communicate through Gmail -- NOT SCHOOL EMAIL.**

Introduction

 * ====**Welcome**====
 * **...to the Digital Learning Challenge!** Here you will find your first official course "challenge," organized with an **Introduction**, **Discovery Exercise** and **Engagement Task** -- a format which will quickly become familiar to you. Reading carefully is, for better or worse, a key to success in this course. You will also find lots of embedded HELP resources along the way -- placed at the point of need.


 * ====**Before you get started**====
 * **...it's important that you read over the following three pages** __//in their entirety//__ so that you understand //exactly how this course works//.
 * **Home** - a general description of the course
 * **About/FAQ** - most everything you might want to know
 * **The 23 Digital Learning Challenges** - a list of course topics which will provide links to each week's content **as the course progresses and the topics are released**.


 * ＊ PLEASE NOTE:** You must complete **both** the **Discovery Exercises** //and// **Engagement Tasks** (below) in order to successfully complete **"Challenge 0"** and successfully register for this course.

Discovery Exercises

 * ====** Discovery - Part 1 **====
 * **Sign up for Gmail.** For this course, you are asked to use a Gmail account (part of Google) to sign up for all of the services you explore. Using Gmail will allow you to store all of your sign-up info in one location, keep your school email uncluttered, and protect your "digital footprint" if desired (you may use any username you like for your Google account, as long as it's school-appropriate). A Google account gives you access to all sorts of Google goodies, such as Google Reader and Google Docs, both of which we will explore in later weeks. **Throughout the course, we will communicate through Gmail -- NOT SCHOOL EMAIL.** So, go and sign up for a [|Gmail account]
 * **⁂ HELP Video:** [|How to sign up for Gmail]


 * ====**Discovery - Part 2**====
 * **[|Install Firefox]** . Firefox is the Web browser of choice for this course, as many of the tools we will explore just seem to run more smoothly in Firefox. Firefox itself is a "Web 2.0" browser - open source (free to use and build upon), with lots of great features -- one of the **best** of which is [|TABBED browsing], which means you can open up several web pages at once INSIDE one browser window, and switch between them using tabs -- as opposed to them piling up on your taskbar. (See video below -- tabs are the greatest browser innovation EVER). Available course help resources have been created using Firefox. Make sure you have [|Java] and [|Flash]installed for Firefox as well.
 * **⁂ HELP Video:** [|Installing Firefox -- plus Java and Flash]
 * **⁂ HELP Video:** [|Using Firefox: What's so great about tabs]?

Engagement Tasks

 * ====**Task - Part 1**====
 * **After completing the Discovery exercises above**, **complete this form** to register for the course. **ON JUNE 3, 2011**, I will send you an invitation (via Gmail) to join a Google spreadsheet which you use throughout the course to track your progress. **You MUST remember to check your new Gmail account on June 3.** I will not email you through your school email accounts! Throughout the course, we will communicate through Gmail.


 * ====**Task - Part 2**====
 * Send an email __//from your new Gmail account//__ (not from your school email address) to Danielle Klaus at **DigitalLearningChallenge (at) gmail (dot) com**. In the email, include your **full name, department / level (Admin, Admissions, Business, EL, ML, UL, etc...)** and **title / position,** as well as any questions you have about the course. Confirm for me that you have Firefox (just humor me). **I will use these emails to create a contact list for the course!**
 * **⁂ HELP Video:** [|How to access Gmail and send a message]

Congratulations!

 * You are now an official Digital Explorer!**