Welcome to Engineering Dynamics Online

Note: This is the Fall 2007 welcome letter.

Update: 8/19 Unfortunately, your Blackboard accounts are not yet ready. I will email you as soon as they are. Meanwhile, you should go to the Blackboard page and click on "Check Browser" at the upper right. Then upgrade or download your browser or add-ons as needed. The syllabus and class calendars are available for download here and the first couple chapters of the lecture notes and the assignment package are available here.
In addition, the times for the tests have been changed to 4:30-5:30pm. If you cannot make the new time, let me know ASAP.

Dear Student,

Welcome to distance education at Cuesta College. My name is Pam Ridgely, and I will be your instructor for the online version of Engineering Dynamics (Engineering 51). This letter is to inform you of some important details prior to the commencement of the Fall 2007 online class. Please read this page carefully!!

My e-mail address is pridgely@cuesta.edu Use the subject starting with "[E51]" on every e-mail.

Class Overview:

Engineering Dynamics: In this class you will learn to analyze the dynamics associated with motion of rigid bodies and particles, including velocity, acceleration, relative motion, energy, work, momentum, and impulse using vector mathematics.
Online: The class will be conducted online through Blackboard. You will have online access to lectures and examples. Homework problems will be assigned. Your online participation counts for a portion of your grade. There will be weekly online assignments but the tests and final exam will be in person. (See link at bottom of page for syllabus and class calendar, but note that they may be outdated until 8/19.)

How much work is it going to be?

Dynamics is a 3 lecture unit course, which, according to college guideline, requires 9 hours/week of work. This course is more challenging than most, so depending on your academic background and your goal, you probably need to spend more time than the stated guideline.
Many students are surprised at the amount of work and effort required to teach yourself with little interaction. You need to be self-motivated and disciplined with good time management skills. On the other hand, you can work according to your own schedule such as listening to lectures at 2am.

Who should take this class?

The prerequisite for this class is Engineering 50, Statics. You also need to be familiar with a variety of mathematical concepts especially college-level vector calculus and trigonometry. This page from UNL does a nice job of summarizing the math you need to know for dynamics.
If you have not taken an online class before, go to the distance education page and read about it. Pay particular attention to the "For Whom?" section and take the self-assessment survey.

What are the class requirements?

Even though the classes will be conducted online, there are 6 mandatory in-person meetings for orientation and tests. Make sure your schedule allows you to be at the SLO campus on the following dates and time: (Photo ID may be required for tests and final)


Date	Time	Room	Activity
Tuesday 8/21	4:30pm-5:30pm	4118	Orientation
Tuesday 9/11	4:30pm-5:30pm	4118	Test 1
Tuesday 10/2	4:30pm-5:30pm	4118	Test 2
Tuesday 10/30	4:30pm-5:30pm	4118	Test 3
Tuesday 11/27	4:30pm-5:30pm	4118	Test 4
Tuesday 12/18	4:30pm-6:30pm	4118	Final Examination

Note: the original test 1-4 times were 5:40pm-6:40pm. If you cannot make the new time at 4:30-5:30pm, we can have you take the tests at the old time instead. You must let me know ASAP.

Book: the required text is Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics by Beer, et al., 7th or 8th edition. It is available at the campus bookstore for approximately $140, but often you can purchase it for less online. A copy will also be available on reserve at the library. If you have the combined Statics and Dynamics version of the text book, that will work as well. If you have an older edition of the book, the problem numbers will not match. It is your responsible to find out which problems are assigned and do the correct ones.

Note: You may need the access code that comes packaged with a new book to access the Online Learning Center. Currently the access is available to all, but this may change at any time.

Computer Requirements:

Computer - Pentium-class or Macintosh PC
Operating System - Windows 95 or Mac OS 8 or above (other OS such as linux may work but is not supported)
Hard Drive with at least 150 megabytes of free space
32 MB of RAM or above
Recent Video & Sound Card
Speakers or headphone
An email account that is checked at least twice a week.
Visit the Cuesta WebCT/Blackboard site and click on "Check Browser" to see if your browser and Java version is supported for WebCT/Blackboard C.E. 6.0.
You will also need the following plug-ins:

VGA display of at least 800x600, higher recommended. (Though 800x600 will work for the lectures, a resolution of at least 1024x768 is required to correctly view the Online Learning Center.)
Internet connection of at least 56kb dialup, broadband recommended
Scanner and image manipulation software.

Note: Registered students can use the computers at the library. Headphones are also available for check out. If those workstations are missing any necessary software or plug-in, let me know so I can arrange to have them installed. The High Tech Computer Lab also has several scanners available for student use.

I live too far away. Can I take the test remotely?

Maybe. You will need to contact your nearby college or university which offers test proctoring service. They will need to proctor your tests on the same day, and preferably time, as the test dates above then fax and mail me your test. It will be your responsibility to coordinate this. Email me if you're considering this option.

Can I attend lectures even if I'm in the online section?

Yes. You can register for the online section (space permitted) and attend the regular class. There are a few conditions for this:

If you just want to attend lectures in addition to taking the online class. You don't have to inform me. Just show up to the lectures (T,Th 5:30-7pm). In the unlikely event that all the chairs are full, then you'll have to give priority to the students in the regular class.
If you want to take the regular class but if it's full and you can only get into the online section, then you may register for the online section and inform me within the first week of class. Remember to inform me ASAP since the assignments for the two sections may be different. (The reverse is also true for students who want to take the online section but can only get into the regular section. See below)

Ok, I've decided I want to take this course. What do I do next?

New or former students who have been absent 2 or more semesters will need to apply first.
During registration, you must give the college the correct email address you will be using for this class. If your email address changes at any time before or during the class, let me know immediately.
If the section you want is full, you may add the other section and let me know within the first week that you want to change.
If both sections are full, come to the orientation meeting. If there aren't too many of you, you'll probably be added.

After 8/19/07, click on the link at the bottom of the page to see details about the course, including syllabus and class calendar. Print them out for your reference. Note that until that date, the information may change substantially.
By Sunday 8/19, you should have received an email from me stated that a Blackboard account have been created for you, along with login instruction. If you registered for the class after 8/13, it can take a week to get this set up so you might receive this email later.
Log on to your Blackboard account and complete the first assignment prior to the orientation meeting on 8/21. This is so that I can address any questions you have during the orientation.
Come to the orientation meeting. If you are registered and don't show up, I may drop you. If you cannot make it, let me know in advance.


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