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Dates:

This course opens April 2, 2008 at about 6:00 AM. This means you can access the course on this date and time until the end of the course, May 1, 2008. There are ten sessions scheduled and only the first session will be available at the beginning. Session 2 will become available a week later and so on. Once a session has been completed it will remain available for review throughout the course.

The midterm exam will be posted in the Exams tab on May 9, 2008 and the final exam on May 16, 2008. Each will remain available from 6:00 AM to 11:55 PM on the day it is posted. The instructions for completing the exam are on the top of the exam. Each exam will count 25% toward the final grade.

The class Project is on the CD that comes with the course. I will make the password available on May 16, 2008, and it will be due no later than May 1, 2008. The project counts as 50% of the final grade.

Discussion forums:

Participation is required in the discussion forums as stated in the course syllabus information. Detailed instructions for participating in discussion are provided

Help:

Once you are in the Blackboard system, an easy to follow tutorial is available in the Help button at the top of the Blackboard page. Please refer to this Help button as needed. Our online assistant, Danny Rice, may be contacted at sciences@ucx.ucr.edu. Please allow one to two business days for a reply.

Required text:

There is a required text for this course. It is a current copy of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, parts 170 through 180. Contact Linda Coco at sciences@ucx.ucr.edu for details on obtaining your copy.

Additional requirements:

You will need access to the Internet, an e-mail account and MS Word 98 or later. If AOL is your Internet provider, you will need to access the course through a non-AOL browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape. These must be "Java and Cookies enabled." Most computers can accommodate one of these browsers.

You will also need Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Reader and QuickTime in order to view some of the presentations. In the External Links tab I have provided links to obtain free downloads of "Adobe Acrobat Reader" (It may just be called "Adobe Reader" now) and "QuickTime". Microsoft PowerPoint is not free so you will need to purchase it if you want to view the presentations in that format. All of the PowerPoint presentations are in session 2 and 3. On your student CD I have included those same "PowerPoint" presentations as "QuickTime" movies. This will provide an alternative to those without "PowerPoint".

If you have PowerPoint, or access to it, that is the best method of viewing these shows. They will open in the BlackBoard window on PCs but tend to download on Mac's. So they will most likely play on PCs even if you don't have PowerPoint but will only play on the Mac's if it has PowerPoint installed. I have not figured out why.

I have also made the shows into QuickTime movies which play great on the Mac but have a difficult time on the PC. However, the files are too big to load onto the BlackBoard site so they can be found on the student CD that came with the course.

The student CD will also have MP3 audio files of each of the Hazard Class lectures. You won't be able to view the chalk board illustrations of the PowerPoint or QuickTime versions but maybe the MP3s can be loaded onto your iPod or similar device for review while moseying around the neighborhood.

As a last resort, if you can not play the PowerPoint or QuickTime presentations, you may contact Linda Coco at sciences@ucx.ucr.edu. and request a DVD that should play in most DVD players so you can watch them on you regular television. I am not sure what the charge for the DVD will be but Linda can tell you.

A high-speed connection such as DSL or cable is necessary. Students in the past have attempted to do the course with a dial up system and could not access or use some of the course material. If you need assistance, please call us at (951) 827-5804.

Course opens:

April 2, 2008 after 6:00 AM).

We recommend you start by reviewing any announcements and visiting the faculty information page. Click on the red and black buttons under the various headings. Welcome and introduction to the course are found in the Lectures tab (button) in "Session 1" in "Chapter 00 - Intro & Overview". Once you have reviewed that chapter, go on to "Chapter 01 - Commercial Driver's License", and the other chapters in the order they are presented. In subsequent weeks additional "Sessions" will appear in the Lectures tab (button). Again, study the chapters in the order they appear.

In the Student Guide tab (button) you will find (this will be hard to believe) the "Student Guide". This is a low resolution PDF that may be downloaded or viewed on the screen. On your student CD is a high resolution version that is suitable for printing if you wish. It is handy to have the printed version in hand while studying some portions of the lessons. I frequently provide reference pages to the student guide in the lectures.

While you are at it, click around on the different buttons just to get a feel for the format and where stuff is. Anything that is underlined is a link to more information.

The course is formatted like a book-you start at the beginning and work your way through. Special instructions for accessing the discussion boards and chats are provided in PDF format in the Course Materials tab. You may contact us at anytime for assistance at sciences@ucx.ucr.edu or you can eMail me directly at hazmac@dslextreme.com.

To participate in the discussion forum, click on the Communications tab (button), then click the Discussion Boards blue link.

Click on the discussion for which you are going to participate (the title is underlined).

To add your response, click on Add New Thread button at the top left side of the page.

Please remember that the discussion boards are not chat sessions. You may enter a message at any time and may read responses any time after they are posted. Therefore, you may not get an immediate response. A response of "I agree" or "Ditto for me" is not what we're hoping for. It is meant to be a discussion that you can contribute to at your convenience. Use it wisely.

Use this for sending me questions or comments. You may eMail me but then no one else will see the question or response. But perhaps that is what you wish and that is OK.

To participate in the chats (usually on Tuesday evenings from about 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM), click on the Communications tab (button), then click the Collaboration link.

Click on the Join button to the far right of the chat in which you are going to participate.

The Blackboard Chat panel appears and you should be listed in the window on the left under participants. You may read the on going discussion in the large window on the right. To add your contribution, click in the Compose window at the bottom left of the page then type in your message. Then click the Send button to the right of the Compose window.

Please remember that the discussion boards are not chat sessions. You may enter a message at any time and may read responses any time after they are posted. Therefore, you may not get an immediate response. A response of "I agree" or "Ditto for me" is not what we're hoping for. It is meant to be a discussion that you can contribute to at your convenience. Use it wisely.

This is the means that we will use to conduct our Classroom sessions each Tuesday evening for the next 10 weeks. This will provide me with an opportunity to expand on the lectures and answer any questions you might have. This is also how we will review and answer your questions about homework and any other assignments that might come up. Attendance for the "Chats" is the same as it would be if we were actually meeting at the campus. These "Chats" are where a lot of learning will occur because you will be able to see each question asked and each response. So please arrive promptly (6:00 PM) and be ready to go. The first couple of chats may not run all the way to 9:00 PM but I am sure several of the later sessions will.

So, again, WELCOME to "Safety and Security in Hazardous Materials Transportation". I look forward to spending the next few weeks with you and I hope you find it an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.

Terms of Service:

By enrolling and participating in this online class, you indicate that you accept these terms:

Each student's and/or instructor's lessons, assignments, work, images, and correspondence is copyrighted property and cannot be copied, duplicated, posted on another web site, or otherwise used without the original author's consent. Conversations, posted messages, and information contained within the online course are private and cannot be copied, duplicated, forwarded, or conveyed to anyone else without the original author's permission.

Refund Policy for UC Riverside Extension Online Courses:

If you decide to drop the course, a $50 fee will be withheld from the tuition refund. You must submit your request to drop in writing prior to the opening of the class or within seven days of your enrollment date. No refund will be granted if requested after the times indicated above. Please submit your written requests to: register@ucx.ucr.edu or mail to: UC Riverside Extension, 1200 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92507.

If this is your first online learning experience, you may be feeling nervous or apprehensive about this new way of learning. We understand and are here to guide you through the process. Please contact us at any time for assistance.

Thank you for participating in this exciting program. We welcome your questions and comments. Please contact us at (951) 827-5804 or e-mail: sciences@ucx.ucr.edu.