Last modified  8/27/09

NOTE:  If you need to email me outside of Insight email, be sure to put CNIT 100 on the Subject Line, and send it to nwebb@ccsf.edu.   Only those students already registered, with a Insight login for the online class, can use Insight email.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Textbook:
   Do I have to buy the Textbook and myitlab Student Access Kit?

2. Textbook:
   Where can I buy the Textbook?

3. Install myitlab Instructions: 
   How do I install myitlab?

4. myitlab Usage:
   How do I use myitlab?

5. myitlab enrollment problem 1:
   I get this error message when I try to enroll in our MYITLAB section:  Course XXXXXX-##### does not exist or has been deleted

6. Homework questions:
   If I have questions about the homework assignment, where should I ask them?

7. Quiz problems in Insight:
   When I hit "begin quiz" the same screen re-appears.

8. Quiz grades:
   What about Chapter quizzes & Practice Quizzes?  Do they count?

9. Class Participation:
   Class Participation - what does that mean?

10. MS Office:
    Do I have to have Microsoft Office 2007 on my computer?

11. File names for homework:
    How am I supposed to name the files that I upload to an Upload Assignment? 

12. Late Homework:
    What if I am late with a homework assignment - how do I turn it in?  The link is no longer available on the Homework Upload activity.

13. Quiz question discussion:
    Are we allowed to discuss specific Chapter Quiz and exam questions on the Forums?

14. Multiple copies of myitlab:
    Can I install myitlab on more than one computer?

15. I have another language besides English installed on my computer, and I can't make the training work.
    You'll need to change the Non-Unicode Language setting on your computer.

16. Hills Password Reset
    You want to login to your Hills account (for CCSF email) but can't remember your password.

17. After I take a Insight quiz or test (not myitlab) I can't see my score in the gradebook.
    You need to click View Scores when you Finish your quiz or test.

18. After I take a myitlab Graded Test I can't see my score in the gradebook in Insight.
    You need to wait until the Tuesday following the due date, or if you take the test late, Email the instructor.

19. Windows Vista causes problems with myitlab trainings & tests
    With Internet Explorer 7, you need to turn off protected mode while taking myitlab trainings & tests

20. When is homework due? What is the grace period?
    Our week usually runs Friday to Friday, but sometimes you can turn in homework on Sunday without penalties.

21. Can't open myitlab trainings & tests - Google Toolbar Installed
    Sometimes the Google toolbar will block the popup window. You may need to disable the Google Toolbar.

1. Do I have to buy the Textbook and myitlab?
Yes, I'm afraid you WILL need to buy the textbook and myitlab student access kit.  You can buy these in a package at the bookstore only.   Each student must have his/her own unique access code to create the online myitlab account.  It is a specially discounted package combining the book and access code.

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2. Where can I buy the Textbook?
You can buy the textbook at the City College bookstore. Visit this link to find directions hours: : CCSF Bookstore

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3. How do I install myitlab?
There are instructions for creating your account and installing the myitlab software in the week 1 section of our Insight class. This link will always be in the week 1 section. The instructions for installation are very specific, and you must follow them all to install properly, and learn about your login name, password, and enrolling in our online myitlab section.  You begin  by using your browser to register with the access code you purchased at the bookstore.  After you create your account, you enroll in our section.  Finally there is a process to install the necessary software on your computer, or any computer you want to use to access myitlab.  You can access myitlab from any computer with supported hardware and browser as long as you download the necessary programs.

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4. How do I use myitlab?
myitlab is web-based and you must be online to use it.  There is a Using Myitlab book in our Week 1 section.  All the training sessions for Microsoft Office, all the Office Projects, and all the tests concerning Microsoft Office will be done at this web site.

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5. I get this error message when I try to enroll in our section:  Course XXXXXX-##### does not exist or has been deleted

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6. Where to ask questions about the homework assignments.
Your first line of attack is to post a message in the appropriate forum, in the week's section to ask your fellow students if they have an answer.  If the question is about a personal situation, then you can use Insight email and ask me directly.  For technical problems, try one of the technical problem forums in the top section of the class.

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7. When I hit "begin quiz" the same screen re-appears.
You have a pop-up blocker running. The pop-up blocker needs to be disengaged before you take the quiz. Or you need to add insight.ccsf.edu to your list of trusted websites.  There are support materials for students located under the "Main Menu" on the Insight Homepage (http://insight.ccsf.edu - you don't have to be logged in to use)

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8. About Chapter Quizzes and practice quizzes.
The chapter quizzes do count towards your final grade.  The practice quizzes are just for practice and don't count.  Take available Insight chapter and practice quizzes after you have read the textbook and online lecture notes.  All of our quizzes and tests are open book.  I recommend that you search yourself for answers before looking them up - otherwise you won't know if you know the answer!  You may take the practice quiz as many times as you like - they are good practice for the quizzes & tests.  The chapter quiz for each chapter may be taken up to 3 times, and only the highest score will be recorded as your grade.   Note that the questions change each time you take the chapter quiz. 

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9. About Class Participation.
Since you are not attending classes, I will be using other tools to make sure you are doing your homework.  I will be looking to see that everyone reads all postings on the forums, and you should answer or start a posting at least 2 times a month.   I will also be making sure that you read all online pages.  There is a tool that tracks how many times you visit a page, which pages you've visited, how long you spent on the page.

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10.Do I have to have Microsoft Office 2007 on my computer?
No, you do not have to have Microsoft Office.  myitlab will give you a simulated version of Office to learn on and practice with.  Of course it might be nice to be able to try out the real thing!  If you have an older version of Office (97, 2002/XP or 2003) you may find some differences between what you learn and what you see in your own program, but the differences are not that large.  Ask a question on the appropriate forum  if you run into any problems. There is also a student discounted version of Office 2007. See the link in the top section of the class.

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11. Naming files for uploading on homework upload assignments.
When I look at uploaded homework, I often download them all at once so I can look at them offline.  If the chapter says to save a file with a name like "chapter3.txt", then EVERY file is called Chapter3.txt, and I won't have an easy way to tell whose file is whose.  If you put your name as part of the file, then I will have an easy way to tell who created a file.  So I would create a file called webb_Chapter3.txt.  Jane Wu would put wu_Chapter3.txt.  And Jay Gospodnetich would put gospo_Chapter3.txt (limiting your name to 5 characters.)

If I don't give you special file naming instructions, then I don't care what it is called - just be careful to save it as the requested type of file - .jpg, .txt, .doc, .rtf, .xls, etc.

Upload your file by midnight PST on the due date.  Find the upload assignment in the week's section.

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12. Late Homework
After the due date, you can no longer use the upload homework assignment to submit your file.  You must email me an attachment of the file to my Insight email.  If you take a myitlab graded test late, you need to email the instructor or you won't get credit.

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13. Discussing Test Questions in forums
Policy Statement chapter quizzes: If there is an error on the chapter quiz, which IS QUITE POSSIBLE, the best thing to do is email me privately through Insight email and I will check it. You may notice that when you take the chapter quiz more than once, the questions change - therefore your question 6 is not someone else's question 6. I can look at your specific test and give you an evaluation. In fact I have already improved some of the questions. If the question is wrong, I will let everyone know. Since all the answers are in the book, and the tests are open book, I sure don't mind your looking up the answer. IF the test is wrong, or poorly worded, I want to fix it.

That said, if you want to discuss a point from the chapter you can bring it up in the chapter forum. But I think on closely reading the particular chapter quiz question, you will easily see the correct answer.

Policy Statement practice quizzes: Feel free to discuss the practice quiz questions!

Policy Statement midterm & final exams: Please do not post answers and questions on the forums before the test period is completely finished. Once the test is closed off, you may then discuss as much as you want. Again, if you think the test is in error, email me, and I can individually correct scores.

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14. Can I install myitlab on more than one machine?
Yes. You can access myitlab from any computer (must be a PC with Windows 2000, XP or Vista) once you have an account.  If you want to use your browser to access myitlab from a new computer, run the Installation Wizard in the Week 1 Getting Started folder.  Make sure you allow popups!

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15. I have another language besides English installed on my computer, and I can't make the training work.
These errors are due to your Windows language settings being set to a Unicode language such as Japanese, Chinese or other language with a different alphabet. You will need to change a setting by going to

• START
• Control Panel,
• Regional and Language Options (if you are not in classic view, click on Date, Time, Language and Regional Options first.)
• click on the Advanced tab, and choose English (United States) as the Non Unicode language. Careful: There are lots of versions of the English language!

NOTE: Your Unicode language will still be Japanese, Chinese, or whatever other language is installed on your system.

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16. How can I reset my Hills Password?
Some students had previously logged into Hills and changed their password.  If you
forget your password, it can be reset back to your birthdate.

Anyone who needs their Hills password reset has to go in person to the ACRC (Batmale 301).  If you cannot come to campus, you can email your instructor via Insight email, and your instructor can request it for you.

Lab hours are here:  http://www.ccsf.edu/Info/Cmp/labs.html

Bring your student ID and a picture ID.  Sorry, but they don't want anybody changing
the ID of another student, so you have to prove who you are.

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17. After I take a Insight quiz or test (not myitlab) I can't see my score in My Grades or on the Quizzes page.

When you finish taking a Insight quiz, be sure to click on the Submit All and Finish button. Of course make sure you have answered all the questions first!

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18. After I take a myitlab graded test I can't see my score in the Gradebook in Insight.

I transfer all myitlab scores to Insight on the Monday or Tuesday after the Graded Test is due.  Check back then.  If you take a Graded Test after the due date, you need to email the instructor with that information, or you won't get credit!

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19. Windows Vista with Internet Explorer 7.0 or above causes problems with myitlab trainings & tests.

You need to turn off Internet Explorer 7's Protected Mode feature.  I recommend that you turn it back on when you finish your myitlab exercise.

First, make sure the myitlab web site is in your trusted zone.  DO THIS ONCE ONLY for each computer you are on.  (This is useful for everybody to do!)

1. Start Internet Explorer 7.
2. Click Tools.
3. Click Internet Options.
4. Choose the Security tab.
5. Select the "Trusted Sites" zone.
6. Click the 'Sites' button.
7. Uncheck the "Require server verification...this zone" checkbox.
8. In the 'Add this website to the zone' text field type the following: *.pearsoned.com
9. Click the Add button
10. In the 'Add this website to the zone' text field type the following: *.pearsoncmg.com
11. Click the Add button.
12. Click the Close button.
13. Click OK.

Next, every time you want to use myitlab, follow the steps below to turn off PROTECTED MODE.   NOTE: When you finish using myitlab, be sure to turn it back on!  To turn protected mode ON, do these same 8 steps, but in step 6, CHECK the "Enable Protected Mode" checkbox instead of unchecking it..

1. Start Internet Explorer 7.
2. Click Tools.
3. Click Internet Options.
4. Choose the Security tab.
5. Select the "Trusted Sites" zone.
6. Uncheck the "Enable Protected Mode" checkbox.
7. Click OK.
8. Restart Internet Explorer by closing all open windows and then opening a new window.

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20. When is homework due? What is the grace period?
Check the class schedule for actual due dates - if there is a holiday the due date might be different than the usual Friday.

Our class weeks start on Fridays and end on the following Friday at midnight. Homework is due on Friday night, but usually there is a 2-day grace period so you can complete the week's tasks by Sunday night without any penalty. The due date is shown as Friday at 11:55pm, but you can upload any homework or complete any quizzes by Sunday night without any loss of points. I usually do the grading of uploaded files and graded forums on Monday or Tuesday after the due date.

(In Insight, each week's section header shows the start date of the week, which is Friday, and then ends the week the following Thursday.  In actuality, the week ends on Friday night, not Thursday.  This gives everyone an extra day to do homework.)

NOTE:  There is no grace period for the final exam.  It must be completed by the date in our class schedule. Since the exam will close at 11:55 pm, be sure you begin taking it at least 2 hours ahead of time. You can view the close date/time for the midterm and final exams by clicking on Quizzes in the Activities Block of our class in Insight.  (It's better not to wait until the last day since if you have technical problems you won't have time to find another place to take the exam.)

21. myitlab trainings and tests don't work - Google Toolbar Installed
The Google toolbar can interfere with popup windows. Either allow the Pearson websites in the Google toolbar, uninstall it or disable it.