Posted on by Arto Artinian

Approaches for Successfully Completing This Online Class

Online students need structure, and a study calendar is a great way to create it. Check your syllabus before your course kicks off, and commit to due dates on your calendar. Then, designate study times for each class, and stick to them. Set aside a specific block of time every day, maybe after the kids’ bedtime, or before you go to work. Sticking to her plan will help you juggle work, family, and multiple online courses without falling behind. If you can’t set aside a whole block of time, then think about periods of the day when you can take at least 15 minutes for uninterrupted study time.

Our colleagues over at Arizona State University made a great video on time management. Take a look:


Another video on time management tips:

Look Ahead

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to look ahead when taking online courses. Check your time management plan (you will be making one shortly!) for assignments that will be due, double-check for live events or in-person sessions for hybrid classes. Make plans to meet with your classmates online or to attend your instructor’s virtual office hours. Always know when an assignment is due, and don’t wait until the last minute to complete it. 

Set aside at least one hour a day for each of your e-learning courses. Remember the videos you watched on the subway and the article you read while waiting for 20 minutes at the doctor’s office? That counts towards chipping away at that one hour a day!

Speak Up

If you struggle or fall behind, don’t stay silent. Remember your growth mindset; every problem is an opportunity to grow and improve. Think of it as a puzzle to solve. BMCC has instructors, counselors, tutors, and many other services here to help you get back on track. While your Instructors have deadlines for a reason and late work is not accepted, by speaking up, you will have an opportunity to refocus and improve your work moving forward. Extra credit assignments may be offered at the professor’s discretion. We help students with problems all of the time, that’s our job! 

The worst thing you can do for yourself is to do ‘nothing.’ 


Posted on by Arto Artinian

Welcome to POL 100 (0506)!

Dear Students Welcome to This Semester!

Welcome to our class, I look forward to studying American politics together this semester!


Communicating with me:
The best way to reach me is through this email (pol100@fastmail.com). Please add to the subject head POL 100-0506.  This will ensure that your email is saved in a special folder and does not get buried in hundreds of other emails. It is also important to sign your name. I will respond in 24 hours. I am also reachable during my office hours on Thursdays, from 5-6 pm via the VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS link on the left-hand side menu. Please email me in advance if you would like to connect with me.

Syllabus, Course Guide, and Textbook:
Review the Syllabus and Course Guide, you will find the link in the course main menu.  In the introduction module, you will find a link to the FREE textbook for this course. You heard right, this course has ZERO textbook costs!

Introduction Module:For a brief introduction to this course and to me, please go to the Introduction | Start Here module in the course menu on top of this page, or follow the link at the bottom of this announcement. You must be logged into this website to access the module. 

This Introduction | Start Here module requires you to:

  • Share about yourself on the discussion board on the forum called ‘Bio’ and connect with your classmates (You will see the discussion board link on the left, as well).
  • Print and go over the syllabus (I will add more details in the next couple of weeks)
  • Respond to a Questionnaire/Survey that requires you to develop a backup plan in case you run into technical difficulties, and plan your semester. It is based on the syllabus.

?? IS THERE AN ONLINE OPENLAB ORIENTATION? Mandatory Online Learning Orientation:Anyone taking an online course must first complete the Online Learning Orientation in Blackboard. Please complete it carefully to make sure that you know how to navigate the course, how to communicate with me and your classmates, create time for what you have to do each week, and review your feedback and grades on a weekly basis.  Once you have completed the orientation, you will receive a certificate which you must upload to the assignment area in the Introduction | Start Here module.  

Visit this page next: Introduction | Start Here module.  

Posted on by Arto Artinian

Sample Assignment

This is a sample assignment. In order to create one you

  1. Create a new Post
  2. Check the box next to “Assignments” in the Categories area.
  3. Publish the post

If you don’t see Categories then you may be using the Block editor.

In the Block Editor it’s not immediately apparent how to add Categories to a post.
1: Change from Block to Document view by clicking Document
2: Click the Categories title to expand it
3: Check the category you want applied to the post.
4: If you need a new category you can do it right from the page.
  1. Click Add New Category Link
  2. Write in the name of the category
  3. Click the Add New Category Button