Quick recap
Professor Pat Paulson introduced the online course MIS 362 for Spring 2026, providing detailed instructions on accessing and navigating the course management system, website, and VPN. He demonstrated how to complete assignments, use various software tools, and manage course materials through OneDrive and other platforms, while emphasizing the importance of proper documentation and technical support when needed. The course structure includes different types of assignments and software tools, with an AI companion feature powered by ChatGPT 5 that students can use for queries and homework assistance.
Next steps
- All students: Log into D2L, review the course welcome announcement, and familiarize themselves with the course structure and weekly assignments.
- All students: Access their personal website via classes.winona.edu using VPN (wsutunnel.winona.edu), verify that their name, star ID, and other information are correct, and notify Professor Pat if there are any errors.
- All students: Complete the Website URL submission assignment as instructed, ensuring use of correct network username.
- All students: Complete the introduction discussion board assignment by introducing themselves to the class.
- All students: Complete Formative 00 assignment using the correct version for their device (PC or Mac), following the provided instructions.
- All students: Complete weekly assignments and quizzes as listed in D2L, ensuring submission by 7am Monday mornings.
- All students: Complete 4 hours of LinkedIn Learning courses of their choice and the required 38-minute Project 4 IoT course, following the instructions in the assignment announcement.
- All students: If experiencing issues with VPN or website access, contact Professor Pat or tech support for assistance.
- Professor Pat: Check and, if necessary, update the email link displayed on the website to ensure it reflects the correct contact information.
- Professor Pat: Monitor for student reports of VPN or website access issues and provide additional guidance or recordings (e.g., specific VPN instructions) if problems arise.
- All students: If VPN is not working, notify Professor Pat immediately so alternative arrangements (such as Zoom sessions) can be made.
- All students: Use the D2L calendar (filtered for 362 Section 90) to track assignment due dates and ensure they are following the correct schedule.
- All students: Create a dedicated MIS362 folder in OneDrive for storing assignment files as instructed.
- All students: Submit assignments in PDF format, combining web page and screenshots as specified, using OneNote, Word, or PDFill as appropriate for their device.
- All students: Ensure only course-related content is uploaded to the AI Assistant and that no personal information is shared.
- All students: Provide feedback to Professor Pat regarding the AI Assistant's usefulness and any issues encountered.
Summary
MIS 362 Course Navigation Instructions
Professor Pat Paulson introduces the online course MIS 362 for Spring 2026, explaining how to access and navigate D2L, the course management system. He emphasizes the importance of using the D2L calendar and suggests limiting the view to the current course to avoid confusion. Professor Paulson also explains how to access the course website through OneDrive and provides instructions for connecting to the VPN to access the website.
Course Website Navigation and Resources
Pat demonstrated how to access and navigate the course website, emphasizing the importance of using the network username and confirming that all files and assignments are uploaded. Pat explained that while the syllabus lists weekly pacing dates, actual due dates are found in D2L, and addressed potential VPN issues from previous semesters. Pat also highlighted the new AI companion feature, which provides video recordings and summaries, and mentioned that some links on the syllabus need to be checked for functionality.
AI-Powered Course Assistant Introduction
Pat explained the course structure and introduced an AI assistant powered by ChatGPT 5, which students can use to query questions about homework assignments and the book. Pat emphasized that the course does not require a textbook, as open-source materials are loaded into the AI assistant. He advised students to use the AI tool responsibly, upload only course-related content, and not reveal personal information. Pat also mentioned that the AI assistant is regularly updated and that students can provide feedback on its performance.
Course Website Assignment Instructions
Pat demonstrated how to access and complete assignments on the course website, emphasizing the importance of checking name and star ID spelling. He explained how to take and combine screenshots using various methods, including the snipping tool on Windows and keyboard shortcuts on Mac, and save them along with the completed assignment as a web page and PDF. Pat also introduced the use of OneNote and PDFill for easier screenshot management and merging, and suggested creating a folder in OneDrive for organizing course materials. He noted that while these instructions should work, technical issues might arise, and students should reach out to tech support if needed.
Course Overview and Technical Instructions
Pat provided an overview of the course, including instructions on accessing the course website, using VPN, and completing assignments. He explained the different types of assignments (formative, summative, and LinkedIn Learning) and their due dates. Pat also discussed the use of software tools like PDFIL, Azure DevTools, and LinkedIn Learning, emphasizing that students should not pay for LinkedIn Learning as it's included in their WSU account. He advised students to contact him or TAs for assistance and to include the course name and assignment details in email subject lines. Pat mentioned that if VPN doesn't work, the entire course structure would need to be changed, and he offered to help students set it up via Zoom if needed.