Activities

Getting Started Activities:

Ensure you have completed the required Getting Started Lesson activities:

1. Complete the First Day Questionnaire.
2. Introduce yourself in the Class Introductions Discussion Forum
3. Submit your Academic Integrity Statement

Writing Assignments:

1. Write a 1-2 page essay that explains your understanding of the reasons for the increasing vulnerability to disasters. Provide your initial thoughts on how to deal with the increasing threats. Submit the paper to the Lesson 01 Dropbox.

Discussion Forums:

1. Participate in the Follow-up to Class Sessions Discussion Forum. "Follow-Up to Class Sessions," is used both by students and the instructor throughout the course to post news or other articles relevant to course topics. Comments on contemporary events or follow-up questions from the previous week’s Lesson readings and assignments are also appropriate. Students are expected to participate in the “Follow-Up” Discussion Forum throughout the semester.
    
2. Review the website of your state’s emergency management agency (and local agency website, if available). All state emergency management agency websites may be found here: http://www.fema.gov/.  Comment on the types of hazards for which your community or state is most vulnerable. Would you expect that most residents are familiar with their community’s greatest vulnerabilities? Why or why not? What suggestions do you have for increasing individual and community awareness of hazard vulnerabilities? (Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the learning resources you used for Lesson One.)
   
   Post your responses to the Lesson 01 Question 1 Discussion Forum.
    
3. Post at least 3 questions or comments about professional associations, research centers or Internet resources related to emergency management that you have reviewed. Post your responses to the Lesson 01 Question 2 Discussion Forum.

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Discussion Forum Guidelines:

While everyone will post on the Discussion Forums each week, each student is required to participate in at least 8 threaded discussions throughout the semester. That is, during a minimum of 8 weeks you must not only post but also respond to other students’ posts.

How to participate in a threaded discussion:

1. Post your response to the question. (NOTE: The lesson discussion forums require you to post first before you can see the posts of your peers.)
2. Read a selection of your colleagues' postings and within 3 days of your initial posts
3. Respond to one of your colleague’s postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

4. Return to this Discussion Forum in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.