Course Introduction

Every person owns valuable legal rights. However, many are not aware of their rights, and so are unable to make use of them. This course will help to correct this problem. Legal Environment of Business is an interesting, practical course that will empower you by making you more aware of your legal rights. It will enable you to act more effectively in the many transactions that you will be involved in. Whether it is buying a car or home, signing an employment contract or managing a business, this course will provide life-long benefit.  You can listen to a 15 minute audio introduction to this course by Dr. Wegman by clicking on the following link:

Audio

Note: Before you listen to a broadcast, you need to have RealPlayer. 

Navigating this Web site

Please note the links on the upper left side of this page.  Using these links is the easiest way to navigate this website.  For example, to obtain a detailed overview of the course, click on the "syllabus" link.   You will want to print this syllabus and keep it as a reference.  The "class schedule" link takes you to a page which contains links to each class.  Please also see "Getting Started", below.

Blackboard

This course uses Blackboard to provide your exams, quizzes and grades. You can click on the "Blackboard" link at the upper left side of this page or you may use your browser to go to  www.blackboard.uidaho.edu at any time. You will need to log in to Blackboard using your Novell user name and password.  The University of Idaho registrar issues these when you first register as a student.  Possible problem: Novell passwords expire on a regular basis.  The University does this for security reasons.  In order to make sure that you Novell password will not expire while you are taking this course (which will cause anxiety until the source of the problem is discovered) it is a good idea to check with the help desk now to determine when your password is set to expire, and perhaps renew it now.

Once you are logged into Blackboard, select "B. Law 265", then "assessments".  That will take you to a page that lists and links to all quizzes and exams.  If you have any difficulty accessing Blackboard, please call the University of Idaho Help Desk, (208) 885-HELP, or email helpdesk@uidaho.edu.

How the Course Works

This is an "accelerated" course.   Each week we cover five classes.  Each class requires reading a text chapter and listening to a lecture.  After completing each class (with one exception), a short quiz is taken.  Quizzes must be completed during the week they are assigned, as they close at 11:00 PM on Sunday of that week.  When the next week begins, the quizzes for that week open and they close the following Sunday at 11:00 PM.  This is the pattern of work during the course.

Each class has its own web page with instructions.  You can access these pages through the "Class Schedule" link at the left of this page.  Audio lectures were taped "live", before a class on campus and they include questions from students.

Scheduling your work

As noted above, each week five classes open and close.  You may work on these classes at your own pace and schedule, but you will need to have completed all five classes by the end of the week.  The week's quizzes are first made available on Monday of each week, at 9:00 AM Pacific time.  You can take them at any time during the week, but at the end of the week, on Sunday night at 11:00 PM, the quizzes close and can no longer be taken.  You must have them completed before then.  We all tend to  procrastinate, but you will enjoy the course more and learn more if you pace yourself during the week and do not leave most the work for the week-end.

Topic coverage

Topics covered in this course include contracts, legal environment, and property.  For a detailed description of topics, please click on the link to the "Syllabus" on the left side of this page.

Grades

Grades in this course are calculated as follows:  Exams contribute 50%, and quizzes contribute 50%.  There are two exams: a midterm and a final.  Every class ends with a short, 10 question quiz.  Students may take quizzes and exams twice.  Quiz questions are drawn at random from a large test bank, so each quiz is different.  If a students is disappointed in his/her grade after first taking the quiz/exam, that student may re-take the quiz (different questions).  The student will have seen which topic areas need more study, and after improving his/her knowledge in those areas the score on the second quiz should be improved.  Blackboard will record the higher quiz grade.  In this way the quizzes serve an important learning function as well as a grading function.

All exams and quizzes are open book, self proctored, but time limited.  More information about the exams and quizzes is available in the syllabus.     

There is a potential problem: we have already noted the accelerated nature of the course.  It is over in four weeks, but they are very busy weeks.  This will require self discipline, to maintain the fast pace and to keep up with the work.

Technology Problems

This on-line course depends on technology to work.  As we know, technology does not always work as well as we hope.  Computers lock up, networks go down and unexpected problems crop up.  What to do if you are in the middle of a quiz or an exam and a technology problem blocks your progress?

I understand that it takes time to cure problems.  I have build in extra time to the quiz/exam time limits in order to deal with these problems.  The exams are designed to be one hour exams, but an extra thirty  minutes are provided to cure technical problems.  Quizzes are designed as fifteen minute quizzes, but an extra fifteen minutes are provided.  The extra time will allow you to cure many problems.  However, if you encounter a technical problem that can not be cured in the allotted time, please email me and we will work out a solution.

Internet Explorer seems to work better than other browsers.  Real Player or MP3 software are needed to access the audio lectures.

Getting Started

OK.  Lets say you are registered and it is May 12, the first day of the course.  You have downloaded, printed and read this home page and the course syllabus.  The syllabus tells you that your first class is "Class 1 - Nature of Contracts".  Go to the left side of this page and link to "Class Schedule" then to "Class 1 - Nature of Contracts".  There you will find a 6 step procedure which includes reading Chapter 8 of the text and listening to a lecture delivered before a "live" class at the University of Idaho.

Now you are ready to take the quiz.  Please note that you will have two opportunities to take a quiz on the material of this class.  This allows you to correct any informational deficits you had the first time you took the quiz.  These quizzes are open book and are intended as a learning opportunity, as well as a testing exercise.  Strategy:  do not leave taking the quiz until the last moment.  You may need time to re-read the text or listen again to the lecture in order to improve your knowledge and your grade on your second attempt taking the quiz or exam.

After you have completed the work for Class 1, proceed to Classes 2-5.  This is your work for week #1.  You must take care to complete all the quizzes for these classes before they close at 11:00 PM on Sunday.

Taking Exams

The midterm and final exams follow the same procedure as the quizzes.  Exams consist of 50 multiple choice questions based on the textbook and lectures.  They are drawn at random from a large test bank so that each exam is different.  Quizzes and exams are "open book"; you are free to look at any material you want.  However, you are on your honor not to receive assistance from others or to share your quiz or exam with others.  The final exam is comprehensive; its questions are drawn from classes 1 - 20.

                   Good luck in your study of Business Law!