Business Office Technology

BOT 109

Becoming a Virtual Assistant

 

Fall 2008

 

 

Kathy Striebel

Lead Instructor

kstriebel@miracosta.edu

 

Course Information:

www.miracosta.edu/home/kstriebel

 

Course Location:

BOT Model Office 4803B OC

Online e-Flex schedule

 

Students can choose to complete the lessons on campus or at home. 

 

This is a self-paced, open entry online course.  Course is finished when all projects are completed. 

 

Start-Up Checklist:

¨  View Orientation on program website or Blackboard.

¨  Complete student contact form from Blackboard

¨  Read the entire syllabus before starting the projects.

¨  Save all documents to USB or hard drivedrive.

¨  Open Blackboard for assignment sheets and lectures.

¨  Complete all lessons by December 12, 2008.

 

Course Description: 

Students will explore the career opportunities available to administrative support personnel offering their services in a virtual environment.  This course guides students in preparing a complete start-up business plan for becoming a virtual assistant.  Topics include:  mission statement, goals and objectives, start-up costs and budget, marketing, setting up an in-home office, using technology to support your business, coping with working alone, communication, and professional networking.

 

This course relies on a substantial amount of outside references, books, articles, and websites that students will be required to access to complete assignments.  Assignments, lectures and resource materials can be accessed from blackboard.miracosta.edu

 

ADVISORY:  CIS 100 Computer Applications or knowledge of basic software applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation media.

 

Course Materials:

Textbook:  Virtual Assistant:  The Series, Becoming a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, Ennen & Poelker,

ISBN 0-9742790-5-6

http://www.another8hours.com/book.html

USB drive to save all course materials and downloads.

 

 

Cost:  NEW $32.25 purchased from MCC Spartan Bookstore

            USED $24.24 purchased from MCC Spartan Bookstore

            $6.95 ground shipping online from Spartan Bookstore

           

PLEASE NOTE:  If you purchase this book from an online textbook supplier, BE SURE IT IS 3rd EDITION. 

 

Student Learning Outcomes:

 

  1. Assess skills and work habits related to independent working environment to establish a business success profile.

2.    Identify types of virtual employment business opportunities and organization structures.

3.    Develop a business and marketing plan, including a virtual portfolio, for a virtual enterprise.

4.    Design a virtual office for a virtual enterprise.

  1. Practice virtual communications skills through email, website construction, chats, online conferencing, and published materials.

 

Important Dates:

Last day to drop with no grade on permanent record...................................     September 6

Last day to drop class and be eligible for refund...........................................     September 6

Last day to petition for certificate or degree..................................................   September 26

Last day to ADD a BOT course......................................................................        October 25

Last day to drop with “W”..............................................................................    November 20

Last day to submit assignments....................................................................    December 12

 

Policies:

1.    Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disabled Students Programs & Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely manner.  Their phone number is (760) 795-6658, and they are located in Building 3000 Student Services, Room 3009, adjacent to Parking Lot 3C.

 

2.    Students who have not consistently submitted assignments during the semester will be dropped on November 20, 2008. 

 

3.    Students should be aware of the MiraCosta plagiarism statement in the catalog.  A submitted assignment, which is determined to be the work of a person other than the student, will receive no credit.

 

Contacting the Instructor: 

BOT Associate Instructor:   Kathy Striebel                

Email address:  kstriebel@miracosta.edu     

Lab Hours:  see schedule on website

 

When contacting the instructor through email, please identify the purpose of your email in the SUBJECT line along with the course and your name.  Here is an example of how you should key the subject:  QUESTION BOT 109 Susan Smith.  The instructor will respond within 48 hours.

 

Course Objectives:  Upon completion of this course, student will be able to demonstrate competency in critical thinking and performance by setting up a virtual office. Tasks include:

1. Examine the evolution of the virtual office.
2. Assess skills and work habits related to independent working environment.
3. Identify types of virtual employment opportunities.
4. Develop a complete business plan including a marketing plan.
5. Practice virtual communications skills through email and website construction.
6. Evaluate technology needed in a virtual office environment.
7. List ways to successfully manage a virtual business environment.
8. Design a virtual office.
9. Develop a plan to create an Internet site to share with prospective clients.
10. Prepare a budget including billing procedures and methods of collecting fees.
11. Discuss business ethics for virtual assistants and create a code of ethics for virtual assistants.
12. Research professional organizations for virtual assistants.

 

Getting Started:

This is a career exploration course that will provide students with the opportunity to experience the criteria for setting up a virtual office and offering administrative assistant services to a client/employer from a remote location.

 

This course contains six projects that will be customized to the student’s career goal.  Read ahead and plan your work schedule carefully as some assignments require research.  Each project has an individual assignment sheet.  The six projects are:

 

PROJECT 1 – VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT AND YOU – BRANDING YOURSELF

PROJECT 2 – CREATING A BUSINESS PLAN – PART 1 OPERATIONS

PROJECT 3 – CREATING A BUSINESS PLAN – PART 2 MARKETING

PROJECT 4:  DESIGNING AND SETTING UP THE VIRTUAL OFFICE

PROJECT 5:  ESTABLISHING A WEB PRESENCE/CREATING A WEBSITE

PROJECT 6:  OPERATIONS/PROCEDURES MANUAL

 

This course requires a considerable amount of independent work.  Students should be committed to developing a Business Plan that can be implemented to either prepare them for telework or virtual.

 

Login to blackboard.miracosta.edu with your SURF ID to review the course announcements, project assignments, and lectures.

 

Be sure to read the lecture for each project assignment to be sure you fully understand the objectives and goals of the assignments.  If you have any questions, contact your instructor immediately.

 

Grading:

All assignment grades will be posted to Blackboard.  Instructor will discuss each step of the process with the student as he/she progresses through the projects.  Final grade will be based on total points earned on assignments within projects and completion of business plan.  Each project will earn 50 points.  Assessment will be based on completion of individual assignments and successful demonstration of competency.  Grades:  A = 300-275 points; B = 274-250; C = 249-225; D = 224-200; 199 or below = F.

 

Submitting Assignments:

 

This is a self-paced online course that allows you to work in the BOT Model Office, 4803B OC, or online.  Students are responsible for completing and submitting all assignments as listed in the course syllabus.  Assignments reviewed and graded in the BOT Model Office will get immediate feedback and grading.  Weekly assignments submitted through email will be acknowledged when received and then reviewed and graded within five (5) days. All assignments submitted through email must be identified in the subject line with your last name and the assignment name or number as directed in the syllabus, for example:  Striebel Project 1 - Assignment 3.

 

 To expedite responses to questions, key the word QUESTION in the subject line of the email, and you will receive a response within 24-48 hours.

 

The Blackboard site contains data files, all assignments, announcements, lectures, special instructions or notes for assignments, discussion questions, and assignment grades. 

 

Even though this is a self-paced course and students can select a flexible schedule for completing assignments, students must show steady progress through the semester by viewing the program orientation, submitting the student contact form, submitting weekly assignments, and maintaining contact with the instructor.  Students will be dropped for lack of successful progress.  A suggested timeline for completing assignments is given in the syllabus.  Students are encouraged to follow the timeline or work ahead as a guide to successful completion of the course.