Demo Course

This demonstration course is intended to give you a quick overview of APS StampCampus classes. We have selected our Basic Stamp Collecting course for the demo.

Basic Stamp Collecting: An Introduction to the Hobby

Ada Prill, Instructor

Course Design:

The StampCampus course structure is very simple. Once you have enrolled and received confirmation along with a special password, you can begin accessing your course information from the Student Center:

1. Click on Lessons. This is where you will find a course description, instructor's bio, and a syllabus of the lesson materials which you can print off and begin learning.
2. Click on Course Roster to see who your fellow students are and contact them via e-mail.
3. Click on Online Resources for descriptions and links to useful websites.
4. Click on Book Store to review other helpful resources that you may purchase.
5. Enter the Online Classrooms. This is where the instructor and students will meet once a week to discuss and review their lessons. We also encourage students to use this area prior to and after the online class session -- they may use this area to post comments, ask questions, or just say hi to their fellow classmates. (Instructions are provided on how to use the chat room.)

Course Description:

Basic Stamp Collecting: An Introduction to the Hobby covers all the basic hobby how-to's: from where to get stamps, to how to store them, to figuring out what they're worth.

Course Objective:

At the end of this course, you should be able to:

• use and comprehend basic hobby terms
• pinpoint what tools are immediately essential to your hobby
• be comfortable working with the basic tools in your beginner's kit
• use and understand the detailed information listed in stamp catalogues
• classify mystery stamps with a stamp identifier
• grasp the differences in value, grade, and condition of stamps
• know how to acquire, properly store, and display your stamps
• avoid costly mistakes
• identify helpful published and Internet resources, and where to find them!

Course Content -- Syllabus:

• Lesson 1: Historical Highlights
  
• Lesson 2: Getting Started
  
• Lesson 3: Catalogues and Other Published Resources
  
• Lesson 4: Distinguishing Details
  

Course Materials

Once you are enrolled, you will receive a beginner's kit -- with all the tools and materials you'll need to get started in the hobby. A Book Store is provided in our Student Center where you may purchase other great reading materials that will assist you in getting started. Some great online resources are also provided.

Online Classroom

Classes will meet weekly for a half-hour online interactive discussion with their Instructor and fellow classmates. Along with your Course Materials you will receive instructions on how to use the Online Classroom as well as the dates and times for each online discussion. (So don't worry if you have never used a chat room before. Instructions will be provided and contacts will be assigned to you for any help you may need.) Should you miss an online discussion or can't participate, no problem. We will post the online chat session for each student to view.

Student Support

• Students are encouraged to visit the Online Classroom area prior to and after each class to discuss with fellow students any questions or comments that have arisen during the week.
• Students will also have access to the Course Roster where they will find e-mail addresses for the fellow classmates.
• Each student will also be provided with the Instructor's e-mail address as well as an address to a StampCampus Representative which they may contact at any time with any problems, questions, or assistance that they may need.