IPT "boot camp" is an asynchronous online training program where you learn basic technical and asynchronous learning skills using Lotus Notes. Attendance and demonstrated competence in IPT boot camp is required for all IPT students who plan to take IPT online courses using Lotus Notes for the first time.

Boot Camp Delivery Media:

Lotus Notes 7 is used. 

Boot Camp Tasks:

Boot camp students can complete boot camp drill tasks (about 20 tasks) anytime during the boot camp week.  The boot camp tasks will help you:

• learn basic knowledge and skills necessary for using Lotus Notes Databases as a learning tool (to send/receive instructional/learning information) and a communication tool (to interact with your instructors and fellow students)
• learn basic asynchronous communication skills and strategies necessary for becoming a successful online student
• create a replica of your IPT online course database and start your first IPT online class

Boot Camp Timeframe:

Completion of the boot camp tasks may take about 3-10 hours depending on the individual's current technical skills.

• If a boot camp student is an experienced computer user who does not have difficulty following technical directions and learning new software, it may take about 3-4 hours over a couple of days to complete the boot camp tasks.
    
• If a boot camp student is an intermediate-level computer user, it may take about 5-7 hours over several days to complete the boot camp tasks.
    
• If a boot camp student is a novice computer user, it may take about 8-10 hours over several days to complete the boot camp tasks.

The boot camp instructor recommends that all boot camp students start the boot camp tasks on the first day of the boot camp and finish the tasks as early as possible, then stay in the rest of the boot camp session to practice more, ask questions, and get familiar with the online learning environment as much as possible.

During the boot camp, the boot camp instructor will monitor boot camp students' performance and provide feedback. The boot camp instructor will determine whether the students are eligible to take their first IPT online course.

How to Start the Boot Camp:

Boot camp students should start the boot camp activities by following the steps presented below. 

1. Connect your computer to the Internet.
    
2. Launch Lotus Notes. If you haven't set the Replication page as the home page, click on the Replication button.
   
    
3. Click the 'Start Now' button on the Replication page. You will receive boot camp materials from the IPT server.   
   
    
4. When the replication is over, double-click on the 'Boot Camp' bar on the replication page. You can also open the boot camp database by double-clicking the Boot camp icon on the Workspace page.
   
    
5. You are inside the Boot Camp Database. You will see the navigation pane on the left and the view pane on the right side. Click the document title 'Welcome to the IPT Boot Camp: Read Me First' in the view pane.
   
   
   Click the 'Preview Pane' icon on the SmartIcon Bar to open the preview pane on the screen.
   
    
6. You will see the content of the 'Welcome to the IPT Boot Camp: Read Me First' document in the preview pane (Note: If a security alert window appears on the screen, click 'Trust Signer'). You can drag the gray horizontal bar to resize the preview pane. Now you are ready to start the boot camp tasks. Follow the directions described in the welcome document.