The document provides guidance for students taking an online journalism course. It recommends that students take time to go through the Getting Started module to learn how to navigate the course. It notes that while students can enter the course now, they should read announcements from August 24th and check the calendar to see which assignments need to be submitted to become current by August 31st. It asks students to send a text to the instructor to let them know they have logged in and provides the instructor's contact information, emphasizing the importance of communication in an online course.