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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Online Courses

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Question: Is an online class the same as a self-paced class?

Answer: NO

• Most online classes are NOT self-paced.• Usually homework, other activities, and online class

participation must be completed by deadlines.• Many instructors set the deadline for midnight on

Saturday to assist those who work Monday – Friday. • Use a calendar for deadlines.• Set aside time each week to login.

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Question: How much time do I have to spend

online?

• You should plan to spend at least the same amount of time you would spend on a face-to-face class.

• For a one unit class -- you'll spend a minimum of one hour a week looking at some of the class resources, checking on assignments, contributing to discussions, and posting homework.

• You’ll probably spend another 3 hours on reading, practice activities and homework. 

Answer: That is up to you

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Question: Do I have to log on at a particular time?

• You will have deadlines by which to submit your homework, but WHEN you complete that work is usually up to you.

• Your instructor MAY require chat sessions or other real time activities.

• It’s important NOT to leave it to the last minute to do your work or to submit it.

• If you have trouble connecting to your ISP or the course website, then your assignments will be late.

Answer: Usually NOT.

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Question: Where do we meet for class?

• Other than the orientation meeting, most online courses don't really "meet" in a physical face to face sense.

• We'll interact regularly through the Internet. • We'll be using some software called Desire2Learn and

using the Los Rios eLearning web server. • Course materials are available on the course web

pages, the bulletin boards, announcements and email.

Answer: Online, not in a classroom.

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Question: How will we communicate?

• We'll communicate with each other using web-based bulletin boards, chat rooms and email.  

• The instructor is available to you through email, voicemail and virtual office hours.

• On-campus office hours are also available by appointment.

• These same tools will be used for student-to-student communication also.

Answer: In many ways.

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Question: Is taking a class online easier than a "regular" class?

• Some students think an online class is even more demanding than a face-to-face class.

• You have to stay motivated and stay on top of your work for the class.

• The workload in an online class is usually identical to an on-site class on the same topic.

Answer: No.

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Research shows that most

Successful Online Students are:

• Self-motivated and self-starters, • Have good organizational skills,• Have good time-management skills,• Are familiar with computers and the

Internet, • Are resourceful and actively seek

answers and solutions to questions and problems.

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Question: Do I have to have a computer at home?

• Access to a computer at home makes it easier, but you do NOT have to own a computer for an online class.

• Students can access computers on the campus in several locations (the Learning Resource Center, and the Business Computer lab, for example) or at other district colleges.

• Some students complete online classes from work (with permission from their employer, of course).

Answer: NO

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Question: What Internet skills would be helpful

in an online class? Answer:

• Know how to use a web browser. • Know how to use an email program. • Know how to make and organize bookmarks

in your browser software. • Some familiarity with web-based

interactions--bulletin boards, chat and mailing lists will also be useful.

• Some familiarity with word processing. • Experience in successful Internet searches

using a variety of search engines.

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Question:What Is Expected from Students

Answer:

• As in a regular face-to-face class, your instructor expects that you will adhere to standards of:– courtesy, – professionalism, and – academic honesty.

• Participate with appropriate consideration for each other and for the instructor.

• Your e-mails and web postings should:– be on the topic at hand, – be appropriate and – should reflect a professional demeanor.

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Do You Know Online Etiquette?

• Identify yourself by name in each email or posting.

• Be supportive and constructive in your comments to each other.

• Help and support each other.• Everyone will benefit from a positive online

learning environment.• Read information on Online Etiquette. (Use

the Back button to come back and finish the presentation.)

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Academic Honesty:

It is a violation of college policy to plagiarize or to recycle work.

You must not: • take others’ thoughts or words without appropriate

acknowledgment; • submit work that has been written or revised in part

or in whole by another person; • submit work that you have submitted for another

class.

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Be sure to get the following Course Information from your instructor:

• Course Objectives• Course Expectations • Assignments

– How to submit assignments– How to label files

• How to address your emails to the instructor

• Grading Policies• Other course issues

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Video Clips and Animations

• Another section of the Orientation will demonstrate some of the online tools that we’ll use for the course

• You can read the written instructions or watch the video demonstrations.

• Link to an Orientation on: Using Los Rios eLearning Desire2Learn

• Other tools for Getting Started.

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