Introduction To Introduction To Online LearningOnline Learning

Prince George’s Community Prince George’s Community CollegeCollege

Welcome….Welcome….

Purpose of this sessionPurpose of this session

Distance Learning Center Distance Learning Center ContactsContacts

Distance Learning Web SiteDistance Learning Web Site

http://www.pgcconline.comhttp://www.pgcconline.com

Introduction To Introduction To Online LearningOnline Learning

• Go to www.pgcconline.org

• Click on Introduction to Online Learning

Www.pgcconline.orgWww.pgcconline.org

Www.pgcconline.orgWww.pgcconline.org

What is Online Learning?What is Online Learning?

Your computer becomes your classroomYour computer becomes your classroom Interact with fellow students and your Interact with fellow students and your

instructor through email and Blackboardinstructor through email and Blackboard

Flexible, convenient…NOT EASIER!!!!!Flexible, convenient…NOT EASIER!!!!! Requires a Requires a minimumminimum of 6-9 hours/week of 6-9 hours/week Includes discussions, assignments, Includes discussions, assignments,

exams … and FIRM deadlinesexams … and FIRM deadlines

It’s About Time….It’s About Time….

Requires a Requires a minimumminimum of 6-9 of 6-9 hours/weekhours/week

True: You don’t True: You don’t come to campus so come to campus so you save timeyou save time

Also True: You Also True: You must spend just as must spend just as much time much time studyingstudying

So…So… You must have You must have

timetime

OROR

Find the time to Find the time to study each weekstudy each week

Who Should Take Who Should Take An Online Course?An Online Course?

Successful online students have Successful online students have both:both:

– Technology SkillsTechnology Skills

– “ “Student” SkillsStudent” Skills

TechnologyTechnology

– Hardware: Pentium class computer Hardware: Pentium class computer at least 32 MB RAM at least 32 MB RAM a 28.8 modema 28.8 modem

– An Internet Service ProviderAn Internet Service Provider

– Your own email accountYour own email account

Technology SkillsTechnology Skills Able to navigate using the InternetAble to navigate using the Internet Basic SkillsBasic Skills

– Type Type – Use a mouseUse a mouse– Able to Cut, Copy and Paste textAble to Cut, Copy and Paste text– Able to use emailAble to use email– Able to attach a fileAble to attach a file

““Student Skills” - Student Skills” - Questions To AskQuestions To Ask

““Is Distance Learning Right For Me?”Is Distance Learning Right For Me?”

What grades do you typically earn?What grades do you typically earn?

Do you understand and remember Do you understand and remember what you read? what you read?

Do you meet deadlines?Do you meet deadlines?

Read the Course Syllabus! Read the Course Syllabus! RTCSRTCS

The syllabus explains the course organization, The syllabus explains the course organization, the grading policy, the types of assignments & the grading policy, the types of assignments & other important information. other important information. RTCSRTCS

You are expected to read the syllabus & know its You are expected to read the syllabus & know its contents. I suggest you print & save it. contents. I suggest you print & save it. RTCSRTCS

Many questions you will be tempted to ask the Many questions you will be tempted to ask the instructor in an email have already been instructor in an email have already been answered in the syllabus.answered in the syllabus. RTCSRTCS

So, you have a question! So, you have a question!

How do you ask the instructor a question in How do you ask the instructor a question in an online course? Some possibilites are an online course? Some possibilites are emails, chats conferences & phone calls.emails, chats conferences & phone calls.

However, rather than answer the same However, rather than answer the same question a “gazillion” times via email, many question a “gazillion” times via email, many instructors answer student questions in a instructors answer student questions in a conference designated for that purpose & conference designated for that purpose & reserve email for highly personal questions reserve email for highly personal questions only.only.

Learn your OL instructor’s communication Learn your OL instructor’s communication policy and follow it. policy and follow it.

When is it due? When is it due? Contrary to popular belief, Contrary to popular belief, most online courses most online courses

are not self-pacedare not self-paced; their assignments have firm ; their assignments have firm due dates. The instructor sets the pace.due dates. The instructor sets the pace.

Find the Find the course calendarcourse calendar! Learn the due dates for ! Learn the due dates for the assignments in your online course. the assignments in your online course.

Are there any Are there any penalties for latenesspenalties for lateness? For what ? For what circumstances, if any, can you submit work late?circumstances, if any, can you submit work late?

What about office hours?What about office hours? Scheduled online chats are used by Scheduled online chats are used by

some online faculty as office hours. some online faculty as office hours.

An office hour chat is a great An office hour chat is a great opportunity to ask questions & get opportunity to ask questions & get immediate answers.immediate answers.

Find out if your instructor holds Find out if your instructor holds online office hours & “attend” them.online office hours & “attend” them.

I wrote it; I wrote it; now how do I turn it in?now how do I turn it in?

““Can’t I just send it as an email Can’t I just send it as an email attachment?” Maybe, maybe not!attachment?” Maybe, maybe not!

Each instructor has a policy about how to Each instructor has a policy about how to submit homework. submit homework.

Learn your instructor’s policy and follow it.Learn your instructor’s policy and follow it.– Hint: Check the course syllabus. Hint: Check the course syllabus. RTCSRTCS

Mysterious Emails & Mysterious Emails & Filenames!?Filenames!?

Want credit for your homework? Name files in Want credit for your homework? Name files in a recognizable way:a recognizable way: – E.g., tjones_ae02 for Tom Jones’Analytical E.g., tjones_ae02 for Tom Jones’Analytical

Essay #2Essay #2

Always include your name & the assignment Always include your name & the assignment name at the head of the document.name at the head of the document.

Want to have an email answered? Then, Want to have an email answered? Then, identify yourself by full name & includeidentify yourself by full name & include course course name & reference number. name & reference number.

Tour Of BlackboardTour Of Blackboard

Login (Handout) Welcome Page Navigation Getting Help Statistics

Major Features

Announcements Course

Information Communication

ToolsBulletin BoardSend email

Digital Drop Box Handout

Tips for SuccessTips for Success

Budget your timeBudget your time Don’t procrastinate; Don’t procrastinate;

don’t get behinddon’t get behind Meet deadlines Meet deadlines Login to Blackboard Login to Blackboard

often (3-5 times per often (3-5 times per week week minimumminimum))

AlwaysAlways save a copy save a copy of your filesof your files

Participate activelyParticipate actively

Do your work “off Do your work “off line” and save your line” and save your files to disk before files to disk before you send themyou send them

Confused? Need Help? Questions?Ask your instructor and classmates!

ResourcesResources

More Information About Online More Information About Online Learning atLearning athttp://www.marylandonline.org/prohttp://www.marylandonline.org/prospective_students/spective_students/

including articles about online including articles about online learning, self-assessments, learning, self-assessments, “Successful Students Checklist”“Successful Students Checklist”