FAQS * FOR ONLINE STUDENTS

*Frequently Asked Questions

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.

DO YOU KNOW ONLINE ETIQUETTE?

• Identify yourself by name in each email or postings.

• Be supportive and constructive in your comments to 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).

BE SURE TO GET THE FOLLOWING COURSE INFORMATION FOR YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

• Course objectives

• Course expectations

• Assignments How to submit assignments How to label files

• How to address your e-mails to the instructor

• Grading Policies

• Other course issues

ACADEMIC HONESTY:

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.

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

• Most online classes are NOT self-paced.

• Usually homework, other activities, and online class participation must be completed by deadline.

• 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.

Answer: NO

QUESTION: IS AN ONLINE CLASS THE SAME AS A SELF-PACED CLASS?

QUESTION: HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE TO SPEND ONLINE?

Answer: That it is up to you.

• 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.

QUESTION: DO YOU HAVE TO LOG ON AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME?

Answer: Usually not

• 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.

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.

QUESTION: HOW WILL WE COMMUNICATE?

Answer: In many ways.

• 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.

QUESTION: IS TAKING AN ONLINE CLASS EASIER THAN A “REGULAR” CLASS?

Answer: No

• 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.

QUESTION: DO I HAVE TO HAVE A COMPUTER AT HOME?

Answer: No

• 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).

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.

QUESTION: WHAT IS EXPECTED OF STUDENTS?

Answer:• As in a regular face-to-face class, your

instructor expects that you will adhere to standards of:

Courtesy

Professionalism

Academic honesty

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

• Your emails and web postings should:

On the topic at hand

Be appropriate

Should reflect a professional demeanor

GETTING STARTED ONLINE

• Online links Student Support for Online Classes

http://www.gcccd.edu/online/student/default.html Login to Blackboard at GCCCD

https://gcccd.blackboard.com