Q. What skills do I need to be a successful online
student?
A. Review
the tips developed by Jim Shimabukuro,
an instructor from Kapiolani Community College:
How to Survive in an Online Class: Guidelines for Students.
Wondering about your computer abilities
and needs?
Q. What kind of internet connection is
needed?
A. You must have
regular, reliable internet access
if you are to succeed in your course. A 56K modem is the minimum
acceptable speed, and cable or DSL are strongly recommended for all
courses and required for some, particularly those making extensive use
of multimedia like video and PowerPoint files. Satellite Internet
connections often experience problems with ETUDES courses and are
not recommended. Current,
detailed system requirements for ETUDES courses can be
obtained through the System Requirements link on the ETUDES
gateway/portal page. Make sure you have a back-up plan (use of a
campus, library, work, or a friend's system) in case you experience
problems with your own computer or your Internet Service Provider.
Q. What do I need to know about ETUDES
to be
successful in my online classes?
A.
The information you need to set up your
computer, print pages in ETUDES, cut-and-paste content from your
word processor into ETUDES, and if you have AOL as your internet
service, how to use ETUDES can be found on the ETUDES Tips & Tricks page.
Q. What programs might I need to have on
my computer
to support my online classes?
Wondering
about the structure of online classes at
Mendocino College?
Q. Are there required meetings
for your online
classes?
A. Although there are
no scheduled class meetings
for most online classes (see individual course orientations; links are
available on the Distance
Learning Course Schedule), you must log on to the course a
few times a week. Your instructors expect you to log on to the course
site weekly, participate in discussions, turn in assignments, and take
exams.
Q. Are the online
courses self-paced?
A. No. Our
online courses have set schedules,
weekly deadlines, and beginning and ending dates. They are
instructor-led. You will not be left alone. If you have special needs
and must follow a slower (or faster) pace, please discuss your
situation with the course instructor. He/She may be able to alter
course deadlines to accommodate your needs. Our online instructors are
dedicated professionals who are very interested in your success. They
are the heart of our online courses.
Wondering
about communicating with your instructors?
Q. How
can I contact my instructor?
A.
Instructor emails are available on the course
orientation pages available on the Distance
Learning Course Schedule. You can also use the faculty
directory to find email and phone numbers.
Q. What kinds of support can my instructor provide
for me?
A.
Please notify your instructor immediately if you are having problems
accessing course materials over the Internet or via email, depending on
the course delivery method. These problems include, but are not limited
to, accessing the course (inactive or wrong URL), inactive or incorrect
password, returned email messages, etc.
Also, do not put off contacting your instructor if you are having
problems understanding the material. Do not just quit logging on. If
you don't "show up" for any length of time, you may be dropped from the
course. Please refer to your instructor's syllabus for his/her
"attendance & withdrawal" policy.
Please remember that your instructor is NOT responsible for teaching
you:
- how to send attachments.
- how to conduct web searches.
- word
processing commands.
- how to download.
- how
to set up your hardware and software.
- how to
configure your email.
Be sure you have the necessary technical knowledge, equipment, and
software to succeed in an online course. You may want to attend our on-campus orientation to
online learning session that is scheduled during the first week of each
semester. An online orientation is also available. In addition, we
recommend that you take GDN 124 Becoming a Successful Online Student to
gain some of the skills listed above.
