student orientation

Online Tips

Tips for Online

Following these tips should help you have a successful and smooth online course experience.
  • Schedule your study time! You should make a schedule of times when you plan to login and work on your course, and make sure that the schedule had to login in several days per week. The best way for you to succeed in an online course is to reduce the risk of procrastination. When you set regular times to "attend" your online class, there is less of a chance that you will fall behind in your work.
  • Take advantage of the "24/7" aspect of online learning! You don't have to respond immediately to questions and assignments in your online classes. Read through the material and the assignment descriptions, as well as the online lecture materials and discussion questions, and then let the information "sink in" before completing your work.
  • Cut and Paste!  When you need to post your thoughts to one of the discussion boards, compose your message in a word processor. The word processor will allow you to check the spelling and grammar of your work, and it will also be easier to edit your thoughts. When you're done editing, you can copy and paste your writing into the discussion forum.
  • Sign post your humor! In an online class, no one will be able to tell whether you are smiling or winking if you make a sarcastic comment. Unfortunately, others might think that you are being serious and might misunderstand your point unless you clearly indicate that your statement was meant to be taken humorously. If you are adding humorous points, it will be helpful to others in the class if you sign post those remarks, such as “I figured that my raise this year will be about a nickel. (sarcasm)” or, “(joke) Mathematics is made up of 50% formulas, 50% proofs, and 50% interpretation.” 
  • Remember to be kind and courteous! Don't "say" anything in an online course that you would not speak into a microphone in a crowded auditorium. When you post something online, everyone will "hear" it, and they may copy and paste your message to share with others. Remember that the online environment joins together people of all different ages, races, disabilities, religions, and values. Be extra sensitive when making your remarks. 
  • Ask questions; ask lots of questions!  If you feel confused, you need to take care of it right away. Your instructor wants you to succeed in the class, and your instructor is eager to answer your questions. When you have questions, it is best to post them to the “questions and answers” discussion board. It is very likely that others in the class have the same question, and they will appreciate getting an answer as well. If you feel that you're really struggling in the course, don't allow yourself to get overwhelmed and then be forced to drop the course. Instead, contact your instructor right away to see if there are other resources or explanations which will help get you back on track.
  • Consume everything! Some materials that your instructor provides are required, and other ones are optional or supplementary. If you really want to do well in the course, take advantage of all the extra materials your instructor has provided and gathered for you. The extra materials provide more in-depth information and often present the concepts and topics in new and interesting ways. 
  • Practice, practice, practice! In an online class you might feel as though you can quickly scan and glance through materials, but avoid the temptation. Just like any other skill, from driving a car to playing a musical instrument, the more time you spend studying and practicing the skills from your course, the quicker they will become an automatic and intuitive operation. 
  • Keep connected! Stay in touch with your classmates in your instructor, and use opportunities to build personal and social relationships in the same manner you would in a face-to-face class.

Netiquette

Netiquette is a series of rules of online etiquette and behavior we practice to ensure good and positive communications.  These rules help us minimize mistakes and misunderstandings.

Golden Rule

The first netiquette rule is the "Golden Rule" of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  In other words, think about how you would feel if you were the recipient of a message and then carefully craft your writing so that your message will not be insulting or disrespecting of another.  If you would not be willing to speak your thoughts into a microphone in a crowded auditorium, or post your thoughts on a 20-foot tall billboard outside your home, then find another way to compose your message.  Don't be afraid to be honest, but be honest in a constructive and positive manner. 

Never get into a "flame war" in which you start trading insults back and forth.  If someone posts a message you feel is insulting to you personally, then privately email that person to let them know that you disagree and that you would prefer to have them be more respectful of your feelings in the future.  Do this privately -- no one else needs to get into that conversation.

Also, realize that some people are very offended by vulgar language, and in a professional setting, vulgar language is not acceptable.  Don't use it even if you think it is appropriate.

Be Clear

Language is important, so be specific.  Make sure that anyone reading your message knows exactly what you are writing about and will not have to guess.  If you are making several points in one posting, make sure to signpost your thoughts by using headings.  These short phrases introducing the change in point will be much appreciated as others are reading your messages.
Also, if you expect someone to follow-up, you should specifically ask them, such as "Ann, could you please post the statistics about netiquette from the article you mentioned?"  This way a specific person is asked a specific action, and your request will be clearer to all.

Be Humble

Are you an internationally known expert on a particular topic?  If so, you can speak with credibility.  If not, then realize that your idea might be right, or it might not be.
Back up what you are writing with evidence, either from the course materials, from other research you have done, or through documenting your personal experiences.
If someone disagrees with you, realize that they have a different set of experiences and knowledge, and avoid the temptation to get into an argument over opinions (isn't everyone entitled to their own opinion?).

Be Concise

Respect your classmates' time by learning to get your points across in as few words as practical.  We are all proud of our thoughts, and we may be tempted to write several pages in one session.  However, others looking at your post might think "look at how much I have to read!"  You will be more effective as a communicator if you can carefully think out the most important points and synthesize them into the fewest amount of words.

Resist the Urge to CC:

CC: stands for carbon copy (or nowadays, courtesy copy), and it refers to giving copies of a message or email to more people than just the intended recipient who is being asked for an action.
Too often students will "CC:" classmates on messages as a "heads-up" -- which results in clogged email accounts which everyone needs to spend extra time managing.
"What is the big deal -- they can delete my message if they don't need it!"  Well, it is a big deal, because if you and a hundred others like you are copying extra recipients on email messages, that might be an extra hour or two a day reading through extraneous email.

Be a Good Online Citizen

If someone asks a question to which you know the answer, be willing to jump in and provide assistance.   Share your knowledge and insights, and help others feel encouraged to participate in sharing their knowledge and insights as well. 
Respect other people's privacy.  Anything posted inside the course site is meant ONLY for members of the class. Don't copy and paste comments and use them anyplace else.  If something is sent to you privately through email, don't forward it to another person unless you have permission.  The quickest way to lose another's trust is to break a confidence someone has shared with you.
Be forgiving other mistakes that others make.  If you care to point out a mistake, do it politely and privately (through email) so as not to embarrass the recipient.

Respect Copyrights

If you didn't create it yourself, then you don't have the rights to use it without permission. 
If you wish to direct classmates to a video, image, or article online - please provide your classmates with a hyperlink to the item (instead of making and posting a copy of the item).  Linking to the location where something exists is not a violation of copyright (you are not actually copying the materials), however, copying and reposting the material is a violation.
This protection also extends to articles, texts, course and instructor materials, and even email.  If you didn't create it -- you should not share it without permission from the author.

Avoid Sarcasm and Signpost Humor

When you are online, your classmates cannot read your expression or your body language.  You are encouraged to use humor, but try very hard to avoid using sarcasm.  (When written - many people will think your comments are sincere rather than funny.)
When using humor, it is often helpful to others if you signpost your points. For example:
(joke) Mathematics si 50% formulas, 50% proofs, and 50% interpretation.
"I figured that my raise this year will be about a nickel. (sarcasm)"
Using these types of singposts will help people know when you are trying to be funny and then assume at other times you are being serious and sincere.

Rights / Responsibilities

Online Student Rights and Responsibilties

 

Online Student Rights

  • You have the right to a clear and complete syllabus to explain the course, the learning objectives, the grading criteria, and the course policies.
  • You have the right to a clear and accurate course schedule which details the topics to be covered, the assigned readings and preparation activities, and the deadlines for assignments.
  • You have the right to clear instructions for assignments and learning activities.
  • You have the right to timely feedback from your instructor on questions (within 1 business day) and on graded assignment (within a week of the assignment's deadline). 
  • You have the right to course materials which are accessible and open correctly in the course site.
  • You have the right to access tutorials and guides which document the use of the software and tools you will be required to use in the course.

 

Online Student Responsibilities

  • You have the responsibility to read all assigned materials and to complete all assigned learning activities.
  • You have the responsibility to complete all graded assignments well in advance of the deadline (to avoid any technical glitches which might occur by waiting until the deadline).
  • You have the responsibility to schedule adequate and regular study and work time for your online course (recommended minimum of 12 hours per week for an 8-week class).
  • You have the responsibility to ask questions when you are confused.
  • You have the responsibility to treat all members of the class with respect and kindness (including appropriate netiquette).
  • You have the responsibility to maintain academic honesty and integrity in completing your work.

Online Course Tools

What are the Online Tools?

 

Inside your online course you will find a series of tools (hyperlinks) which take you to different activities in the course. The list of tools might be different in each class, since different instructors will use different tools.

Here's the list of available tools and what function each tool serves.

Articles
Access readings for the course, which may include journal and magazine articles, links to online articles, and writings from your instructor.
Chat
An instant message system which allows you to send text messages to other students in your class. This tool is helpful in brainstorming, asking and answering questions, and in collaborative work with group members.
Classlist
The list of students in your course. Also you can sent email and pager messages to classmates and also read their student profiles.
 Content
Contains the main resource and including the syllabus, schedule of assignments, readings, reading rubrics, video and audio files, and hyperlinks for course materials.
Course Home
This is the NEWS page for the course and shows the updates to the course.
Discussions
Online text-based conversations. You can post messages to your instructor and to other members of the class. When you post a message, you can also attach a file – so that you can share a Word, PowerPoint, or PDF file with other members of the class.
Dropbox
Homework and assignment is sent to your instructor through the dropbox. Create your file and then upload it (similar to an email attachment). Once an assignment is graded, you view the feedback comments from your instructor.
Email
You can send emails to your instructor or other students in the course accessing this link.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the course and about using online technologies.
Grades
See your grades and any comments your instructor left about your work on the assignment.
Help
Provides basic information about using the tools in D2L and also provides links to other tutorials and video instruction for D2L.
Locker
File storage for work you are still completing. Saving a file to the locker allows you to download and continue editing it. 
My Home
List of your courses and important announcements from the College.
Quizzes
Take quizzes, exams, and self assessments in the course. Some instructors allow you to take quizzes more than once (to improve your understanding).
Surveys
Provide your opinions and preferences to your instructor.

 

Getting Feedback

How do I get feedback in an online class?

 
  • Most instructors will respond to your questions posted in the discussions forum’s “questions and answers” area within one business day (Monday through Friday). This is faster than a traditional class in which you have to wait for the next class session to have your question addressed. Individual structures might have different response time policies, so be sure to check the syllabus for your class.  
  • Your instructor might answer questions on the weekends as well, but just like you, your instructor might choose to spend time away from work with family and friends. Also, you should not expect your instructor to respond to your questions during holidays.
  • When you're asking a question, it is really important to be specific and clear. Your instructor might find it helpful if you ask your question, and then the state "I think that the answer is" and then provide your best guess. This will help your instructor better understand your question, and it will save them time if you already have the correct answer (they can answer, "yes! You're right"). 
  • Make sure to read the news page. Most instructors will give students reminders, clarifications on assignments, and hints about completing assignments in that area.
  • Most instructors will grade all assignments at once, to ensure that they are using the same criteria and are the same state of mind in order to be fair to all students. For this reason, you likely will not receive a grade on an assignment until after the deadline has passed.
  • Realize that it will take longer for your instructor to grade papers, exams, and other major projects, and that you may not receive your grade and feedback for up to a week after the deadline. Smaller assignments might be created within a day or two after their deadline.
  • If you fall behind in your course, do not feel that you need to drop the course. First make an effort to contact your instructor and see if you can come up with a realistic plan to get caught up in the course.

Typical Session

 

What is a Typical Online Session?

 

Online students need to login to each course of several days each week, and especially at the start of each workweek to review the schedule and additional reading assignments.

Here's a typical day for a student in an online course.

  1. Log into the course
  2. Read through the News postings to check for updates.
  3. Go to Content and review the weekly assignment schedule.
    1. Locate the online lecturers and articles.
    2. Read the assignment instructions in grading rubric
    3. Check the due dates for upcoming assignments, quizzes, and tests.
  4. Complete your readings
  5. Find and read additional articles from the online library relating to the topics.
  6. Check your Grades on previous assignments and tests, paying special attention to the feedback comments your instructor is left.
  7. Complete your current homework and assignments.
  8. Go to the Discussion forums
    1. Contribute to the assigned class discussions
    2. Respond to questions posted by classmates
    3. Ask the instructor question.
  9. Schedule time to complete other assignments, to study and review notes, and to take Quizzes and exams.
  10. Submit your homework assignments via the Dropbox.
  11. Check your campus e-mail, and reply to any urgent messages.
  12. Log out of the course site.

Please realize that each instructor may have different expectations, so the activities you will need to complete me very from course to course. Always check the course schedule each time you log into the course to make sure you are aware of all assignments and deadlines.

Class Activities

What are the Activities in an Online Class?

 

In online courses there are a series of activities you might participate in each week.

Assignments: each week your instructor will provide you with a list of reading assignments, writing assignments, research, and other activities. You can complete his assignments editing time you choose, however you must turn in your assignments before their deadline. Make sure to check the course schedule to determine which assignments are due each week.

Lectures: online lecture materials are designed to extend your learning beyond your textbook. You will be required to study the online lecturers in addition to your textbook, and the online lecturers might consist of readings, PowerPoint presentations, podcasts, or videos.

Submitting Homework: you will need to complete your homework before you upload it to your instructor. It is important that you check your work for accuracy and spelling prior to submitting it. In most cases, writing assignments must be created using Microsoft Word, and you will upload the assignment to your instructor using the Dropbox tool.

Discussions: your instructor might have discussion activities in your course. Most instructors will grate your participation in each discussion activity, and you will be responsible for posting new messages as well as replies to other students. Therefore, in weeks which contain discussion activities, you will need to log into the discussions early, and then log into the same discussion several other times that week to read additional messages and poster replies to your classmates. Discussions are meant to help you learn the material through problem-solving, comparisons and contrasts, and applications of the material. The more that you participate, the better you will learn the materials.

Questions: in an online class, you don't raise your hand to ask a question. Instead, you should post your question into the discussions forum titled "questions and answers" so that your instructor can read your question and reply to it, and the rest of the class gets the benefit of that answer. If you have a question of a personal and private nature (such as a question a bout a grade on your assignment), then you should send a private e-mail to your instructor with the subject line which starts with the name of your class.

Quizzes and Tests: along with other assignments, your instructor may test your understanding of content and skills through quizzes and exams. In most situations, the tests will only be available for you to take for a few dates; it is very important to be aware of these deadlines and to complete your tests during those periods. Also, most tests have time limits, and once you begin the test, the clock starts counting down. For this reason, it is extremely important to take notes and study them prior to the test so that you are well prepared. Some instructors will provide sample tests or practice tests to help you gauge how prepared you are to take the graded examination. When these practice tests are available, it is to your benefit to use them and learn from them.

Group Work: some instructors will have you participate in group projects, and your grade will reflect how successful your group was at completing the learning objectives for the assignment. The keys to success in a group project are communication and cooperation. When you are a signed into a group project, it is very important for you to personally contact your other group members right away. Coordinate your efforts and keep in contact to make sure that everyone completes his or her tasks on time. In many group assignments, your instructor will be able to determine who has completed which work, and therefore it is very important for you to take an active role in a group project.

Presentations and Projects: some instructors might have you create a presentation to share with the rest of the class. This might be an online blog site or journal, a PowerPoint presentation, a podcast, a paper, or a YouTube video. Your presentation is meant to help other students learn the content from the course, and in presentations and projects you have a special responsibility to check your facts, organize your thoughts, and make the information that you are presenting clear and concise.

Online Course Design

How are online courses structured?  

Courses are structured to help students succeed. 

The content from the course is broken down into weekly modules. Each module presents new ideas and topics, and also sets your learning objectives.  The learning objectives are the goals you should reach, and your grades each week are based on how well you meet these goals. 

Laptop ComputerIn most situations, your assignments will include a detailed list of requirements (sometimes called a grading rubric). A grading rubric explains how your instructor will determine your grade on the assignment. The rubric contains a list of categories relating to the learning objectives, and for each category, your instructor indicates how well (or poorly) you completed the work. 

Your instructor will determine whether your work is above expectations, meeting expectations, or below expectations for the learning goals, and the assign you a grade accordingly.

Most modules are designed to give you a variety of resources and activities, so that you are exposed to the new information and skills several different ways within the module.

You're also encouraged to make use of the library databases, course textbooks, and other online sites in your exploration of the ideas and skills from each module.

It is important to understand that your instructor wants you to succeed, and you should not worry about any instructor trying to trick you (or spring work on you at the last moment). Any work you are required to do will be posted to the course at well in advance of the deadline.  It is your responsibility to carefully read through all the course materials to make sure you are aware of the deadlines.  This will give you ample time to read the assignment, ask any questions, and complete your work ahead of the due date.

Skills Needed

What technical knowledge is expected of students in online learning courses?
 
You don't need to be computer guru in order to take an online class, however you do need to be comfortable with using your computer and dealing with any problems which may occur.
Online students are expected to complete the following activities:
  • access the Internet using a web browser.
  • write and edit documents using Microsoft Word.
  • read and send e-mail (including attachments) using the campus e-mail account.
  • describe and explain rules of netiquette.
  • manage files and folders on a computer, including moving and renaming files.
  • download and install software.
  • complete online forms and questionnaires.
  • follow a step-by-step instruction sheet for changing software or Internet browser settings. 
If you are not confident demonstrating the above skills, consider taking a short computer class prior to enrolling in an online course.

Is Online Right for Me?

 

Students in online courses must be organized and disciplined; students will not have an instructor looking over their shoulders and prodding them to complete their work.
 
Ideally, an online learner should be:

  • self motivated
  • a self-directed learner.
  • a strong reader.
  • confident about researching topics and exploring information.
  • able to figure out directions and concepts on their own.
  • good manager of time and tasks (completes work ahead of deadlines).
  • comfortable with technology.
  • comfortable asking questions.
  • patient (not easily frustrated).

Reality Check: Can you dedicate at least 12 hours per week to your course? Online courses are rigorous and deadlines are firm; you should schedule time on your calendar each week to make sure that you have time to study the topics and complete the assignment on time.
 

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