Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What To Expect in an Online Class       

Students who enroll in an online class for the first time often are unclear about what to expect in these new forms of courses. Below, please find some answers to frequently asked questions about hybrid or online classes.

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

Answer: No. While some online classes are similar to independent study, most online classes are NOT self-paced classes. The due dates for documents and class participation reflect those of a "regular" on-site class. Homework, other activities, and online class participation must be completed by preset dates and times. 

Question: How much time do I have to spend online?

Answer: You should plan to spend at least the same amount of time you would spend on a face-to-face class.
You can expect a minimum of nine hours of instructional time per week.

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

Answer: No. You will have deadlines by which to post your homework, but when you complete that work (2 am or 11:30 PM or any other time) is up to you. This is an intensive workshop, so you should do your work on a daily basis to avoid being overburdened at the end of the week. If you have a problem, contact the instructor or use the discussion bulletin board to try to get assistance from other students in the class---especially your group members. If you leave it to the last minute and then run into trouble, you'll end up completing your work late or maybe not at all.

Question: Where do we meet for class?

Answer: We will meet in person 3 times this term, but other than those meetings, we don't really "meet" in a physical face to face sense. Instead, we'll interact regularly through Moodle (ilearn). You will just open your web browser to the following address: ilearn.mpc.edu  and log on to the course. We'll communicate with each other using several web-based forums and email. I will, however, ask for an individual conference if I notice you need extra help.

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

Answer: No. The course content that you face in an online class usually is identical to that of an on-site class on the same topic. Some people think the workload is even more demanding than a regular face-to-face class in that you have to be a self-directed learner, stay motivated and stay on top of your work for the class.  It has been shown that the most successful online students tend to share the following characteristics:

• Self-motivation/self-starter
• Good organization and time-management skills
• Somewhat familiar with computers and the Internet
• Resourceful and actively seek answers and solutions to questions and problems

Question: What Internet skills would be helpful in an online class?

Answer: The most successful students have the following Internet skills:

• Familiarity with their web browser and an email program.
• Know how to make and organize bookmarks in their browser software.
• Some familiarity with web-based interactions--email, bulletin boards, listservs, mailing lists, and chat rooms will also be useful.
• Some familiarity with word processing.
• Experience in successful Internet searches using a variety of search engines.
   
  Source:
  Frequently Asked Questions created by Dr. Marsha Conley, Instructional Technology Coordinator at American River College