Frequently Asked Questions
Don’t be embarrassed if you are enrolled in a hybrid class or an online
class for the first time and are unclear about what to expect in these
new forms of courses. Your instructor is your best source of information
and will make her or himself easily available to through email, phone
and voicemail.
To help you get started, however, here are some frequently asked
questions about hybrid or online classes … and their answers. Please
keep in mind that these are general questions and you should always
check with your instructor for specifics.
Can I apply online?
You can apply online for Cuyamaca
College and Grossmont
College at the California
Community Colleges Online Application Center.
How does an online class work?
Instead of attending lectures on campus, online students learn
off campus at their convenience. Some teachers require face-to-face
meetings (most often orientation or final exam), but many courses
are completely online.
Learning materials vary from class to class, but may include textbooks,
video demonstrations, PowerPoint presentations, interactive lessons,
and Web resources. Learning activities may include writing papers,
posting comments or essays to online discussion forums, completing
individual or group projects, and taking quizzes. While students
can choose when and where they work, there are usually deadlines
for homework and exams.
Students interact with their teacher and classmates via web discussion
forums, e-mail, chat sessions, and phone calls.
Is an online class the same as a self-paced/independent study
class?
No, most online classes are NOT self-paced classes. You can
expect due dates for homework, online class participation, and other
activities similar to those you would find in a "regular" on-site
class.
Is taking an online class easier than taking a regular class?
No. The course content of 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 because you have
to be a self-directed learner and stay motivated to keep on top of your
work.
The most successful online students tend to share the following
characteristics. They:
-
are self-motivated and are self-starters
-
have good organization and time-management skills
-
are somewhat familiar with computers and the Internet
-
are resourceful and actively seek answers and solutions to questions
and problems
What Internet skills would be
helpful in an online class?
The most successful students tend to have the following skills:
- Familiarity with their web browser
- Familiarity with an email program (including attaching
documents and reading attachments)
- 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
- Familiarity with word processing
- Experience in successful Internet searches using a variety
of search engines
What equipment and software do I need to be an online student?
You will need:
- Access to a fairly new computer.
- Reliable internet access (56k modem or better)
- Internet Explorer (6.0 or higher) or Firefox (1.5 or higher)
- Word processing software such as Microsoft Word.
- Course specific software.
Many courses use WebCT. The WebCT
Browser tune-up will help to ensure your browser settings
are optimized for running a WebCT course.
Do I have to own a computer to enroll in an online class?
Strictly speaking, no. But you must have easy access to a
computer with reliable internet access throughout the semester. You
can access computers on campus in several locations (such as the
Learning Resource Center and computer labs, for example). Some
students complete online classes from work (having arranged this
beforehand with their employer, of course), public libraries, or
friends’ houses.
How much time do I have to spend in an online class?
In short, you should plan to spend at least the same amount of time you
would spend for a face-to-face class.
Do I have to log on to class at a particular time?
Usually not. You will have deadlines for posting your assignments,
quizzes, etc., but when you complete that work (5:00 am, 11:30 pm or any
other time) is up to you. You would be well-advised to set up a daily
schedule 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 help from other students in the class. You won’t like the
feeling of leaving work until the last minute and then running into
trouble!
Where do we meet for class?
For the most part, you
won’t really "meet" in a physical face to face sense. Instead, the class
will interact regularly through the Internet and will communicate with
each other using web-based bulletin boards and email. Your instructor
will make course materials and assignments available using web pages,
the bulletin boards, and announcements.
How do I turn in homework and take tests?
This varies, but you will usually get assignments by e-mail or
on the course web site with instructions for turning in the work.
You might be asked to e-mail or upload your work, completing an
online quiz, or participate in web-based discussion. Many teachers
use Blackboard or WebCT to manage assignments, discussion, quizzing,
and grading.
What's it like to be an online student?
Online classes are very different from face to face classes on
campus. In general you can expect to :
- Spend 3 hours per unit per week working on the class. For
example, for a typical 3-unit course, you will spend at least
9 hours per week on course reading, assignments, and communication.
- Participate in online discussions or other written communication.
- Experience an uncomfortable transition period. It can take
a few weeks to learn how the course works.
- Experience some frustration with written communication. Most
people find it easier to ask questions face to face, especially
because the response is usually immediate.
What can I expect from my instructor?
Your teacher will do all the things a teacher does in a traditional
class.
You can expect:
- A syllabus and course schedule.
- Assignments with clear instructions and timely feedback.
- Prompt responses to questions.
- Clear guidelines about how long it will take to get homework
and quiz scores and responses to questions.
You should not expect:
- 24/7 support. It may take a few working days to get responses
to questions.
- Help with prerequisite skills.
- Help troubleshooting technical problems.
What do online instructors
expect from students?
There typically is little difference here than in a regular
“grounded” class.
Instructors can
expect that everyone will participate in the class with courtesy and
consideration for each other and for the instructor. E-mails and web
postings should be appropriate, on the topic at hand, and reflect a
professional demeanor. Inappropriate
behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following: disruptive,
plagiarism or dishonesty.
It is a violation of college policy to plagiarize or to recycle work. Do
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
Do you have any tips for online students?
- Schedule time (3 hours per unit per week) to focus on the
class. Don't think that you don't need to make time for class
just because you're not on campus. Write session times in your
calendar just as you would for an on-campus class, and make
sure you have a quiet place to work.
- Keep up with the class and make it a top priority. The biggest
problem online students have is gradually falling behind.
- Do assignments BEFORE the due date. It may take a few days
to get help.
- Have a back-up plan in case of technical problems.
- Work with a small group, either in person or via phone or
e-mail.
- Communicate! Your teacher can't see if you are engaged and
"getting it." You must be willing to speak up. Ask
if you are not clear about instructions, due dates, or your
progress.
How do I access my gcccd email account?
Go to the following page:
http://students.gcccd.net/exchange/ When the page loads,
you will then see a logon screen with a text box, as shown
below:
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Type your first name and last name all lower case no spaces in
the Log On box. You will then be prompted for your user
name and password and you will type in:name=
firstname.lastname
password= your college pin
Your e-mail address looks like this:
firstname.lastname@students.gcccd.edu
If you have trouble accessing your email account, follow
these instructions:
- Go to WebConnect
- Select Log in
- Enter the Sign on information and select Continue.
- Select Update Personal Profile.
- Look at the Network Log On Account field. This is your User
Name. Remember it.
- Select Sign off and close the browser window.
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Where can I get online materials and books?
Online class materials and books are available from the
College Bookstore.
Required class materials and text books are listed with each class
description in the online syllabi. All class materials and
textbooks, unless otherwise specified, are required for the first
day of class.
How do I get started?
Go to the link for either WebCT or Blackboard that is posted on either
college's website under "Online Services" (http://www.cuyamaca.edu
or http://www.grossmont.edu).
Please review the
Blackboard login tutorial and learn how to properly log
into Blackboard and access your classes.
If you are unable to access the course, please contact
your instructor via email. Instructor email addresses are located
in the
Directory.
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