How do I
register for an online course?
Online registration is available for online courses. Refer to registration
options.
How
much time does an online course take?
Students taking online courses report spending approximately 12 to 15
hours each week for a three credit course. One credit courses may require
less time per week. Some courses may require students to attend an actual
classroom one or two times during the semester. Online learning does not
take fewer hours, but you do get to work during the hours that work best
for you. Before you enroll, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I have access
to the computer technology and a connection to the Internet?
- Do I have basic
computing skills?
- Three credit classes
may require 12 to 15 hours per week. Do I have the time to take class
online?
- Can I motivate
myself to go to the virtual classroom at least five days a week?
- Am I comfortable
with my reading, writing and typing skills?
- Am I easily frustrated
by technology?
Having easy access to the
Internet – ideally at home or at work where you can log on frequently
is recommended. It is
not recommended to rely on access from a place such as your local library
or an Internet café.
How do I
schedule a proctored test for an online course?
If your course requires you to take some tests under the supervision of
a proctor, you will be responsible for finding a suitable proctor at a
location near you. Give your instructor the proctor's contact information
(and vice versa) to ensure that the proctor will receive the testing materials
well in advance of the test due dates. An instructor at a local campus
or a certified librarian would be a suitable proctor, or you can contact
your instructor for additional recommendations.
What is it like to be in a virtual classroom?
One of the most important aspects of your online learning experience will
be collaboration with other members of the class to share experiences,
complete group projects and critique one another’s work. Engaging
your classmates in discussion will not only provide you with the opportunity
to better understand the lectures and assignments, it will build a sense
of community. Since you may never meet any of your classmates or your
instructor in person, it is critical that you communicate often through
email and the class discussions. Discussions and team projects are major
components of course grades, so by failing to join in collaborative activities,
you will not only be isolated from your classmates, but you will receive
lower grades as well. Grades are based on the quality as well as the quantity
of your contributions, so you will not receive credit for making superficial
comments like “I agree” or “She said what I was thinking.”
How will
I communicate in an online class?
Most online classes use a threaded discussion forum or bulletin board
for class discussions. Students have differing reactions to this form
of communication:
- Some students don’t
like the lack of face-to-face interactions:
“I’m a big people person and quite social.”
“The way we can see people’s facial expressions and hear their
voices makes a major difference.”
“Online classes are great, but not for me. You still haven’t
captured the teacher-student interaction that I get in the classroom.”
- Some students like online
discussion because it allows them time to think before they write, unlike
face-to-face classroom discussions which “tend to be blurts of
raw, not necessarily throughout ideas."
- Students who are shy or
don’t speak up in class may like this format:
“I felt I was more inclined to participate and express myself in
the online format, as opposed to the classroom situation where I feel
self-conscious about raising my hand.”
- Because shy students have
an equal opportunity to contribute, some students like the fact that
they hear from all of their classmates, not just the most vocal.
Communicating with your classmates
and instructor is an important part of online learning, and your course
will have a discussion board area where this communication takes place.
Because online courses are designed to offer flexibility and students
log in at different times, you will rarely engage in live chats with your
classmates. Instead, you will answer questions posed by the instructor
each week, then return to the discussion board a day or two later to read
and respond to your classmates’ comments. Your instructor will be
present in the discussions as well, highlighting key points and helping
the class stay on track. You will also be able to post questions of your
own – for instance, if you are confused about an assignment or have
technical problems with the course, you can often get a quick answer from
your classmates without having to wait for the instructor to respond.
What are
some guidelines for communication?
By registering for this class, you have become a cybercitizen of an online
community. As a member of this community, you must follow an informal
set of guidelines for online behavior called Netiquette. Netiquette
can be summarized by three simple precepts: Remember there is a
human being on the other end of your communication, treat that human being
with respect and do not transmit any message that you wouldn’t be
willing to communicate face to face.
Access to this class means you agree to act in a considerate and responsible
manner. Violations may result in a loss of class access as well as other
disciplinary action.
Rule 1: No Flaming
Flaming is the practice of insulting, disrespecting or attacking another
person.Expressions of hostility are different than disagreeing with
what someone says. It’s okay to disagree, but it’s important
to do it politely. Here’s an example of what this means.
Flaming: “Your idea is so stupid that it makes me sick. However,
I’m not surprised. You seemed like an idiot on the first day of
class, and I guess first impressions don’t lie.” Polite Disagreement:
“I disagree with what you’ve said. My experience has been
different. Here’s my point of view. What do you think?”
Rule 2: No Inappropriate Language
No offensive language; no racist or sexist comments.
Rule 3: No Harassment
Remember that the law still applies in cyberspace. Do not commit illegal
acts online, such as libeling or slandering others; and do not joke
about committing illegal acts.
Rule 4: No Misuse of Class Communications
Do not post irrelevant messages, referred to in hacker’s jargon
as spam. Postings will be directed to the topic being addressed and
include only relevant information. Read existing postings before responding
so you don't repeat what has already been said.
Rule 5: No Shouting
Avoid putting words in full capitals. Online, all-caps is considered
SHOUTING.
Rule 6: Respect
Respect other people’s intellectual property. Don’t post,
display, or otherwise provide access to materials belonging to others.
No using another’s password; no trespassing in another’s folders,
work or files.
Refer to Student
Rights and Responsibilities, for more information.
What are
assignments like?
The content of online assignments is similar to face-to-face interaction.
The difference lies in the mechanics of completing and submitting your
work. You will need to download some assignments from your course. For
others, you will refer to your textbook or other offline materials. In
either case, the best way to complete your assignment is to do the work
offline – that is, while not logged into the course. Save a backup
copy of your work on your computer, then log into the course and submit
your answers according to the directions in the assignment. In most cases,
you will be asked to submit assignments in an area of the course designated
for file uploads.
In some cases you will be teamed with one or more of your classmates to
complete assignments together. You may be asked to critique one another’s
draft copies of a written assignment, work as a group to research some
topic and present your findings to the class or role-play a problem-solving
exercise. For these types of assignments, you will rely heavily on email
and/or the course discussion board to maintain contact with your teammates.
Tests and quizzes in your online course will be similar to those you are
accustomed to in face-to-face courses. Questions may be objective (matching,
multiple choice) or subjective (short answer, essay) in nature, with some
assessments consisting of only one type, while others contain both types.
Sometimes, you will download assessment files and complete and submit
them like assignments (described above), while at other times you will
use the course’s online assessment area, which will record your answers
automatically (and can provide you with immediate feedback if the instructor
chooses).
Your instructor may also elect to have pen-and-paper tests administered
by a proctor. In that case, you will be responsible for finding a suitable
proctor at a location near you and providing your instructor with the
proctor’s contact information to ensure that the proctor will receive
the testing materials well in advance of the test due dates. An instructor
at a local campus or a certified librarian would be a suitable proctor,
or you can contact your instructor for additional recommendations.
Will these
online credits transfer to another institution?
Every institution determines what transfer credit it will accept.
Usually this is determined by looking at course content and the competencies
developed. Credit is only accepted if the transfer courses can be
proven to be equivalent to the courses required by the new institution.
Therefore, what is and is not accepted may vary from one institution to
another. Your best bet for transferring as many credits as possible
is to enroll in a school that already has a reciprocal or articulation
agreement with the school where the online credit was originally obtained.
The more you choose a program that requires the courses you have taken,
the more credit you are likely to receive. For example, the Associate
of Art Administrative Assistant degree is more likely to transfer into
a Business or Management Bachelor of Science program than it would into
a BA in a foreign language or a mathematics BS degree. If the new
program does not require all of the courses you are trying to transfer,
some may be accepted as “electives.” So, you can still
get credit for the courses, but you’ll still be responsible for taking
the courses “required” for the degree. MATC transfer
information.
How do
I order books and other supplies from the online bookstore?
Refer to MATC Bookstores.
Is there
an online library if I need it?
Refer to information about MATC's libraries.
The Truax library website features links to the online catalogs of MATC,
UW-Madison, Madison Public Library, and many other state libraries.
How many
credits do most people take at one time (in one semester)?
A full-time student usually takes about 17 in-class credits a semester. For
most students, no more than 6 credits per semester are recommended for
a student working full time.
Last Modified:
March 19, 2007
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