How Online Courses Work
Students post questions and comments to the course's asynchronous threaded discussion forum. This allows students to hold conversations with other classmates and the instructor without having to be online at the same time. Forum discussions are generally archived so they can be accessed at a later point in the course as needed. In addition to the forum, students can also communicate with classmates and the instructor through private messages within the course or through the Southeast Key email address. Students post assignments and read lessons on the course website as well.
The course website may also have a section for exams and quizzes, administered online, as well as the course grade book. The exams and quizzes are generally timed and may be multiple choice, short essay, or long essay in format. Testing will vary from course to course, from the types required to how many are required during the semester. Some courses may require proctored exams, while others do not.
We highly recommend completing our demonstration course to see how our courses are organized and test the technology used. Any interested person can create a username and login in order to try the course, and current Southeast students can use their Southeast Key for quick access. We also suggest reading through our Online Student Guidebook for a more detailed explanation, preparation tips and other helpful resources.
Expectations Online
Our online courses follow the traditional semester calendar at Southeast. Most fall or spring semester classes will run approximately 16 weeks, while summer courses vary from 4 weeks to 8 weeks depending upon the session of the course.
Online courses require frequent access as they follow the traditional semester calendar at Southeast. Even though students may not have to "be" in class on some specific day and time, they must still follow the established deadlines for the submission of course assignments. Thus, students should have consistent Internet access throughout the duration of the course. In case of an absence, arrangements should be made to submit assignments ahead of the posted schedule. Students should log in to your course multiple times each week to keep up with new content as it is posted, as well as check your Southeast email account for important updates.
Online courses require self-discipline and motivation. The convenience of online courses also brings with it increased responsibility for time management. Students should determine a personal schedule for working on their online courses to avoid falling behind and set personal reminders as needed. Students should avoid waiting until the last minute to complete assignments, as there may not be enough time to address last minute technical problems or questions regarding assignments.
Online courses require a proactive approach to learning. In an online course, instructors may serve more as facilitators of learning rather than being directly in charge of the discussion. Online courses require active participation by each student and are not independent study in nature. Also, students need to speak up right away with questions or problems to ensure their success in the course. Both the instructor and other classmates may be able to help depending upon the questions you have.
Important Considerations
Learning Style - Due to the nature of online learning, many courses may have a greater amount of reading and writing than do many face-to-face courses. Students who prefer visual and written learning methods often thrive in the online learning environment, while students who prefer oral learning methods may find online courses to be more challenging. For more information on your learning style and helpful study tips for your individual style, we recommend taking the free VARK assessment online.
Time Commitments - Expect to spend at least as much time working on an online course as a traditional face-to-face course. On average, students should expect to spend about 3 hours per week for each full-term credit hour enrolled in the fall or spring semester. Expect to spend double that for an 8 week course (6 hours of study/credit hour) and four times that for an accelerated 4 week course (12 hours of study/credit hour).
System Requirements – Students must not necessarily own a computer, but they must have regular access to a computer that meets the minimum system requirements for taking online courses. Please refer to our list of system requirements for PC and Mac for more information. We also offer a system diagnostic program to walk students through the process and check some requirements automatically.
Computer Literacy – Students should also have certain computer literacy skills in order to successfully complete an online course. The following skills are critical to successful completion of an online course:
- Connect to the Internet
- Navigate the Internet using a web browser
- Use e-mail to send and receive attachments
- Store and retrieve files
- Use a word processing program
- Able to install software as instructed (i.e. Acrobat Reader, Windows updates)
- Have basic keyboarding knowledge
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