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What traits do I need to be a successful distance learning student?
What are the building blocks to success for a distance learner? How are distance learning courses different from regular classroom courses? Are distance learning courses a good choice for me? What types of distance learning courses may I take? What types of students take distance learning courses at John A. Logan College? Do I need special hardware and software for Internet courses? How much computer and Internet experience do I need to take Internet courses? Why would I want to enroll for an Internet delivered online course at What should I know about John A. Logan College? How do I register, pay, and secure my course materials and books for a distance How do I take my tests on the course content for distance learning? When does the distance learning course begin and finish? What if I need to withdraw from the course? What if I experience technical problems with an Internet class? What library services and resources are available to me as a distance learning Am I eligible for financial aid? Q: What traits do I need to be a successful distance learning student? A: A successful distance learning student needs a self-directed style and will complete the course: By having a sincere desire to learn independently with consistent self-motivation. Q: What are the building blocks to success for a distance learner? A: Building blocks to success include: Regular contact with the instructor Q : How are distance learning courses different from regular classroom courses? A : Course objectives and curriculum for John A. Logan College distance learning courses are the same as the classroom version — it is only the way that instruction is delivered that is different. Most students who successfully complete our distance learning courses say that independent learning courses are as difficult or more difficult than classroom-based courses. This is because students must invest the extra time and effort necessary to organize themselves to learn by using the variety of self-instructional media and print materials that have been designed to deliver the course content. Many of these courses are very structured and require a self-disciplined approach by the student. Course materials may include a text, study guide or course handbook, a media component, such as video tape(s), and a COURSE MAP outlining the sequential step-by-step use of the materials. Q : Are distance learning courses a good choice for me? A : Distance learning students must be self-directed and self-motivated and have good study skills and habits. Students are encouraged to contact the instructors to talk about course expectations. You may contact the course instructor by calling the Learning Lab at (618) 985-3741. Q: What types of distance learning courses may I take? A: There are three basis types of distance learning courses available: interactive video courses, web/internet courses, and telecourses. Interactive video courses require that the student be in a classroom at one of several locations, usually within the college district, but sometimes at a location outside the district. The classroom is equipped with interactive video equipment enabling students to see, hear and interact with an instructor and students in one or more remote classrooms. Interactive video instruction is "live" and gives students the opportunity to ask questions and communicate with other class participants as in a normal classroom. Web/Internet courses are taught using the World Wide Web and other Internet technology. They are usually more flexible than an on-campus class, allowing the student to log in and work at the student's convenience within a specified time frame. The web, e-mail, streaming audio and video, chat rooms, threaded discussion boards and other modes of communications may be used. Telecourses are also more flexible than on-campus classes. Students are generally required to visit the campus for class meetings only a few times each semester. Reading and assignments are supplemented by video programs that are available to the student as part of a telecourse package. Video tapes are loaned to students and must be returned. Q : What types of students take distance learning courses at John A. Logan College? A : Many students take distance learning courses because these fit into their busy schedules. They do not have the time to come to campus at a fixed time. Other students are self-directed learners who enjoy learning independently and are attracted to the flexibility and convenience of learning at their own pace. Still other students enjoy using the different forms of media that allows them to learn at their own pace. Q : Do I need special hardware and software for Internet courses? A : Many home and workplace computers are ready to access John A. Logan College courses. Please make sure your system is capable of handling this type of course delivery. Hardware Modem: Minimally you will need a 14.4 baud, modem but the faster the modem (28.8 or 56.6 preferred) the better. Internet Service Provider (ISP): You must be connected to the Internet by an internet service provider that offers a reliable direct PPP connection. Frequent shutdowns at critical points in the term could be very frustrating. E-Mail: You must have an e-mail account. Software Computer and Internet Experience Q : How much computer and Internet experience do I need to take Internet courses? A : You need some, but not a lot of experience navigating and using the Internet. Knowing how to download files, attach document files to e-mail, and use word processing software are critical skills in an online course environment. If you are uncertain about your abilities, then you may want to enroll into an introductory computer course to sharpen your skills. Introductory courses like CIS 101 and 207 would be good courses to begin with. Another source for gaining experience is to visit a website called New User University at www.newbie-u.com. Here you will find very short "mini-courses" at no cost where you can learn the basics of using a web browser, using e-mail, and how to download files. Q : Why would I want to enroll for an Internet delivered online course at John A. Logan College? A : If you are reading this on the Web, then you likely have everything needed to successfully complete an online course for credit through John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois. Generally you can start and proceed at a time and pace that meet your individual needs rather than a fixed classroom-based offering that begins on a certain date and goes at the pace of the academic term. Internet courses give you access to materials and assignments at a time of the day that is convenient to you through the use of technology such as e-mail, and conferencing programs. You can interact with your instructor and even collaborate with online classmates at a time that is convenient and from anywhere that you have access to a networked PC. Q : What should I know about John A. Logan College? John A. Logan College is a comprehensive community college located in southern Illinois in a district of 142,000 residents, and has an enrollment of over 5,000 students each term. You can learn more about the College, including our mission, programs and services by visiting John A. Logan College. Founded in 1968, the College is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges. Spurred by the mission to use and apply technology while seeking to be at the forefront of higher education, the College strives to provide a comprehensive dynamic curriculum, a varied educational delivery system, and a strong outreach effort. These Internet courses are managed through the Media Services Department at the College using various alternative delivery formats. These formats include telecourses and Internet- delivered courses. Nearly 1,000 students are enrolled in these courses throughout the year. Q : How do I register, pay, and secure my course materials and books for a distance learning course? A : You will first need to identify the particular course you wish to register for and understand the course requirements and expectations. You can review the course information online by visiting the John A. Logan College Virtual Campus web site. By clicking on the course button, you will find a complete overview of the courses. You may contact the instructor if you have additional questions about the course design and course requirements. There are several ways to register through the Admissions Office, including mailing or faxing your registration or using on line registration over the Internet. The Business Office is responsible for collecting the tuition and fees associated with the costs of your course. There are certain payment policies, refund policies, and timelines for payment of which you should be aware. You may pay for your course tuition and fees by check, cash, or credit card. You may make payment arrangements in person, by phone or through the online registration system over the Internet. The phone number of the John A. Logan College cashier is (618) 985-3741. When you are enrolled in an Internet course, you will find most or all of your course materials distributed to you online. Simply download the course materials such as your assignments and supplemental materials to your own hard drive. The textbook and sometimes the study guide will need to be purchased through the John A. Logan College Bookstore, or through another source. To order books or supplies for your independent study-based course, you may come to the John A. Logan College Bookstore on campus. The store accepts VISA, Master Card, American Express and Discover. If the John A. Logan College Bookstore is not convenient to your location, on-line booksellers may be an option. Q : Does the College require pre-enrollment testing of my abilities before I enroll for a distance learning course? A :Pre-course testing in reading, writing and math assists students in discovering which classes will contribute the most to their success at the College. If you are a new student to the John A. Logan College Virtual Campus, you will need to take the placement test given by your local community college. If you prefer, you may come to the John A. Logan College campus for placement testing. Assessment is not required if you have taken a college-level English and/or math class. Note that if you have taken college-level English and not math (or vise-versa), you need to take the appropriate part of the ASSET test. Q : How do I take my tests on the course content for distance learning? A : How you will be tested depends on which course you are enrolled for. Depending on the subject matter and the design of the course, instructors usually evaluate performance based on the assignments and essay papers that you submit. Several other distance learning courses also require that you come to the Learning Lab on the Carterville campus to take required paper and pencil versions of tests and exams. The online course syllabus will indicate the method used for testing and how grades are determined for each course. If you are an online student who does not live in the Carterville area, you may need to make special arrangements with Media Services. Usually any tests and exams that require paper and pencil can be proctored for you at an approved testing center that is convenient to your home. This can be done with partner/provider colleges across the state. Media Services will work with you and your instructor to make arrangements for test taking at a convenient testing facility. Whenever you take a test or exam at a testing center, you will always need to show a picture ID in advance Q : When does the distance learning course begin and finish? A : Distance learning courses at the College are designed to be flexible by allowing students to start a course as late as the 4th week of an academic term and proceed through the course content at their own pace. Remember that the later you start a course the more difficult it will be to complete it by the end of the 16-week academic session even if you have the ability and study time to accelerate through the course. If you register for the course after the first week of the term, you will need to contact the instructor by phone or e-mail before registering to get written approval (by e-mail) from him/her to register late for the course. If you live outside the Carterville area and are unable to bring the written approval to the registration office, you may ask your instructor to submit the written approval for late registration directly to the Admissions office so that you can register late by phone or e-mail with the Admissions Office. Q : What if I start the course late or go at a slower pace and find I am unable to complete the course by the end of the term? A : Some instructors may give you an incomplete grade ("I") at the end of the term if you have made progress in the course and have completed an appropriate level of coursework to date. This decision is up to the instructor. You will need to formally request an Incomplete grade directly from your instructor. You will then have one academic semester to complete the course. The course syllabus will explain the standards that your particular instructor uses for issuing an Incomplete grade. Any student who starts a course late or intends to move through the course material at a slower pace is strongly encouraged to discuss this with the instructor prior to registering. Q : What if I need to withdraw from the course? A : John A. Logan College has a collegewide policy regarding course withdrawals and refunds of tuition. The student may withdraw him/herself by contacting the Admissions Office and initiating the withdraw until the 15th week of the semester. A grade will not appear if you withdraw the first two weeks of school, and a "W" will appear if you withdraw between week 3 and week 11. After week 12, a grade will be assigned which reflects your actual performance in the course. If you live outside the Carterville area and are unable to come to campus, you may ask your instructor to submit written permission to the admissions office to withdraw you. Q : Is there a counselor or advisor I can connect with online if I have more general questions about distance learning courses? A : There will be academic counselors available to assist you. They can interact with you by e-mail, phone, or in person to assist you in making informed decisions and choices about our various flexible learning opportunities. Q : What if I experience technical problems with an Internet class? A : You will! If you are having problems getting or staying connected to the Internet, please contact your Internet service provider representative that delivers your internet services. For example if you are an AOL user, please call its tech support number. Once you are on the net and connected, if you have problems with the John A. Logan College Virtual Campus or any of the course-related materials or pages, please contact your instructor via phone or Fax as soon as possible. It is most important that you communicate to your instructor first, so that he/she is aware that you are having problems. The instructor will then direct you to the proper support person at John A. Logan College to assist you. Q : What library services and resources are available to me as a distance learning enrolled student? A : The John A. Logan College Library offers a web-based interface to many of its electronic resources. As an online student, you will have access to selected library services and databases through the library's web site (http://www.jal.cc.il.us/lrc.html). Online students who live outside the College district may use the services of the nearest IVC Partner library, or you may request interlibrary loans for books and articles from your local public library. Online students who reside within the College district may request interlibrary loans in person at the library by presenting their current class schedule and regular John A. Logan College Library card. Q : Am I eligible for financial aid? A : The Federal and State laws and administrative regulations that govern financial aid also apply to students who register for accredited distance education courses such as internet courses, television-based courses, and interactive video. If you have any questions concerning your eligibility for financial aid, please contact the financial aid office at your home community college. If you are taking classes only at John A. Logan College, you may contact the Office of Financial Aid either by writing or by telephone at: (618) 985-3741, Ext. 8308. The Financial Aid office may be reached through email by clicking here. Terry Crain |