•What are Internet courses? Classes that are conducted almost completely online by a Wallace State faculty member using Blackboard as the delivery program.

•What is a Hybrid course? These courses are a combination of traditional onsite class meetings and online materials and assignments. At Wallace State, most Hybrid classes meet in the classroom on campus anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of the normal amount of time for an equivalent course.

•Where do these classes meet? You will meet on campus at the preassigned classroom, but you may access the Internet portion of the class anywhere an Internet connection is available. Instructors may require students to come to campus for a course orientation and some labs, exams, and/or presentations.

•When do these classes meet? Instructors will advise you which days to come to the campus for class. The online portion of the course is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Classes typically include weekly assignments with specific due dates. While most Internet classes use e-mail and a discussion board, some may require live chat.

Important Information About Distance Education

•The TBA (“to be announced”) found on class schedules for some online courses means that class times are flexible, but it does not mean that you should wait for your instructor to contact you. After you register for an Internet course, you will be able to log into the course site on Blackboard the day before classes begin. Blackboard user names and passwords can be determined by following directions on the Blackboard login page.
•A misconception about Internet courses is they are easier and take less time than traditional classes. This is not true. Internet classes cover the same material, require completion of equivalent assignments, and offer the same amount and type of credit that traditional classes do; however, because lessons and discussions are online, more reading and writing may be required. Internet classes may actually take more time and may seem more difficult for some students.
•Another misconception is that instructors are always available. Although Internet classes are available 24 hours/day, the instructor is not. The student can e-mail the instructor at any time, and the response to the email should occur in a timely manner but will not be instantaneous. Unless the instructor sets a specific time for all class members to meet face-to-face or online at the same time, the assumption is that everyone, including the instructor, may be online at different times. This is called asynchronous communication.
•Activities in online courses typically include reading a textbook and class notes, answering study questions, completing individual and group assignments, participating in online discussions, completing online quizzes, viewing multimedia presentations, and attending some on-campus meetings and/or exams.
•Minimum hardware and software requirements are as follows:
          -Software: Internet Explorer 5 or higher or Netscape 4.7 or higher and additional software required by the course (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Windows Media Player, JavaScript, etc.)
          -Hardware: Pentium PC or Mac OS 9 with 32 Mb RAM or higher and 28.8 Kbps (56k recommended) or faster Internet connection.
•Students may be required to buy a textbook since not all materials are online. If the class requires a research assignment, students may need to visit the library in addition to using the Internet to locate resources.
•Although in some classes grading may occur electronically, most instructors have to grade assignments manually. Students may not receive grades on assignments immediately. In addition, you may need to possess realistic expectations about an Internet class; consider the following advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages of Internet Courses:
•Online classes allow a more flexible schedule.
•Students may review online lessons more than once.
•There is little to no commuting time, expense, traffic or parking.
•Students can e-mail the instructor as questions arise.
•Students are usually able to take more time to think about and compose meaningful responses to discussions.
•Students have convenient access to course materials and resources from home or on the road.

Disadvantages of Internet Courses:
•There may be fewer reminders for assignments than in a traditional course.
•The student accepts responsibility for keeping up with assignments and due dates.
•Some students may feel a sense of isolation from the instructor and classmates.
•Internet courses may require more work for some students.
•Answers to questions and feedback from instructors may not be immediate.



Suggestions for Successfully Adapting to Online Course Environment

•Plan to spend as much time in the online class as you would ordinarily spend for a traditional class. (Approximately 3 hours/week plus time for assignments.)
•Login to the course site at least 2-3 times per week to check for new due dates and assignments or announcements. Keeping up with due dates and assignments is especially important since it is easy to get behind in an online class.
•E-mail your instructor when you have questions or concerns. Don’t allow yourself to get frustrated. Be specific in your communication with the instructor and always identify yourself to avoid confusion. Blackboard Courses are loaded into Blackboard, a course delivery program used by WSCC as well as many other institutions. Students who register early should have access to online courses in Blackboard the day before classes begin. Students who register late may have to wait 24 hours before gaining access to the course.

You may access Blackboard by visiting the WSCC homepage at www.wallacestate.edu. Click on myWallace State on the right side of the homepage. You can look up directions for your user name and password from the login page. Contact WSCC technical support if you have trouble logging in.