How do online courses work?
You must have access to the Internet and a computer. You will access your class via your web browser during times that are convenient to you. Classes are designed to be taken asynchronously at your convenience. That means that you don’t need to be online at the same time as the instructor. You will still need to follow weekly deadlines for coursework and discussions, however. You will do your reading, coursework, take tests, and interact with your instructor and classmates via web pages, electronic mail, discussion groups, and, in some cases, chat rooms.
Once you begin your course work, you will find that through the use of the course site tools, you will be able to navigate within the course site. You will be able to maneuver through the Web site to post/read assignments and to download/upload files from your instructor. Your instructor will primarily be contacting you through the discussion forum or by email. Help files are found on the Distance Learning Center Web site (http://learn.uci.edu/cms) with instructions on accessing your online course and utilizing the course tools.
All of the online courses begin the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Each course has twelve lessons on the Internet, two per week for six weeks. Each lessons takes about two hours to complete and includes interactive quizzes, assignments, tutorials, and online discussion areas. (Hint: The Discussion areaa for each lesson is full of useful information). You may take eachlesson any day of the week and any time of the day or night within a 10 day period from the day the lesson is first available. 1st lesson is available at 3pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month and for 10 days after 2nd lesson is available at 3pm on the 2nd Friday of the month and for 10 days after 3rd lesson is available on the next Wednesday at 3pm and for 10 days after 4th lesson is available on the next Friday at 3pm and for 10 days after….etc. on Wednesdays & Fridays through all 12 lessons. YOU ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE THE QUIZZES AT THE END OF EACH LESSON AND THE FINAL EXAM FOR THE COURSE.
Orientation is conducted the first week of the course so that students can become familiar with using the course tools prior to the actual start of the class. Once you begin your course, you will find that with the use of the course tools, you will be able to navigate from the lecture to the discussion forums or to the weekly outline. You will be able to maneuver through the Web site to post/read assignments and to download/upload files from your instructor. Your instructor will primarily be contacting you by email or through the discussion forum. Help files are found on the Distance Learning Center website with instructions on accessing your online course with information about tools use.
