ABOUT ONLINE COURSES

What is an online course?

An online course is a course that is taken via the Internet. Online courses and face-to-face courses have the same learning goals, objectives, and amount of work. However, online students require a different kind of self-motivation, because in a typical online course, individual attention is given only when requested. Although you can set your own daily schedule, you still have due dates for your coursework. Online courses at Spoon River College are not individual, self-study courses. Students interact with the instructor and each other through e-mail, threaded discussions, and sometimes group work. Typically, online students participate in their courses three or more days per week.

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How does an online class work? How does learning work in online courses?

Like face-to-face classes, online classes include weekly assignments, readings, and discussions centered around the course’s objectives and competencies. The obvious difference is that you are not going to a physical classroom to interact with your classmates and instructor. Learning in an online classroom still requires involvement and participation, but the motivation for this must come primarily from the student. Students are responsible for posting their informed opinions and thoughts, and also responsible for responding to classmates. Some students find that participating in online discussions suits their learning styles quote well, because online discussions allow for thought and planning before commenting, unlike in a traditional classroom.

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I work part-time/full-time. Do I need to be online at any certain times?

Since our online classes are asynchronous, there are no required hours to be in class on the campus of Spoon River College. You can access your class from home, a friend or relative’s home, a library, or from a hotel room while traveling – anywhere there is a computer and Internet access. However, remember that successful online students typically participate in their classes at least 3–4 times a week.

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How many hours a week should I expect to be online for my class?

The amount of time that you spend in your online course is actually more than a face-to-face course. Since you do not meet in a physical location for class, course information and activities are accessed online. Depending on the required assignments for the class, you should be spending anywhere from 8–15 hours per week, per class. Some activities may be offline, such as reading assignments from a required textbook.

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Do I have to come to campus for anything (i.e. exams, research)?

If you are taking an online class, you typically do not have to come to campus for anything related to the course. However, different instructors have different policies. Some instructors may require that any exams or make-up exams be completed in a proctored setting which could require a visit one of our four SRC locations.

Additionally, if you need to conduct research for your online class, you may do that via the Internet, online databases offered via the Library/LRC page on the SRC website, the Canton campus library/LRC, or your local library.

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If I don’t have to come to campus for exams, how do I take them online?

Online exams are provided through the Learning Management System (Canvas). There are a variety of ways that instructors deliver online exams:

Timed exams require quiet, uninterrupted time, since they must be finished in one sitting
Untimed exams allow students to begin and end them during a period of a few hours to a few days (depending on the instructor)
Open book exams often require students to seek out the information to construct an answer

Not all online classes include traditional exams. Most classes provide other means of assessment such as papers, projects or group projects. Most online classes also include intensive reading and writing.

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Are online classes easier than face-to-face classes?

In a word: no. Depending on your study habits and willingness to participate, some students consider online classes to be more difficult than face-to-face classes.

It’s important to note that a successful online student must be self-motivated and cannot procrastinate. Many online classes contain the same amount of information as in a face-to-face course, but meet for eight weeks instead of sixteen. Since that is the case, if a student falls behind, catching up can be very difficult.

Online classes are also not independent study courses, since they have a weekly schedule just like a face-to-face course. Students are able to log in to their classes and complete their assignments late at night, but each assignment will have a due date just like in face-to-face classes. As in any class, looking ahead each week to plan study time accordingly usually creates successful outcomes.

One last thing: many students thrive in online courses. “I wish I had more time to think of an answer for this discussion” is no longer an issue, and many students really enjoy the extra time they can take to formulate an opinion.

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Can I meet with the instructor or a tutor if I need help?

Yes! You always have the option to meet with your instructor or a tutor. In fact, it’s encouraged! As online students, you can access instructors and tutors at one of our four locations. You can also meet with an instructor or tutor via phone or online chat in SRC Online. In addition, there are two online tutors available – one for Writing and one for Math & Science. See the Tutoring web page for more information.

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TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

What computer skills do I need to take an online class?

To be successful in an online class, a student should be able to:

Open a web browser such as Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer, connect to the Internet, and type in a web address
Search and access websites with a web browser
Understand basic web/Internet navigation
Log in to a site with a user name and password
Copy and paste text from one document to another
Attach a document or file to an email

If you would like more information on any of our Computer Skills classes in order to bulk up your skills, please see the Classes & Events page under Business & Community on the SRC website.

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What are the technology requirements for an online class?

Access to a reliable computer with an internet connection
A back-up computer (examples: library, school, friend or relative’s computer)
A web browser such as Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer 8 or higher
An email account: All students are provided with a student email account.
A word processing program such as Microsoft Word, that can save in .doc, .docx, or .rtf format

NOTE: SRC does not provide support for personal computers of students. Students must contact their own internet service provider for help with internet access problems and are responsible for all access charges incurred in connection to the internet, SRC Online (ANGEL), and all websites affiliated with http://www.src.edu.

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What if I don’t have a computer at home?

It’s not completely necessary to have a computer at home if you’re willing to commit to using a computer at your local library, a friend or relative’s house, or one of the Academic Success Centers. As described above, you need to have a backup plan that consists of one of those locations in case you would have computer problems. However, most student take online courses because they are convenient. For most students, the best scenario for taking an online course is having a computer at home that can be accessed whenever the student has a free moment.

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What if I have computer problems and can’t access my class?

As described above, it is extremely important to create a backup plan in case you encounter technical issues with your computer. Make sure you have additional access at your local library, a friend or relative’s house, or one of SRC’s Academic Success Centers in Canton or Macomb, and plan accordingly.

It is also extremely important not to wait until the last minute to complete assignments online–you never know when you might lose Internet connectivity or have a computer issue. If you are experiencing an issue accessing your course, check the SRC website–if there is an issue with SRC Online, it will typically be posted on the home page. If you don’t see a message there, it could be an issue with your own computer. Call the help desk at 309–649–6381 to see if they can assist you, and then call or email your instructor to let him or her know that you are having issues. This is especially important if you are trying to meet a deadline and are worried about the assignment being late.

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How do I know if I am ready to take an online course?

If you can send and receive e-mail, can browse the Internet, and have self-discipline and motivation to learn and complete the class, then you are probably ready. If you are not sure if an online class is for you, you might want to take this self-evaluation.

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I’M READY TO TAKE AN ONLINE COURSE, WHERE DO I START?

How do I find out which courses are offered online?

For a listing of Online, Hybrid or Interactive Video courses for a specific semester, go to My SRC and view the schedules under Printable Course Schedules (PDF).

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Do online classes differ in price than face to face?

See the Tuition & Fees page on the SRC web site.

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Where do I register for an online course?

If you have already applied to Spoon River College, you may register for courses online via My SRC or make an appointment with an advisor (use the “registration” phone number). Directions for registering for courses online are located on the Help tab in My SRC. In the Resources box under ‘Student Step-by-Step Guides’, click on Online Registration.

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Once I’m registered, how do I access my online course?

All courses are accessible through the Learning Management System, Canvas. A link to Canvas can be found in the upper right corner of the SRC website. Student login information can be found by clicking on ‘My SRC’ in the upper right corner of the SRC website and then the ‘Help’ tab in the upper left corner. In the Resources box under ‘Student Step-by-Step Guides’, click on “Canvas Login Information.”

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