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| image: ezra pound |
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The Nature of Online Learning
As you might guess, learning online is a substantially different experience from learning in a traditional face-to-face classroom. To be certain, learning online is often more convenient and more flexible, and it takes advantage of technology in a way that is rarely seen in a traditional classroom. At the same time, many students have false conceptions about the differences between online and traditional learning. For instance, many students assume that the activities of a traditional classroom (lectures, class discussion, group work, individual work, et cetera) are somehow replaced by a series of self-regulated and less time-consuming assignments. This, of course, is not the case. As in the traditional classroom, you will engage in interaction and discussion with your peers, you will be required to complete readings, assignments, and papers by specific dates, and class-related work will extend beyond what is provided in the course text.
This is not to say, however, that the nature of these discussions, readings, and assignments will be the same as those that might take place or be given in a traditional classroom. For example, class discussion will take place via a discussion forum, some course readings will be from topic-related websites, and assignments and essays will be submitted by way of e-mail. In other words, the nature of these activities will differ greatly from how you might have experienced them in a traditional classroom setting. This has its advantages and disadvantages.
In the first case, the time frame for class discussion will be much broader than that which occurs during a traditional class period. For example, in a traditional classroom, a discussion of a specific reading may last for 30 minutes; however, this same discussion online may last for several days, depending, of course, on when each student completes the required reading and then contributes to the message board.
Second, most composition courses, including this one, utilize some form of in-class peer review. This activity generally consists of reading and making comments on a given essay or assignment in a specified amount of time. In an online course, however, due dates are slightly less regimented, and thus students often finish essays and assignments at different times. In addition, peer-to-peer comments will need to be typed separately or constructed through the review function of a word processing program. Peer review in an online setting, therefore, is a much more complex activity, and there is little question that it will take more time than it would in a traditional face-to-face setting.
Finally, in addition to these differences, online learning also requires a basic understanding of technology that extends beyond what is expected in a traditional classroom.
Technological Requirements
In order to participate in English 102, you will need access to the internet, a valid e-mail address, and a word processing program. You must also understand how to send and receive both e-mail and e-mail attachments. In addition, in order to access the English 102 website properly, you should have an updated version of an internet browser, such as Firefox or Internet Explorer. If needed, here are links to download the latest version of these programs:
Firefox
Internet Explorer
Safari
It is also highly recommended that you have copies of the following (free) programs installed on your computer for accessing and using sites related to the content of the course:
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Windows Media Player
Real Player
Quicktime
Flash Player
Shockwave Player
For a more detailed discussion of technological requirements, including directions for sending e-mail attachments and saving word processing files in readable formats, please refer to the FAQ section of the English 102 course website.
A Quick List of Things to Remember
- All rough drafts and final drafts of essays must be submitted as an e-mail attachment
- All rough drafts and final drafts of essays must be submitted in .doc or .rtf format
- All rough drafts and final drafts of essays must adhere to MLA standards and guidelines
- A description of the course requirements can be found in the course syllabus
- All assignments and due dates are located in the Course Schedule and Assignments section of the English 102 website
Getting Started
Once you have finished reading through the above material, please take the time to review the FAQ section and the course syllabus. After you have read the FAQ section and the course syllabus, you should head over to the Course Schedule and Assignments section of the site. This section, which will be updated bi-weekly, contains the course schedule and all related assignments, including readings, online assignments, discussion questions, due dates, handouts, etc.
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