- What is an online course?
An online course utilizes the Internet and a web browser as a means of creating a learning environment outside of the traditional classroom. Lectures and discussions will take place on a Distance Learning Center Web site. You will be able to access your course lectures (for the most part, text based with some courses utilizing audio and video) and communicate with your classmates and instructors through the use of a discussion forum (message board). The online courses follow a classroom structure of covering a lesson a week. You can access your course Web site anytime of the day and anywhere you have access to the Internet (dependent on security settings).
- Who can take online courses?
Anyone can take an online course as long as they have access to a computer with Internet capabilities, have an active email account and have a good understanding of how a computer works. An online student also has to be motivated to participate in discussion forums and regularly check the Web site and keep up with the course work.
- How do online courses work?
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.
- Can I access my course from anywhere?
You can access the course anywhere that you have Internet access. Some companies have firewalls that prevent you from participating in the chat sessions and posting to the discussion forum. Please check with your company’s technology department before you attempt to access the course.
- Are there specific dates that I need to log on to the Web site?
There is a set beginning and end date for your online course. It is suggested that you log on at least 3-4 times a week to check the discussion forums and read assignments and lectures. This is the “asynchronous” aspect of the course.
There might be occasion when the instructor will set a chat time or WebEx session (“synchronous”) where he/she assigns a specific date and time for all the students to meet online.
- What happens after I sign up for a course, how do I get started?
If you enroll through the Web site at http://unex.uci.edu you will receive a confirmation email from our Student Services office.
Your confirmation will contain instructions for accessing your online course, a URL and enrollment key. Online courses are not available until the course start date as shown in the catalog.
If you enrolled by fax or telephone, you will receive your confirmation by mail.
- What is an enrollment key?
An enrollment key is required only for the first time that you enter your online course.
- I signed up for this quarter’s term and I can’t find my online course!
Your online course will not be available until the actual course start date. The first week of the course is an orientation week. During this time, you will have the opportunity to review the syllabus and become familiar with the course tools.
- I have enrolled and I entered my key, but it still won’t let me in.
Many of you will have enrolled prior to the course start date. Courses will not appear until the course start date. Please note that the first week is considered an orientation week where you can become familiar with the course tools. Always make sure to enter a category for the current quarter that you are signed up for. Many times, previous quarters will be available for past students.
- How many hours a week do I have to devote to my online course?
Similar to a classroom course, to get the most out of any type of learning you must commit a certain amount of time. You will most likely spend approximately 10 hours a week going over class lectures, assignments and discussion forums. Time required for each course will vary.
All assignments, quizzes, exams, and projects must be completed by the end date of the course (please refer to University Extension Web site/catalog for course start/end dates). The instructor will set individual due dates for your assignments, projects and tests.
- What is WebEx?
WebEx is a software used for synchronous (“live”) conferencing and training. Information about this software and its use is dependent upon the online course you have enrolled in. If WebEx is used for your online course, it will be noted in the UCI Extension catalog.
- Will having a firewall at home or at work prevent me from working on my online course?
Although this very seldom occurs, your firewall may prevent you from posting to the discussion forum while allowing you to read the lectures and other resources. If you are accessing your course through a work computer, you will need to contact your IT department for assistance.
- What happens if I fall behind or complete the course early?
It is acceptable to be a week ahead or behind. You must remember that participation is a very important aspect of your final evaluated grade for the course. Active participation requires you to post and respond to your instructor and fellow classmates’ comments on the discussion forum. If you are too far behind, posting to an old topic will be revisiting something that the majority of your classmates might have discussed.
- How do I communicate with my instructor?
You communicate with your instructor by email, discussion forums, or chat sessions. Students are highly encouraged to use these modes of communications, as faxed or mailed assignments are not accepted.
- Will I be able to see my online instructor or communicate with him/her via telephone?
All communication with your instructor will be done either through email, the discussion forums or the chat sessions. Please do not expect your instructor to telephone you.
- Is my online course an instructor-led course?
Like a traditional course, your online course has an instructor who will conduct the course by giving assignments, answering questions, leading discussions and assigning grades.
- Who do I contact if I am having problems with the instructor?
Please contact the Distance Learning Center office at (949) 824-7613 or unex-online@uci.edu. Your instructor should be very explicit on the course syllabus or welcome message as to their availability. If the instructor is going out of town or will be away from the computer for an extended period of time, he/she must notify the class.
- Do I need to have cookies enabled?
Yes, it is necessary to have your cookies enabled. To best protect your computer, it is suggested that you vary your cookie options to ensure the most secure level.
- What happens if I have trouble accessing the URL with my login and password?
Contact the Distance Learning Center (DLC) office at unex-online@uci.edu or 949-824-7613 and we will assess and work to fix any problems in the most expeditious manner. In order to better serve you, please note the problem as it occurred.
- What happens if I can’t finish a course?
We understand that certain situations can occur. Please refer to the UC Irvine Extension catalog for procedures, etc.
- When is the last day to drop the course?
There will be an administrative fee accessed for any withdrawals within the allowable period. Please refer to the Extension Web site for more information.
- What kind of grade options do I have?
The grading options are exactly the same as that of classroom courses.
- Do I need to purchase books or any additional items?
Some courses do require that you purchase books or software. Please contact the UCI Bookstore for more information about the books for your courses at (949) 824-2665 or by visiting their website at www.book.uci.edu.
- Will the platform for online courses be changing continually every quarter?
There will be changes periodically. Changes occur mainly as a result of student and instructor feedback to our Web site. This is done to maximize the tools.
- Why do I get emails of the discussion forum postings?
If you are receiving emails from the discussion forums, you are subscribed to that particular forum. You can change this option by going to the forums sections on the left side of the course site under Activities. By selecting forum, you will be able to see all the forums created and to turn on/off the subscription function. There may be a forum that you will not be able to change. More than likely, that will be a place where the instructor will post announcements.
- I like getting the forum subscribed emails, but the responses I made are not on the course Web site.
If you prefer to receive the subscribed emails from the forum, please do not reply to the email directly, but post your reply to the specific forum where the posting originated. This will ensure that others, including your instructor, will see your reply or comment.
- Can I get a degree online?
At this time, you can only receive a Master’s Degree in Criminology, Law and Society.
Students intending to transfer UC Irvine Extension course credit for a degree at another college or university should verify acceptance of the course with that institution.
- I am confused and frustrated; I can’t seem to find my way around the Web site. What can I do?
Call us at (949) 824-7613. We will be happy to walk you through the tools and show you everything you need to know.
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- What are the advantages of a UCI online education?
- Your instructor and course are University of California approved.
- More individualized time with the instructor.
- Instruction and course work can be highly customized to your field and subject.
- Unlimited time freedom. Unlike a traditional class where you are expected to be in a classroom at specific dates and times you decide when to log onto the Internet and participate in your class.
- More interaction with classmates via the online discussion formats. The sheer ability to connect with people from all over the county (and sometimes all over the world) adds a dynamic to an online classroom that simply can’t be accomplished with a local traditional format.
- You can learn at your own pace and study at your convenience, even if you’re traveling.
- No time spent in the car driving to and from campus.
- No additional travel costs to add to the family budget.
- No parking hassles.
- Learning new technologies helps you stay competitive in the workforce. As more companies operate in a virtual world, multimedia technology is becoming the standard for future business meetings. These new types of technology include, WebEx sessions, Voice over PowerPoint, Wikis, use of You Tube videoclips, virtual field-trips, teleconferencing and videoconferencing.
- All students are 100% equal. Your work will stand on its own merits and you’ll not be treated any differently. Online education provides everyone with an equal voice. Online education is particularly good for people who like to take longer to formulate their thoughts, are very detail oriented, and who may be uncomfortable participating in verbal discussion or speaking in front of a large audience.
- Online education is “Green.” By participating in online classes you can contribute to environmental sustainability.
- The first week of any online class is considered an Orientation Week, for you to become familiar with the course requirements, deadline dates, assignments, and ensure you have adequate technical support.
- You only need a computer and speakers to access an online course. No other technical requirements are required unless the course description specifically provides for additional requirements.
- I’ve never taken an online course before. How does it work?
If this is your first online course with UC Irvine Extension, we encourage you to review our short 5-minute orientation.
One of the biggest hurdles in participating in online education is realizing that the instructor in the class is not a “teacher” in the commonly understood sense of the word. Rather, your instructor is a “facilitator,” a “coach/mentor” who is there to help you research and discover your own answers, usually drawing upon your professional experience. This is a change and actually makes you more proactive in terms of your own education.
The second biggest hurdle in participating in online education is in response to the statement, “I’ll really miss interacting with my fellow students and the instructor.” Many students tell us that they’re surprised at the level of dialogue and the chance to exchange thoughts and ideas.
- What’s the format of an online class? How do I learn?
Each online course consists of a series of lessons, which are divided into topics, each of which many have several pages of textual information. Each lesson incorporates:
- Forum discussions. At the end of each lesson, your instructor will provide a forum discussion “prompt” for you to respond to.
- Homework assignments, quizzes and tests. Each graded course contains several different methods of assessing student performance.
- At times during an online course, the instructor may encourage students to discuss course topics with each other in order to increase understanding and may assign work to be done outside of class to allow the students to practice what they are learning.
- Is distance education an effective way to learn?
We believe that the answer is yes! You’re able to learn and progress through a curriculum using electronic media just as effectively as in a traditional classroom setting. Distance education is no different from any other kind of learning in regards to quality.
More than 61% of all colleges and universities offer some form of distance education in their programs. A great deal of research has been done in the past decade to illustrate that when it comes to quality, distance education can stand with the best of them.
- I’m skeptical about online courses. What’s the downside to online education?
To ensure that your online education is a complete success, here are a couple of tips:
- Plan and adjust your studying schedule to anticipate assignment due dates.
- At times, you may have feelings of isolation or a sense of detachment from your school, instructor and peers. Make a plan to actively reach out to them via the forum discussions, phone and email communication.
- You’ll be required to work unsupervised and you should identify ways in which you can motivate yourself to stay on track. Use your peers to stay focused.
- Be aware of your preferred learning style. Online education offers the chance to learn visually, verbally, and socially.
- Allow for time required to boot up your computer and anticipate any software programs you may need to acquire.
- You’ll need to wait for feedback from your instructor and peers. Plan accordingly.
- You may be required to learn new or enhanced computer troubleshooting skills.
- How can online education help me advance my career goals?
The typical American worker will have many distinct careers in his or her lifetime. Lifelong learning will be something any individual must do to remain competitive. In all industries, people are expected to have an ability to conduct research, analyze data, adapt to changes, etc. By participating in online education you are provided with resourceful solutions for staying ahead of the curve.
- How do I access my online course?
Directions on how to access you online course is provided towards the bottom of the course enrollment confirmation which you were provided. Using your Extension web account, you can pull up your course confirmation. Your course confirmation provides you the link and user id you’ll need to access your online course.
- My enrollment key doesn’t work.
Please contact Bill Ryoo at (949) 824-7613 if your enrollment key does not work.
- Do I need any special equipment to participate in an online course?
All you need is Internet access and speakers to access your online course. The speakers are necessary when your instructor uses Voice over PowerPoint, WebEx sessions, or directs you to imbedded multi-media files.
- Who can I contact if I have problems accessing my course?
Barring organizational firewalls, spam filters or trying to access your online course prior to the class start date, you should not experience technical problems. If you are having trouble accessing your class please contact Bill Ryoo at (949) 824-7613.
- When is the deadline to register?
You have up to 14 days from the online course start date to enroll in your class. Enrolling after the 14th day is an option as well. If you wish to enroll after the 14 day, we encourage you to contact the academic unit for approval. If you need their phone number, please call the Student Services Office at (949) 824-5414. We’ll be happy to provide you this information.
- How many classes can I take simultaneously?
You are not restricted; you can enroll in as many courses as you wish. However, we encourage you to consider your professional and personal commitments to be sure you can dedicate enough time to be successful in your online class. We want your entire educational experience at UC Irvine Extension to be optimal.
If this is your first time taking an online course or if this is your introduction to the quarter system, you might want to consider taking fewer courses in your 1st quarter with us. This allows you an opportunity to build a stronger grade point average while orienting yourself to the online format.
- How much study time do I need to devote to succeed in my online courses?
Approximately the same amount of study time you devote in a traditional classroom format would be required for your online course. Of course, online courses provide you flexibility of time that traditional classroom format cannot offer. In essence, you can schedule study time at optimal times in your week.
- Do I have to log in at a specific time each week?
No. Online courses provide you the benefit of time freedom. You can access your online courses 24/7. As with any course, it is important to review your syllabus for weekly assignments, their due dates, and any other requirements. Online courses allow you to go back at any time to review previous lessons; however you will not be able to advance to future lessons listed in the syllabus. This allows students to progress uniformly through the course materials.
- I’m going on vacation during the sixth week. Will that be a problem?
No. Missing some time is not typically a problem--and that’s another benefit of selecting an online course. With internet access 24/7, it’s much easier to take time off in an online class versus a traditional course with classroom meetings and still keep pace with your class.
If Internet access while you are away is a problem or if you have any other concerns, it’s important you communicate with your instructor just as you would for a traditional setting class.
- How much time do you think I’ll need to devote each week?
You can expect to devote the same amount of time in your online course as you have devoted in your traditional format classes--an average of 7 to 10 hours per week.
- Can I finish the course earlier than the end date specified?
No. Because the course is instructor led and class participation is required, students cannot go ahead in an online course or finish their online course earlier than the specified class end date.
- How are we graded?
As with any class, how your online course is graded is defined in the syllabus.
- How do I communicate with my instructor?
You can find information on how to communicate with your instructor in the course syllabus. While the majority of your communication with your instructor will take place within the class format, for private communication, you can email your instructor. If you need assistance contacting your instructor, you can contact your academic unit or Student Services at (949) 824-5414. We will be happy to help.
- Can I view/get a copy of the syllabus before I register?
Yes. You may contact the academic unit and/or the course instructor if you would like to see a copy of the syllabus prior to enrolling in the online course.
- How far behind will I be if I enroll late?
Enrolling late does not preclude you from having academic success in your online course. Of course, it depends on the course and the instructor. Typically, enrolling up to 1 week after the course start date should not interfere with your success in the class. You have up to 14 days from the class start date to enroll. If you wish to discuss your unique circumstances, we would welcome hearing from you. You can contact the academic unit or Student Services at (949) 824-5414.
- Are lessons/materials posted weekly or all at the same time in the beginning?
Usually lessons and materials are posted two weeks in advance. This allows students to progress at their own pace, while ensuring that the class for the most part is progressing at the same rate.
- How often should I log into my online class?
We recommend logging in 3-4 times a week to check the discussion forums and review assignments and lectures. Make it a regular practice to check in periodically so you can stay up-to-date.
- When can I receive a refund?
You need to request a refund (in writing or via e-mail), no later than 14 calendar days after the start date.
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