Distance Education

CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT

What is Distance Learning?

Distance Learning is a medium that enables learning to occur when the student and the instructor are physically separated from each other in time and place. At Robeson Community College, these courses may be offered via the Internet or the North Carolina Information Highway and have the same course description, basic content, and credit hours as the traditional courses. Instruction may be synchronous (requires all participants to be online at the same moment in time) or asynchronous (learning “anytime, anywhere” meaning that the learning process of a particular subject is performed without fixed class hours in classrooms).

Some students find that Distance Learning courses are more rigorous and require more preparation than the traditional courses - over eight hours of preparation time per week. Generally, students stay at home and take the course, but they may be required to come to campus for an orientation and for the completion of some requirements, like exams and oral presentations.

These courses are appealing because they allow more flexibility of instruction than traditional classes, are accessible to students at home or at work, and require few trips to campus. To help students remain current in their studies, faculty have established specific tests and assignment dates. Students must first decide if this delivery style is “right” for them and if they have time to take the course. Preparation time for these classes is MORE, not less. (Select the Distance Learning Self-Test to determine whether an online course is right for you.)

Instructors

The courses are facilitated by qualified, competent instructors who structure the course so that the learning outcomes are comparable to those in a traditional classroom setting. Students who enroll in a distance learning course should expect to complete homework assignments, participate in classroom discussion (discussion forums), and to complete tests. Instructors also serve as a resource to the students by providing supplementary material and by interacting with students in the class′s discussion forums or outside of class via e-mail.

Credit Hours

The credit hours of a distance learning course are the same as on-campus classes. For example, both CIS 110 section 1 (face-to-face setting) and CIS 110-0I (online setting) are four (4) credit hours. Registration procedures are the same; and students have access to the same services and library resources. A technology fee is assessed to all students, regardless of the type of class to which they may register.

Distance learning courses may include any or all of the following:

• Instructor available by telephone, e-mail, or in person during specified hours;
• Course syllabus outlining assignments, testing information, and other details about the course;
• Required orientation session to meet the instructor, receive the course syllabus, and learn other information important to your success in the course;
• Textbook and/or study guide to direct and connect the reading and viewing assignments;
• Possible chat sessions for internet students;