1. FAQS * FOR ONLINE
STUDENTS
*Frequently Asked Questions

2. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MOST
SUCCESSFUL ONLINE STUDENTS
ARE:
• Self-motivated and self-starters
• Have good organizational skills
• Have good time-management skills
• Are familiar with computers and
the Internet
• Are resourceful and actively seek
answers and solutions to questions
and problems.

3. DO YOU KNOW ONLINE ETIQUETTE?
• Identify yourself by name in
each email or postings.
• Be supportive and constructive
in your comments to each
other.
• Everyone will benefit from a
positive online learning
environment.
• Read information on Online
Etiquette (use the back button
to come back and finish the
presentation).

4. BE SURE TO GET THE FOLLOWING
COURSE INFORMATION FOR YOUR
INSTRUCTOR:
• Course objectives
• Course expectations
• Assignments
 How to submit assignments
 How to label files
• How to address your e-mails to
the instructor
• Grading Policies
• Other course issues

5. ACADEMIC HONESTY:
It is a violation of college policy to plagiarize or to
recycle work.
You must not:
• Take others’ thoughts or words without appropriate
acknowledgment.
• Submit work that has been written or revised in part or in
whole by another person.
• Submit work that you have submitted for another class.

6. QUESTION: IS AN ONLINE CLASS THE
SAME AS A SELF-PACED CLASS?
Answer: NO
• Most online classes are NOT self-paced.
• Usually homework, other activities, and
online class participation must be
completed by deadline.
• Many Instructors set the deadline for
midnight on Saturday to assist those who
work Monday-Friday.
• Use a calendar for deadlines.
• Set aside time each week to login.

7. QUESTION: HOW MUCH TIME DO I
HAVE TO SPEND ONLINE?
Answer: That it is up to you.
• You should plan to spend at least the
same amount of time you would spend
on a face-to-face class.
• For a one unit class - you'll spend a
minimum of one hour a week looking at
some of the class resources, checking on
assignments, contributing to
discussions, and posting homework.
• You’ll probably spend another 3 hours on
reading, practice activities and
homework.

8. QUESTION: DO YOU HAVE TO LOG ON
AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME?
Answer: Usually not
• You will have deadlines by which to submit
your homework, but WHEN you complete
that work is usually up to you.
• Your instructor MAY require chat sessions or
other real time activities.
• It’s important NOT to leave it to the last
minute to do your work or to submit it.
• If you have trouble connecting to your ISP or
the course website, then your assignments
will be late.

9. QUESTION: WHERE DO WE MEET FOR
CLASS?
Answer: Online, not in a classroom.
• Other than the orientation meeting, most
online courses don't really "meet" in a
physical face to face sense.
• We'll interact regularly through the
Internet.
• We'll be using some software called
Desire2Learn and using the Los Rios
eLearning web server.
• Course materials are available on the
course web pages, the bulletin boards,
announcements and email.

10. QUESTION: HOW WILL WE
COMMUNICATE?
Answer: In many ways.
• We'll communicate with each other
using web-based bulletin boards, chat
rooms and email.
• The instructor is available to you
through email, voicemail and virtual
office hours.
• On-campus office hours are also
available by appointment.
• These same tools will be used for
student-to-student communication
also.

11. QUESTION: IS TAKING AN ONLINE
CLASS EASIER THAN A “REGULAR”
CLASS?
Answer: No
• Some students think an online class is
even more demanding than a face-to-
face class.
• You have to stay motivated and stay on
top of your work for the class.
• The workload in an online class is
usually identical to an on-site class on
the same topic.

12. QUESTION: DO I HAVE TO HAVE A
COMPUTER AT HOME?
Answer: No
• Access to a computer at home makes it
easier, but you do NOT have to own a
computer for an online class.
• Students can access computers on the
campus in several locations (the Learning
Resource Center, and the Business
Computer lab, for example) or at other
district colleges.
• Some students complete online classes
from work (with permission from their
employer, of course).

13. QUESTION: WHAT INTERNET SKILLS
WOULD BE HELPFUL IN AN ONLINE
CLASS?
Answer:
• Know how to use a web browser.
• Know how to use an email program.
• Know how to make and organize bookmarks in your
browser software.
• Some familiarity with web-based interactions bulletin
boards, chat and mailing lists will also be useful.
• Some familiarity with word processing.
• Experience in successful Internet searches using a
variety of search engines.

14. QUESTION: WHAT IS EXPECTED OF
STUDENTS?
• As in a regular face-to-face class, your
Answer: instructor expects that you will adhere to
standards of:
Courtesy
Professionalism
Academic honesty
• Participate with appropriate consideration for
each other and for the instructor.
• Your emails and web postings should:
On the topic at hand
Be appropriate
Should reflect a professional demeanor

15. GETTING STARTED ONLINE
• Online links
 Student Support for Online Classes
 http://www.gcccd.edu/online/student/default.html
 Login to Blackboard at GCCCD
 https://gcccd.blackboard.com