This document provides frequently asked questions and guidance for students taking an online course. It addresses questions about the time commitment required, communication methods, academic honesty, and basic computer and internet skills needed. While an online course allows flexibility in when work is completed, students should expect to spend the same amount of time as a traditional course, with regular participation and adherence to deadlines. Instructors provide guidance and support through email, discussion boards, and virtual office hours.

1. FAQ’s * for Online Students1*Frequently Asked Questions

2. Accounting 101 – Spring 2011Fundamentals of College Accounting3 Semester UnitsCourse Code 10496Professor Diane Ardans, CPAardansd@arc.losrios.eduOffice: Howard Hall #153Phone 916.484.8520Office HoursTuesdays and Thursdays 7:30-8:00am and 12:30 -1:20pmMondays and Wednesday 4:30-5:30pm at the Natomas Center2

3. Research shows that most successful Online students are:Self-motivated and self-starters

4. Have good organizational skills

5. Have good time-management skills

6. Are familiar with computers and the Internet

7. Are resourceful and actively seek answers and solutions to questions and problems.3

8. Do You Know Online Etiquette?Identify yourself by name in each email or postings.

9. Be supportive and constructive in your comments to each other.

10. Everyone will benefit from a positive online learning environment.

11. Read information on Online Etiquette (use the back button to come back and finish the presentation). 4

12. Be sure to get the following course information for your instructor:Course objectives

13. Course expectations

14. Assignments

15. How to submit assignments

16. How to label files

17. How to address your e-mails to the instructor

18. Grading Policies

19. Other course issues 5

20. 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.

21. Submit work that has been written or revised in part or in whole by another person.

22. Submit work that you have submitted for another class.6

23. Question: Is an online class the same as a self-paced class?Answer: NOMost online classes are NOT self-paced.

24. Usually homework, other activities, and online class participation must be completed by deadline.

25. Many Instructors set the deadline for midnight on Saturday to assist those who work Monday-Friday.

26. Use a calendar for deadlines.

27. Set aside time each week to login.7

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. You’ll probably spend another 3 hours on reading, practice activities and homework. 8

31. Question: Do you have to log on at any particular time? Answer: Usually notYou will have deadlines by which to submit your homework, but WHEN you complete that work is usually up to you.

32. Your instructor MAY require chat sessions or other real time activities.

33. It’s important NOT to leave it to the last minute to do your work or to submit it.

34. If you have trouble connecting to your ISP or the course website, then your assignments will be late.9

35. 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.

36. We'll interact regularly through the Internet.

37. We'll be using some software called Desire2Learn and using the Los Rios eLearning web server.

38. Course materials are available on the course web pages, the bulletin boards, announcements and email.10

39. Question: How will we communicate?Answer: In many ways.We'll communicate with each other using web-based bulletin boards, chat rooms and email.

40. The instructor is available to you through email, voicemail and virtual office hours.

41. On-campus office hours are also available by appointment.

42. These same tools will be used for student-to-student communication also.11

43. Question: Is taking an online class easier than a “regular” class? Answer: NoSome students think an online class is even more demanding than a face-to-face class.

44. You have to stay motivated and stay on top of your work for the class.

45. The workload in an online class is usually identical to an on-site class on the same topic.12

46. Question: Do I have to have a computer at home? Answer: NoAccess to a computer at home makes it easier, but you do NOT have to own a computer for an online class.

47. 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.

48. Some students complete online classes from work (with permission from their employer, of course). 13

49. Question: What Internet skills would be helpful in an online class? Answer:Know how to use a web browser.

50. Know how to use an email program.

51. Know how to make and organize bookmarks in your browser software.

52. Some familiarity with web-based interactions bulletin boards, chat and mailing lists will also be useful.

53. Some familiarity with word processing.

54. Experience in successful Internet searches using a variety of search engines.14

55. Question: What is expected of students? Answer:As in a regular face-to-face class, your instructor expects that you will adhere to standards of:

56. Courtesy

57. Professionalism

58. Academic honesty

59. Participate with appropriate consideration for each other and for the instructor.

60. Your emails and web postings should:

61. On the topic at hand

62. Be appropriate

63. Should reflect a professional demeanor15

64. Getting Started Online Another section of the orientation will demonstrate some of the online tools that we’ll use for the course.

65. You can read the written instructions or watch the video demonstrations.

66. Online links

67. Try our FREE sample class

68. http://d2lresources.losrios.edu/free_sample_class.htm

69. Overview of Desire2Learn at Los Rios eLearning

70. http://d2lresources.losrios.edu/index.htm

71. Login to Desire2Learn at Los Rios eLearning

72. https://d2l.losrios.edu/Contact your instructor if you have any other questions. 16