Please make sure that you can answer "yes" to the following 4 questions before taking this course.
- Is this course right for you?
The students who typically do the best in online courses are those who are self-disciplined (since there are no mandatory meeting times) and self-motivated. If you are the kind of student who:
- likes to ask questions and receive immediate feedback,
- does not like reading or research,
- feels uncomfortable with computers and communicating online in real time (typing with sufficient speed and accuracy to participate in a chat room discussion),
then you should consider taking this course on campus.
- Do you have time for this course?
Since this is an online class you will need to spend more time than usual on individualized work. Remember, at UALR a normal 3 credit hour class requires that you attend class for 3 hours per week for 15 weeks. This is a total of 45 hours. In addition, you will be rquired to do exercises, assignments, and readings on your own. These additional tasks usually require, at a minimum, an hour per hour of class time. That means that you should expect to spend at least 90 hours doing this course. However, since some time will inevitably be spent with navigation and technical issues, you may well spend a good deal more than 90 hours... and quite a bit more if you want a high grade. If you get behind, it will be very difficult — or impossible — to catch up.
- Do you have the necessary computer skills?
To do well in this course you should be able to...
- Open, size, move and switch windows
- Copy, cut and paste
- Save, open, move, and delete files and folders
- Access the Internet through your own Internet Service Provider (ISP)
- Search the Internet with your browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, etc.)
- Download and install program files
- Send and receive mail (both inside and outside of WebCT)
- Send and view attachments
- Save your files in a format that can be easily opened (Word, RTF, plain text, etc.)
- Do you have the necessary equipment?
You should own or have access to:
- A personal computer with sufficient speed and memory to browse the Internet without (undue) problems
- A modem that is at least a 28.8 or faster
- An Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as (Aristotle, AOL, etc.)
- The latest version of the browser you will be using (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, etc.)
- Up-to-date virus software