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Distance Education Student HandbookIntroduction Thank you for your interest in distance education at Hagerstown Community
College. Distance Education technology enables us to better meet the needs
of our students, providing opportunities for students who are unable to
attend a traditional class. We want your experience with online or televised
courses to be successful. This Handbook provides general information about distance courses, particularly those offered online. Students who know what to expect from a distance course experience higher rates of success. This Handbook will help you assess your readiness for a course and provide some suggestions for making the most of your distance education experience. Additional information about a particular course can be obtained from your instructor or and advisor. Distance education can be an adventure for both the student and the instructor. We hope your distance education adventure is an exciting and rewarding one. Is Distance Education for Me? Distance courses enable a student to complete course work partly on their own time, when it suits their schedule. This flexibility in scheduling is one of the main benefits of distance education, but there are other aspects of a distance course to consider as well. Students are more successful in distance courses when they know what to expect. Many misconceptions about these courses exist. Here are some common myths about distance courses: Myth 1: A distance course won’t take up as much of my time as a traditional course. Students find that distance courses take at least as much time as a traditional course. Time may be spent at home on a computer or viewing a video rather than in a classroom, but sufficient blocks of time are still required. Myth 2: If I take a distance course I won’t need to come to campus at all. Distance courses may require some on-campus time for orientation sessions, group projects or testing. Myth 3: I can schedule all of the required time for the course on my own. I can work on the course whenever it suits me. Some of the course work in a distance course is completed at scheduled times. For example, your instructor may require participation in a live “chat” about a particular topic. In addition, there will be deadlines to meet for assignments and exams. Distance courses require a high degree of time management, motivation and self-discipline from the student. Myth 4: A distance course is really the same thing as a self-study course Most distance
courses are not self-paced, but have schedules and deadlines like a traditional
course. In addition, distance courses often involve high levels of interaction
with the instructor and other students. You will be expected to contribute
to discussions or projects as assigned by your instructor. You may be
graded on your level of interaction and participation. Your advisor will ask you to complete a readiness assessment before you enroll for a distance course. Your level of technical readiness and expertise will partly determine your ability to succeed in a distance course. You should have access to a computer with a modem, internet access, a web browser, and word processing software. An email account is usually needed for communication with your instructor. Your advisor or instructor can provide you with further information about technical requirements for a course. Your level of academic skills and work/study skills should also be evaluated. How many of the following describe you or your skills?
If most of these characteristics fit you, you are a good candidate for a distance course. Library and Research Skills The acquisition of information and library research skills is a fundamental component of college level education. Students will be expected to research topics, to demonstrate an understanding of library research skills, and to have access to library research materials. Each student is encouraged to have home access to the internet in order
to access the many research databases available from the HCC library web
page. Students not able to use the HCC campus library can use a public
or another community college library. However, not all libraries provide
access to the same resources. Students should check the course description
and check with the professor to make sure they can access the research
resources necessary for successful completion of a class. Plagiarism is the use of ideas, language, or work of another without sufficient acknowledgment that the material is not one’s own. Rewriting is not enough. Using an idea without crediting the idea to its creator is also plagiarism. Cutting and pasting from a web site is plagiarism. You should know that plagiarizing could result in a failed grade for a paper or course and even expulsion from the college. See the “College Guide: a Handbook for Students” (Pages 29-31 or Website: hcc.cc.md.us) under Honor Code Policy and Procedures for further information. The following web site can help you better understand plagiarism and how to avoid unintentionally plagiarizing. It is especially helpful for those using online sources for information. Central Michigan University-College of Education and Human Services developed this web site http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~mspears/plagiarism.html The library has materials to help you cite the words and ideas of others correctly. Here are some guidelines from the Central Michigan University site:
Tips for Success in Online Courses
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