|
Q: What does it mean to be a student in an online course?
A:
In many ways, taking an online course is like taking a face-to-face course. Both feature individual assignments
and cooperative exercises, and both require you to take exams to show you are learning the course material.
The instructor directs students through the activities, posting announcements, delivering lecture materials,
responding to questions, and grading assignments and exams. The great benefit of being in an online course
is that you can have direct, one-on-one communication with your instructor and fellow students at any time,
rather than only during class or office hours. Driving is minimized and instruction/practice opportunities
are maximized. As long as you have a microphone and high-speed Internet access, you can take your class anywhere,
according to your schedule. Going on a trip to a Spanish-speaking country? Invite your class along as you travel.
Q: What do I gain by learning Spanish online?
A: It's the most productive, convenient, flexible and cost-effective way to learn Spanish. You set the amount of hours per week, the location (home, office, etc.), and when you want to meet with your teacher online. Even if you’re studying Spanish in school or via CD-rom, audio or video courses, the online classes will accelerate your learning.
It's a real class, with a real teacher and fellow students at the other end of your computer. Not only will your Spanish instructor make the class fun, you will also meet students from other parts of the world. The course is designed to afford you many more hours of live speaking practice than a traditional course.
It's personalized. Small groups with a maximum of 6 participants meet on a regular basis. The average size of a group is 3 students. One-on-one tutoring is also available.
It's time-effective. Since the class is online, you study from your home or office. You won't lose time in traffic getting to your class!
It prepares you to navigate in the “wireless” world of business, travel and work. Because the course is conducted online using the most advanced electronic communication tools via your computer, your language and computer technology skills will complement each other simultaneously.
Q: How often will I have to be online?
A:
A good rule of thumb is to log on at least once a day to check announcements and review online
materials. How long you need to be online depends on the activities for that session. Look at
the syllabus and Quia announcement tab to see when certain assignments are due and when projects
begin and end. This course has a very explicit schedule that tells you when you need to be online
for different Elluminate sessions (2-hour blocks per session).
Q: Is this online course flexible?
A:
This total distance course offers much flexibility, but within established parameters of time.
From the table enclosed, choose a 2-hour block of time assigned to your class that fits your
schedule. Each group meets live on Elluminate on a weekly basis for the actual class lectures,
oral practice with e-book exercises, etc. Quizzes and exams are opened on Quia for a limited
period of time about every two weeks. You are responsible for doing the assigned text materials
as indicated on the syllabus agenda and the Quia exercises for each chapter. With the exception
of the quizzes and exams, the Quia exercises for all chapters of the course are scored and
available to do anytime before the semester ends. It makes sense to complete the chapter
exercises before each chapter quiz/exam. You will need to add to discussions and reply to
other students' comments orally in the recorded sessions of Elluminate or on Skype.
Q: Flexibility is built into online courses. You can log on when it is convenient for you,
but there are some things to consider:
A: Although online courses are asynchronous (students are not necessarily online at the same time), there are deadlines.
You are responsible for doing the assigned materials as indicated on the syllabus agenda. You will need to add to discussions and reply to other students' comments orally in the recorded sessions of Elluminate or on Skype. You will need to submit individual assignments in advance of chapter tests.
Q: Is the course self-paced?
A:
Up to a point. There are firm deadlines but there is flexibility in the days before the deadline
to complete the assignments while accommodating your work and life schedules. You may attend
sessions as many times a week that you need in order to accumulate at least 2 hours per week
of meaningful dialog with the instructor and classmates. See table of mini-class sessions you
may choose to attend in any given week.
Q: If I never participate in ElluminateLive or Skype can I pass the course?
A:
Not likely. Your grade in this course is based in part on your oral participation (40%).
In a Spanish course, much of the learning occurs in active student-to-student interaction
Q: How do I find out if there are any new class announcements that I need to know about?
A:
Always read the postings when you access the course site on QUIA.
Q: How do I access the online course after RCTC registration?
A:
The course is not found on D2L. It is on web pages that require high speed Internet. You need to make sure you purchase the correct materials.
The entire textbook DIMELO TU 5/e by Rodríguez is online so even if you do not want a copy of the book/workbook/lab manual,
you are required to buy an access code for Span 1101-51 at the bookstore. The passcode is good for program access during 2 consecutive semesters.
You will also need a computer headset + microphone for the LIVE voice sessions on ElluminateLive or Skype. You will have to run an installation wizard
on your computer to access all the interactive components on the site. If you plan to use the computers or laptops from the Media Center at RCTC, test
the unit for a strong Internet connection BEFORE you check it out. Ask for a room in which you can talk with your microphone too. In addition,
there are 3 computers in the Learning Center set aside for online Spanish students (bring your own headset). Also please CALL the toll-free tech support
phone number as soon as you have any problem with the Quia program. Any issue that causes a delay in completion of course work on a timely basis is to be
considered a major problem!
|
