About Continuing Education Online Learning: Frequently Asked Questions

This page gives answers to common questions about online courses:

An online course is one delivered over the Internet using web pages, e-mail, online discussion forums, and other Internet technologies. Durham Tech offers a selection of noncredit college courses over the Internet, as a flexible alternative to traditional, on-campus classes. Online courses cover the same content as their traditional counterparts on campus and are taught by instructors who also teach on our campus. Class sizes are limited so that instructors can provide the same level of personal interaction as they do in the traditional classroom.

In online courses, students "attend" class by accessing the class web pages and completing assignments according to the class schedule. Students communicate regularly with the instructor and classmates via e-mail and online discussion forums. Durham Tech's online courses are NOT self-paced, independent study courses. Students are required to complete assignments according to the class schedule, to maintain regular contact with the instructor, and to participate in online class discussions. For some courses, attending scheduled on-campus activities is required.

Taking a course over the Internet requires the ability to work independently and to devise your own regular schedule for "attending" class and completing assignments. Students learning online have a greater responsibility for their own success than students in traditional classroom settings. It is important that you have the self-discipline and self-motivation to work on a flexible schedule without getting behind. It is also important for online students to be comfortable using e-mail, the World Wide Web, and word processors. Complete the Online Course Readiness Checklist to help you decide if online learning is right for you.

You need regular, frequent, dependable access to a computer (PC or Mac) with the following:

• Internet access (usually through a modem and Internet Service Provider)
• Netscape 4.7 (or higher) or Internet Explorer 5.5 (or higher)
• A working e-mail address

For certain classes, students must come to campus to attend scheduled meetings or to complete lab exercises.  Either your course will be considered a hybrid course, where the course description states where you’ll be expected to come to campus in addition to your online studies, or your course will be considered an online class, and your instructor will let you know about any special events at the beginning of your online class.

No, but you are required to "keep up" with the class schedule and to complete assignments before the due dates. Some classes may have several due dates each week; others may require work once per week. You can choose the time of day or night you want to log on to the Internet to work on an assignment, but you must complete it and "turn it in" by the specified date and time.

Registration procedures will vary for non-credit classes, so please check the course description in the Continuing Education department your class is listed in on the Noncredit Course Schedule, or check the course description on the Noncredit Online and Hybrid web page.

Course costs and resource material fees will vary for non-credit classes, so please check the course description in the Continuing Education department your class is listed in on the Noncredit Course Schedule, or check the course description on the Noncredit Online and Hybrid web page.

Yes and no. Many courses use an online program called Blackboard. You can access Blackboard at http://blackboard.durhamtech.edu/webapps/login//. Click on "Login" and then choose the "Preview" button to login as a guest. Look for the "Course Catalog", and then find the course you are interested in. Note that not all courses in Blackboard are Durham Tech Online Courses, so be sure you're looking at the correct one. We say "yes and no" because not all courses are available to guests, and guest access is limited to certain areas. Also, some online courses do not use Blackboard. However, you can always get more information about an online class by contacting the program director.

What if I need technical help?

Tips and instructions for online learners

• Tips for communicating online
• Tips for sending e-mail attachments

If you do not have an e-mail account, you can set up a free web-based e-mail account at sites such as http://www.hotmail.com/ or http://www.yahoo.com/.  You must have access to the Web in order to send and check e-mail with these accounts. (Note: Web-based e-mail can be accessed in the computer labs on campus.)

If you need technical assistance accessing an online course, contact your instructor first.  You can also contact Instructional Computing: Next, contact the program director for your class. You can contact the Coordinator for Continuing Education Online classes:

• Becky Roehrs, roehrsb@durhamtech.edu
• Dave Sorenson, sorensond@durhamtech.edu or (919) 686-3334;
• Susan Horton, hortons@durhamtech.edu or (919) 686-3752;

Many technical problems have to do with the student's particular Internet Service Provider (ISP) or with his/her own hardware or software.  In most cases, students will have to contact their ISP for technical support.  Durham Tech cannot resolve problems with your own hardware, software, or Internet Service. If you experience major technical difficulties with your computer, you may come to campus and use campus computer lab computers to complete your coursework.  See locations and schedules for campus computer labs below.

Noncredit online students are can utilize Durham Tech's campus computer labs if they first go to a Noncredit Registration Center and buy a student id and a student parking pass.All labs offer Internet access, and lab monitors are on duty to help you with computer questions. Labs will be closed on Durham Tech holidays.

 

Lab	Location	Schedule
Campus Learning Center Computer Lab	Educational Resources Center Main Campus (downstairs in library)	Visit the Computer Lab Schedule for hours and additional information about computer labs.
Foreign Language Computer Lab	318 Phillips Building Main Campus (Cooper Street)
Health Tech Computer Lab	963 Technology Center Main Campus (Cooper Street)
Information Systems Computer Lab	965 Technology Center Main Campus (Cooper Street)
Northern Durham Center  Open Computer Lab	Room 108 - Northern Durham Center, Snowhill Road
For links to maps and driving directions, see About Durham Tech.

All of Durham Tech's student services and student resources are available to online students.Please visit the Noncredit Course Schedule for more information about resources available to online students.