Online

Online course are great for students who:

• can manage their time

• ask questions as needed

• know how to use computers

• need guidance only as-needed

• can spend significant time learning on their own

• are able to contact the professor or ACC tutors for additional help as needed

Online course are wrong for students who:

• are looking for an "easier" class

• cannot manage their time effectively

• need extensive help with course materials

• expect deadline extensions

• cannot commit the time necessary to complete the course

• "just need" the course to graduate

• are not comfortable using computers

• expect to be able to complete the course on a phone

Course Structure

All assignments and tests are available on the first day of class (not before). They can be completed at any time before the deadlines.

Deadlines are not extendable for any reason.

This is not a self-paced class!

Testing

Testing is only available in ACC testing centers and via ProctorU - they cannot be taken at any other locations.

If you wish to use ProctorU, you need to set up an account with them in advance. It is not free to use.It is a private company that charges for its services.

Choosing to learn online

Online courses require a significant amount of time. Since most of these courses are 4 credit hours each, you can expect about 15 hours of work per week - 30 hours if you take a course in a compressed (accelerated) session.

If you are short of time, online is not for you.

Online courses also require a lot of self-learning and excellent time management skills. You must be able to devote your attention to reading and practicing in addition to the required homework. You have to manage your time so that you finish studying in time to take the tests by the deadlines.

There are no deadline extensions for any reason!

In a classroom, you would be guided through both the reading and the practice by the professor at regularly-scheduled times. Online, if you need the help of the professor, you may need to set aside time to call or visit as not everything can be explained adequately in email.

There are fixed deadlines so students who are able to manage their time wisely are more likely to be successful. The deadlines are not extendable! Students are urged to mark their calendars at the outset of the semester and make arrangements to take tests/finish assignments early.

The amount of work is high. There are exercises involving listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The best way to learn a language is through repetition and that is why there is such a large amount of work.

Students who are not comfortable using their computers to navigate the web, listen to audio, watch videos, record their voices, etc. are not recommended to take these courses.

Please be sure to allot time for travel to and from your favorite testing center and check their hours. Some can be very busy and you may have to wait.

Technical support is available for Blackboard via ACC's helpdesk and Vista Higher Learning tech support via their dedicated helpdesk.

The professor can help you with language questions but is not a computer technician. Please use the technical support services if you need them.

If you are a dedicated student, can work independently and feel comfortable contacting your professor with any questions, online is a great option.

If you have time to complete a course but have trouble maintaining a fixed schedule (kids, work, life in general) online may be for you.

If your fixed schedule is limited to evening or early morning hours and you would lose valuable study time commuting to campus in traffic, online could be for you.

If you have limited transportation options, mobility issues, or other barriers that prevent you from easily accessing a campus on a regular basis, online is a viable solution.

If you cannot devote *significant* time to online learning, please consider other options.

High School students

The same rules apply. This is a college course and everyone is treated equally.