Below are answers to some common questions regarding my courses.
Yes! All of my courses utilize the text frequently.
If you are in one of my on-campus courses, you will be expected to read on topics in advance of class and will be quizzed on assigned readings. You will also use the textbook in class to answer questions and participate in discussions.
If you are in one of my online courses, you will be expected to read and discuss the text content. The nature of the online platform requires a great deal of learning through reading.
I use open-source texts. These texts are available for free. Links are available on my course pages, in the syllabi, and in Blackboard (when the course is available).
Online learning is a very different experience than face-to-face learning and it is not right for everyone. If you aren't sure if online learning is right for you, take this quick quiz.
No! The benefit of taking a class online is that you can work on the course around your schedule. The workload and expected time spent completing the course are the same. The degree of difficulty is the same. In a typical on-campus course, you would expect to spend 3 hours per week in class and average another 3-6 hours per week reading, studying, and completing assignments outside of class. This is the same amount of time you should expect to dedicate to your online class.
No. While some online courses do require you to take exams on campus or at a testing site, that is not a requirement for any of my courses.
Note: Educational Psychology does require field observations, which can be done at a location of your choosing (see syllabus for more information).
No. Online classes are different than remote classes (see Remote Course below). My online classes are asynchronous--meaning students do not need to congregate at specific times. You can work within the course anytime, day or night.
Students that will be unavailable to access the class due to a planned absence should contact me in advance to make arrangements to submit work early. Late work due to planned absences will be deducted points or not accepted, as outlined in the course policies in the syllabus. Students missing due dates because of unforeseen emergencies (such as a medical issue) should submit dated documentation to me to receive an extension.
This video explains how my online classes are organized. It is the introduction that all of my online students receive at the start of a course.
Since COVID-19, HVCC has offered courses remotely. We will meet during regularly scheduled class times via Zoom. You will find an "Attend Class" tab in your Blackboard course, which will take you to our Zoom classroom. During remote learning, sometimes, you will be assigned a video lecture to watch on your own. Sometimes, we will meet remotely for discussions. And sometimes, you will be working on graded activities in small groups. Attendance is expected, just as with in-person classes.
Hybrid means that the course is split between in-class meetings and online work. Most of my hybrid classes meet 1-hour and spend an equivalent of 2-hours online each week, but there are many possible variations in how frequently and for how long hybrid classes are scheduled. Hybrid course meetings can be in a classroom or be remote. In addition to "class time", you will have readings and assignments, just as in any other course.