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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Online Learning?
What is the difference between Online Learning and Distance Learning?
What are eLearning and Hybrid courses?
Is eLearning appropriate for me?
What computer consideration do I need to think about before taking online courses?
A course I'm interested in is described as "modular." What does that mean?
How do I register and what does it cost?
What happens after registration?
Can I earn a degree or transfer my credits?
WHAT IS ONLINE LEARNING?
Online Learning encompasses web-enhanced face-to-face courses, Hybrid courses, and eLearning courses, all of which have online components. The information below will help you to make appropriate choices for the type of learning that best suits you and your lifestyle. The Online Learning office is available to provide you with support and assistance.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONLINE LEARNING AND DISTANCE LEARNING?
Online Learning is an evolution of what was formerly known at BCCC as Distance Learning. Whereas 10 years ago Distance Learning courses were mainly telecourses and print/correspondence courses, as the Internet has grown, the use of online tools in instruction has also. Only a handful of telecourses and print/correspondence courses remain. They are now identified as Alternatively Delivered courses. The vast majority of BCCC courses use the Internet and those that do are categorized as web-enhanced face-to-face, Hybrid, or eLearning.
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WHAT ARE eLEARNING AND HYBRID COURSES?
What are eLearning Courses ?
eLearning courses are taught completely online, with no more than one on-campus meeting for orientation. With an eLearning course, your classwork and interactions with your instructor and fellow students occurs primarily online. Online instruction may be supplemented with a printed or online textbook and perhaps videos/DVDs or CD-ROMs. Email discussion groups, and chat rooms provide a high degree of student-to-student and student-to-instructor interactivity.
Some eLearning courses may allow the students to proceed at their own pace; others follow a schedule provided by the instructor.
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What are Hybrid Courses ?
Hybrid courses meet on-campus but replace some traditional classroom meetings with online instruction. Some courses may have as few as two on-campus meetings; others may meet on a regular basis. Not all hybrid courses have the same requirements for number, days, and times of face-to-face meetings. Additionally, hybrids may meet on any of our campus locations. You are responsible for checking the meeting and technology requirements for your course prior to registering.
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How do eLearning and Hybrid credit courses differ
from traditional courses?
eLearning and Hybrid credit course are fully accredited college course. All credit courses offered in this manner are also offered on campus. The same subject matter is covered - the same information is learned. It is only the way it is learned that differs. The main difference is in the amount of online technology used in the class.
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What benefits do
eLearning and Hybrid provide?
- An opportunity for individuals who want to earn a college degree while maintaining jobs and taking care of families.
- Access to education for individuals who are immobile because of disabilities.
- The opportunity for working students to accelerate their studies by carrying heavier course loads than would otherwise be possible.
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How can I tell if a course is an eLearning or Hybrid course?
All publications issued by the Online Learning office, as well as this Online Learning website, clearly states how a course is offered, eLearning or Hybrid. For the current or upcoming semester, all courses have Information Pages that provide more course-specific information including textbook information. In addition to these pages, some instructors provide Welcome Pages (linked from the same location) to give students significantly more detail about how the course will be conducted.
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Do I have a schedule to follow?
Within a semester/session schedule, some online learning instructors provide a week by week schedule, while other instructors allow students to self-pace their learning.
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Will I earn the same amount of credits for an eLearning/Hybrid class as
I do for a face-to-face class?
Yes. You will be required to learn the same material as a face-to-face student will learn, so you will earn the same amount of credits. The only difference is in how you learn the material.
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IS ELEARNING APPROPRIATE FOR ME?
How can I tell if eLearning is for me?
The successful online learning student is usually a highly motivated
individual who is committed to learning. Online learners know how to
budget their time better, set priorities, and follow a task through to
completion. Students who can handle college-level work and study
independently do well in online learning courses.
Some students mistakenly
sign up for eLearning courses thinking that because they do not have
regular face-to-face meeting times the course will be easier and course workload
will be lighter. In reality, online learning courses often require more work
and self-discipline; plan a minimum of 6 to 9 hours per week per course for a typical
15-week semester proportionately allow more time if you're taking a course in a 6, 8, 9/10 week session. If you can commit
to the time required and the self-discipline involved, your chances of succeeding in a
online learning class are great. Students who are marginally
motivated or have weak study skills are advised to register for courses with
more traditional instructional modes.
Find out what
to expect in an eLearning course.
Take a quiz to determine whether your learning style and study habits are
suited for distance learning.
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Are online courses accessible to students with disabilities?
We strive to make our online courses accessible to everyone. We specifically consider design features that make our courses accessible to individuals with disabilities, including those using assistive technology for computer access. If you find a feature/course inaccessible to you, please contact the Online Learning Office.
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WHAT COMPUTER CONSIDERATION DO I NEED TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE TAKING ONLINE COURSES?
What do I do if I have a computer without an Internet connection?
When using your own computer, you are free to
choose whichever Internet Service Provider you wish. Free Internet
Service Providers are available. The website
http://www.ispnut.com/
provides a list of such services.
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What do I do if I do not have a computer?
In Bucks County, you may use the computers that are available in the college's Newtown
campus library, the Bristol Center, or its Upper County campus. Public
access computers are also available in public libraries throughout
Pennsylvania.
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How frequently will I need
online access?
That will depend on your course. Some courses
will require you to have almost daily access to the Internet, while for
others once a week might be often enough.
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My computer skills are fairly new, can I be
successful in an eLearning/Hybrid course?
Yes! As with anything new, there is a learning
curve. Usually after the first two weeks of the semester have
passed, most students are fairly comfortable in their course.
Our Technical Readiness Survey will help you evaluate your
technical skills and whether you have the resources to be successful online.
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I'd like to brush up on my computer skills where can I do that?
Our new Technology Learning Center (TLC) is where students, faculty and staff can receive assistance in the use of technology tools. The TLC is located on the third floor of the Library at the Newtown Campus, as well as the Bristol and Upper County Campus Libraries. This is a place where one-on-one technology assistance, targeted workshops, and help with basic computer skills is provided.
Users can expect assistance with:
- Microsoft Operating Systems
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Logins and passwords
- Internet browsers
- College's WebMail system
- CE6 for online learning
- WebAdvisor to find courses, register for classes, and check
grades
- Basic MacIntosh features
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Do I need special software for my computer?
That will depend on the class you are taking.
While some classes might require special software due to the specialized
nature of the course, other classes do not. Most instructors
do prefer that students use Microsoft Word or be able to save files
in a Word-compatible format for word processing.
Also,
regardless of who your Internet Service Provider is, the college
recommends that you use Mozilla or Internet Explorer as your
web browser. Additional information for
downloading browsers, plug-ins, and other free software is available.
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Please tell me more about CE6
and CourseCompass.
They are web-based course management systems. They function in many ways like
face-to-face classrooms do. Each course has its own private online
space to work in where many classroom functions can take place. For
instance, instead of handing out papers as instructors normally do in
face-to-face classes, instructors can post their course format,
syllabus, assignments, etc., to the online space. Students can then
access these documents at any time from any place they have an Internet connection. There are tools
for sending email, working in groups, participating in chat rooms,
posting lecture notes, taking quizzes, keeping track of your grades,
submitting assignments, and a number of other options as well.
Each instructor chooses the online tools they will use for their course.
Various tutorials for using CE6 are available after you log into CE6 the first time.
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I'm having trouble doing a specific task in CE6 can I get help?
Yes, there are several places to get the help you need. Our Technology Learning Centers which are located at all three campuses provide technical support for CE6. Also, during our Kick-off Events which are offered at the beginning of each semester/session there are CE6 workshops available. Before logging into CE6, check that your computer is properly configured by clicking on Check Browser located on the CE6 login page.
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A COURSE I'M INTERESTED IN IS DESCRIBED AS "MODULAR."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
What is a modular course?
Modular courses cover the same information, accrue the same credits, and fulfill the
same program credits as their 15-week counterparts. However, they do it in a compressed
timeframe of 9 to 10 weeks. This increases the expectation of students' workload, as well. For
a typical 15-week course, a minimum of 6 - 9 hours per week should be expected for
classwork; for a modular course, this expectation increases to a minimum
of 8 - 12 hours
per week.
When are modular courses offered?
Currently, modular courses are scheduled to begin roughly one month after the start of
classes for each semester -- early March, mid-June, early October, and early November.
When do I register for modular courses?
Registration for modular courses begins at the same time as for the 15-week semester in which
the course begins. For example, the October-start and November-start modulars coincide with
registration for the Fall semester. Registration for these courses remains open until
the actual start of the courses, rather than ending when Fall semester registration does.
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HOW DO I REGISTER AND WHAT DOES IT COST?
I have picked out the course I want to take, what do I do next?
If you have any specific questions about the course and how it will
work, contact the instructor. Find instructor on the course information page. Once you are satisfied that all of your
questions have been answered and you can meet all of the course
requirements, you need to register for the class.
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Is registration done differently for eLearning or Hybrid classes?
You register for these classes in exactly the same way as
you register for a face-to-face class.
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Do eLearning and Hybrid classes "fill up"?
Yes. Just as in a face-to-face class, there is a limit
to the number of students that may register for an eLearning/Hybrid class.
Some courses reach capacity quickly, it is best not to wait until the last
minute to register.
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Do courses begin at any time?
All courses have specific beginning and ending dates.
While we do not offer "rolling admissions," there are a variety of scheduling
opportunities to choose from: traditional 15 week Spring and Fall
semesters; 12 week session that begins in May; 9/10 week modular sessions that begin in
March, June, October, November; 8 & 6 week sessions that begin in May; and a 6
week session that begins in July.
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Do eLearning and Hybrid courses cost the same as face-to-face courses?
Yes. There are no additional tuition charges for an eLearning/Hybrid course.
However, students may need to purchase or rent ancillary materials (such
as videos or CD-ROMs) that support the mode of delivery.
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WHAT HAPPENS AFTER REGISTRATION?
Ok, I am registered, what happens next?
View the course information page for your eLearning or Hybrid course by going to
www.bucks.edu/welcome or pick up a hardcopy from the information racks outside registration in the Rollins Center, Newtown Campus. These pages provide you with details to help you succeed in your course.
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What is an orientation?
For some classes an orientation involves coming to the Newtown campus for an
initial meeting with your instructor. For other classes, the orientation
may be an online tutorial or it may be conducted live online via a "chat
room". Your instructor will go over the
course requirements in detail and acquaint you with any computer programs,
videotapes, or other course materials that will be used.
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Do I need to attend the orientation?
That will depend on the instructor. Instructors can designate their orientations as required,
recommended, or optional.
Failure to attend or complete a required orientation may result in your being dropped from the course. You can
find out how your instructor has designated orientation for your specific course by checking
the course's Information Page.
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How do I get my textbooks?
Approximately 3 weeks prior to the start of the session you can view the list of books that have been selected by your instructor by either checking
the course's Information Page or by going to
www.bucks.edu/bookstore and search for your textbook information.
You may purchase your textbooks, study guides, and any ancillary
materials by visiting our on-campus bookstore or you may purchase them online from MBS Direct, our online bookstore, at http://direct.mbsbooks.com/bucks.htm. If you purchase your textbook elsewhere be careful and make sure you are getting the correct textbook edition and other related materials.
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My course uses videos. How do I obtain them?
Some videos are available through our campus libraries at no charge
- a few can be lent out while others must be viewed in the library. For a
number of classes, the videos are available for rental from
MBS Direct.
All videos handled by MBS are also available for viewing in our campus libraries. The rental
fee is $15 and the refundable deposit fee is $25. Check with course's Information Page to see which applies to your particular course. Still others may be rented from a video store or Netflix.
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Will I have to come to campus very often?
By definition eLearning courses may only have one on-campus orientation meeting. The number of on-campus meetings for Hybrid courses will vary. Detailed information on class meetings are available on the course's Information Page. Many courses do not require any on-campus visits.
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What do I do if I am having a problem in a course?
Always
begin by speaking with your instructor. Additionally, there are a variety
of student services
available to help you. Depending on your problem, you can also turn to
the Tutoring Center, Technology Learning Center, Counseling Services, the Online
Learning office, and the other online learning students in your class.
All the resources available for face-to-face students are available to
you.
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How do I take a test?
Once again, this will depend on the specific course. Some tests can be
done at home (online or on paper), while others must be proctored.
Proctoring is available free
of charge, day and evening, at our Newtown campus
Testing Center and
more limited times at our off-campus sites.
Check the website for established times when this
service is available. If necessary, and especially for those students
outside of Bucks County, you may propose your own proctor. There is a form
for this at
www.bucks.edu/online/proctor_form.htm.
Your instructor must approve of the proctor you have
proposed.
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How will I get my mid-term and final grades?
The same way as face-to-face students -- you will need to login to
Web Advisor to retrieve your grades.
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CAN I EARN A DEGREE OR TRANSFER MY CREDITS?
Can I earn a degree just by taking eLearning and Hybrid courses?
Yes! There are over two hundred eLearning or Hybrid courses
available. Eleven majors and three certificate programs can be completed in their entirety through a combination of eLearning and Hybrid courses:
Associate's Degrees in:
Business Administration
Education (Transfer)
Information Technology Studies
Liberal Arts - General Emphasis
Liberal Arts - Humanities
Liberal Arts - Psychology/Life Skills Emphasis
Liberal Arts - Social Science Emphasis
Management/Marketing - General Emphasis
Management/Marketing - Small Business Management Emphasis
Management/Marketing - Retail Emphasis
Medical
Assisting - through the PAVCC
Occupational Studies
Certificates in:
Entrepreneurship
- 15/16 credits
Management - 16 credits
Supervision - 18
credits
Many other programs of study and certificates are at least
50% available via eLearning and Hybrid. For example, 90% of both the Liberal Arts:
American Studies and the Journalism programs are currently available through
a combination of eLearning and Hybrid courses.
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Does taking an eLearning or Hybrid course affect its transferability
to other colleges?
Every college sets its own policies concerning the courses and credits
they will accept. BCCC transcripts do not differentiate between eLearning/Hybrid and face-to-face courses.
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How do I plan my transfer to another college
without losing time or credits?
Although each college has its own policies concerning
transfer of courses and credit, colleges frequently enter into Transfer
Agreements. A Transfer Agreement can save students time and money as they
pursue their degrees. Transfer Agreements may take several forms, but they
typically include dual admission agreements and/or core-to-core transfer
agreements. These agreements streamline the transfer process and help
alleviate two major stumbling blocks to transfer: not receiving credit for
all courses or having to complete additional coursework in order to
fulfill degree requirements. The
Transfer Center provides assistance to students who plan to transfer.
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I prefer a totally online format. Does BCCC have any Transfer Agreements with four-year
schools that also offer baccalaureate degrees totally online?
BCCC has established transfer agreements with several
schools that offer online baccalaureate degrees. They include the
University of Delaware, the
University of Maryland
University College, the
University of
Phoenix, Governors
State University, and
Thomas Edison State College . Details on each of these agreements are
available through the
Transfer Center.
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When should I start
planning if I want to transfer?
The sooner you start to plan for transfer the better.
Many colleges offer scholarships, discounts, and/or guaranteed admission
to transfer students who decide early (typically within the first year of
full time study) on a school or program. If your education goals include
a baccalaureate degree, you need to decide on a college or at least narrow
down your transfer choices early in your educational career.
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I am an adult with lots of
life experience, but my college transcript does not reflect my real
capabilities. Can I get college credit for my experience?
LLEAP (Life Learning Experience Assessment Program)
will help you assess your experience to determine if your learning
translates into college credits. An advisor will assist you in determining
which methods best fit your particular situation. For more information
contact the
PLA
office.
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What is the PAVCCC?
BCCC is a founding member of the Pennsylvania Virtual
Community College Consortium. The consortium helps Bucks students facilitate taking online courses from other Pennsylvania community colleges. For more information, please visit
the PAVCCC website,
www.pavcc.org.
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