Frequently Asked Questions About Taking
Hybrid and Online Courses

• Hybrid & Online Courses Offerings
• Registration
• Hybrid vs. Online
• Expectations
• Computer Requirements
• About the Instructors
• Necessary Skills
• "Netiquette"
• Preparation
• Technical Support
• Advice by Students, for Students

Which hybrid and online courses are being offered?
The School of Liberal Studies & Continuing Education is offering the following hybrid and online courses:

Summer 2010 Session II: June 7–July 22

The Search for Life in the Universe (BNS1120.20)

Developmental Psychology (BPS3350.20)

The Psychology of Aging (BPS3750.20)

Microeconomics I (CEC1510.20)

The Family on Film (CSS/FTF3270.45)

The Politics of Green (CSS3383.20)

Summer 2010 Session III (Intensive): June 7–25

American Art (AAR3180.60)

North African Societies (CAN3430.60)

Summer 2010 Session IV (Intensive): July 5–23

Short Fiction (ALI3400.60)

American History and Society Through Music, Sec. B (EMT3115.70)

Hybrid Noncredit Courses

Social Media Marketing Certificate Courses

Registration:
Refer to How to Register for Courses (online, in person, and by fax or mail)

What is the difference between a hybrid and online course?
A hybrid course is taught partially on campus (in person) and partially online. The prescribed courses meet 40% in-person and 60% online. A fully online course is offered entirely over the Internet using Moodle, the College’s learning management system. The content and expectations of the course are the same as traditional on-campus courses. In credit-bearing courses, the amount of work required for both hybrid and online courses is equivalent to 4 credits earned.

Noncredit courses in the Social Media Marketing Certificate Program are delivered in the hybrid format, with varying time allotted to in-class and online learning environments, listed in each course description.

What will be expected of me?
Coursework includes readings, writing, posting on discussion boards, responding to peers’ postings, and working in groups and on other assignments and activities. This requires good time-management skills and the ability to work independently. Interaction with the instructor and other students occurs frequently.

STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO:

• For credit courses: Have a minimum of 15 hours per week to dedicate per online course
• Submit assignments by specified deadlines in the format requested
• Actively participate in discussions
• Understand that online courses are just as rigorous as face-to-face courses
• Obey the Purchase College Academic Integrity Policy
• Keep in frequent contact
• Manage your time effectively
• Ask questions if you do not understand
• Be prepared to work independently
• Be familiar with your computer
• Adhere to requirements and deadlines outlined in the course syllabus

What are the computer requirements?
Online and hybrid courses are offered through Moodle, the College’s learning management system. Students should have reliable access to a computer and the Internet, and should be able to easily view standard media files (i.e., PDFs, images, audio, and video) using up-to-date version of programs. Students are required to log-in with the user name and password for their Purchase e-mail account to access courses.

Courses require basic computer skills, including basic Windows, Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint), saving files, cutting, copying, saving, sending/receiving, and uploading/downloading files.

About the Instructors
All hybrid and online credit courses at Purchase College are taught by instructors who have an established relationship and have taught in traditional classroom courses. They have all received extensive training and preparation by the College’s Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center to teach in the hybrid and online formats.

Am I good candidate for online and hybrid courses?
Please review the following skill areas and questions to assess your readiness for online learning.

COMPUTER SKILLS

• Are you comfortable with e-mail, computers, and learning new technology?
• Do you have access to a computer and the Internet?
• Are you a good typist?

TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

• Are you able to meet deadlines?
• Do you manage your time well, balancing school and personal responsibilities?
• For credit courses: Do you have 10 to 15 hours per week to devote online school work?

WORKING INDEPENDENTLY

• Do you work well independently?
• Do you work well alone?
• Do you work well independently with limited reminders for assignments and due dates?
• Are you good at assessing your own progress and taking responsibility for your own learning?

WRITING SKILLS

• Are you comfortable communicating in writing?
• Are your written communication skills strong?

READING SKILLS

• Are you comfortable reading lecture materials rather than hearing them?
• Do you have good reading skills?
• Can you learn by reading alone?

STUDY SKILLS

• Do you have good study skills?

INTERACTIVE SKILLS

• Are you comfortable discussing issues and asking questions in an open forum?
• Are you willing to share your educational, professional, and life experiences with your peers?
• Are you comfortable giving and receiving routine, written, constructive feedback to fellow online peers?
• Are you a team player who can work collaboratively with others?
• Are you comfortable asserting yourself in a group and asking questions?

"NETIQUETTE" GUIDELINES—Students must:

• Communicate respectfully.
• Provide constructive and relevant feedback to peers.
• Be clear, use standard English, and do not abbreviate. Spell-check, revise, and edit before posting. Use appropriate subject headers.
• Be polite and careful. Do not use all UPPERCASE LETTERS or multiple exclamation marks, as they are difficult to read and sometimes it is difficult to understand the tone of the message.
• Avoid sarcasm and irony, which can be misinterpreted by readers.
• Be inclusive: send group messages to all members of the class and the instructor.

What do I need to do to prepare?

1. To ensure your success in credit courses, we strongly advise that you have a minimum of 2.0 GPA and enroll for no more than 12 credits during one academic semester.
2. Your Purchase student e-mail account must be activated and working. To activate your account (or to reset a password), please go to “E-mail Activation” at studentservices.purchase.edu.
3. Go to Moodle, https://moodle.purchase.edu, and log in with the user name and password for your Purchase e-mail account: Your user name is firstname.lastname (do not include "@purchase.edu"); your password is your Purchase e-mail password.
4. Go to https://moodle.purchase.edu/moodle/course/view.php?id=383 and review the Moodle tutorial, designed to help you become familiar with how to use Moodle.
5. All textbooks for courses must be purchased and ready to use before classes start.
6. The enrollment key for your course will be e-mailed to you once you are registered for your course.

What if I have technical questions?
Please contact the Helpdesk in Campus Technology Services (CTS):

helpdesk@purchase.edu
(914) 251-6465
Mon.–Thurs., 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Fri., 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

 BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS

Advice on Taking Online Courses

1. Time management is key. Keep current on readings and assignments to avoid backlog of work, as the work is intense.
2. The workload is heavy, but you are told that up front. You must be prepared to commit yourself.
3. Don’t take very many other credits.
4. Make sure you are working on the coursework throughout the term—don’t just save it all for the end.
5. Become familiar with the teacher’s expectations.
6. Pace yourself, do the assignments, and the course will run smoothly.
7. Most of all…make use of communication via Moodle or online. You can never ask too many questions.
8. Be prepared to work in a group setting online.
9. Have 10–12 hours a week free for each class you take.
10. You [the college] told us it would be a lot, it’s up to us to listen!

Updated March 5, 2010