In an online course, frequent student and faculty participation occurs through a variety of methods including any combination of the following:

• Lectures and assigned readings (i.e. textbooks and online resources)
• Individual and group assignments (i.e. case studies and discussion questions)
• Bulletin boards and chatrooms
• Individual and group papers
• Online and proctored quizzes and examinations
• E-mail communication with instructor and fellow students

Prior to the course beginning date, you will be sent a course packet via traditional mail. This packet will contain information you need to access your online course. Remember to keep your address current with the College.

You may contact your instructor through their GroupWise e-mail account, in person, or via the phone.

Your instructor should indicate in the syllabus the preferred method for submitting assignments. Within D2L, assignments are typically submitted through the Dropbox. Some instructors accept assignments as attachments via e-mail. Remember each instructor and course will have a preferred method.

Most communication is done through e-mails, discussions, and chatrooms.

• E-mail is the primary communication tool for an online course. All e-mail communication is done through the College's e-mail system.
• Discussions provide a place for individuals to respond to their instructor's discussion postings. Students post their responses and/or questions to their classmates. Like a real bulletin board, all messages remain posted until they are removed. One message follows the next in chronological order or threaded order, and individuals respond to the original posting and comments made by others by using reply.
• Chatrooms provide communication amongst individuals who have accessed the chatroom at the same time.

It is the student's responsibility to meet class deadlines. Tardiness in the online environment is essentially the same as it is for a traditional class. The instructor sets deadlines and penalties for late assignments.

Your instructor has the option of testing in a variety of ways. An online course might use online testing and allow off-campus testing or require that you attend campus at a specified time. Off-campus testing might require the use of a proctor. This would be the student's responsibility and would need to be coordinated before testing begins. Each course will have different requirements for testing based upon the instructor's preference. Just like the assignments in the Dropbox, each test will have a specified date and timeframe for taking.

Your instructor, the library, and instructional technology department can provide you with tips and instructions on how to do specific course related research.

Online course content is the same as a traditional course. Students tend to feel online courses are more challenging because there is no traditional class time scheduled.

Each course has performance expectations determined by the instructor. A basic study guideline for a traditional course is that for every hour spent in the classroom you should allow two hours outside of class for study. A three-credit lecture class equals three hours of traditional in-class time and six hours outside of class for study purposes, a student should allow a minimum of nine hours for this course per week. The same guidelines exist for an online class.

The ease of attending classes anytime/anywhere is the major benefit of taking an online course.

Do I have to be an experienced Internet/computer user ("computer whiz") to take an online course?

The technology skills you need vary according to the online course you take. In most cases, you do not need to be a"computer whiz,"but you need to know how to send and receive e-mail with attachments, perform word processing tasks, and utilize a Web browser for Internet searches. To check your computer skills complete the"Computer Skills Survey."

• Course content questions - Your instructor
• Library resource questions - Library -- 507-433-0533, 1-800-247-5039 orlibrary@riverland.edu
• Connecting to your course - Office of Instructional Technology -d2lhelp@riverland.eduor 1-800-247-5039 or 507-433-0600
• Online learning questions - Your instructor, Instructional Technology Department, or the Student Success Center
• Academic questions not related to online course - Student Affairs -- 507-433-0600 or 1-800-247-5039
• Connecting to the Internet - Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)