Online Course (FAQ)

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Current Students

Frequently Asked Questions
1. How are online courses different from classroom courses?
2. Will I be able to meet with my instructor face to face?
3. Are the requirements the same?
4. Should I expect to spend more or less time on an online course?
5. How do I know if I am a good candidate for an on-line course?
 
1. How are online courses different from classroom courses?
We structure all online courses in the Public Services Graduate Program around Blackboard, a course management system that creates a learning environment by providing a central website with multiple, interactive features. Features include course materials, e-mail, discussion boards, online quizzes, an online grade book, workgroup space and document sharing.

There are no classroom meetings in an online course (some online courses require one mandatory classroom meeting at the beginning of the course). Students whose professional and/or personal life challenges make it difficult or impossible to attend classroom courses should consider taking courses online.

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2. Will I be able to meet with my instructor face to face?

Yes. Instructors in the Public Service Graduate Program are always available for face-to-face meetings and telephonic discussions with students.

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3. Are the requirements the same?

Yes. The pre-requisites for online and classroom courses are the same. However to ensure successful completion of an online course, read FAQ’s 4 and 5 below, before taking an online course.

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4. Should I expect to spend more or less time on an online course?

You should expect to spend a bit more time on online courses than classroom courses. The key distinction is that your time usage is at your discretion (as long as you meet deadlines). In a classroom course you must be in a classroom on a certain day and time of the week, regardless of personal or professional responsibilities. Online courses typically have a weekly format in which online participation is required anytime during that week. So even though many spend more time for preparation, you can do so at your own pace and schedule.

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5. How do I know if I am a good candidate for an on-line course?

Online learning is not for all. To determine whether online courses will work for you see the check-list of successful online learning attributes below:

Self-motivation and self-discipline:
These are perhaps the most important attributes for potential online learners. Classroom courses rely on face-to-face interactions between the instructor and students to engage and motivate learners. Since the primary form of interaction between the instructor and students is online, success in online courses depends on self-motivation and self-discipline. You also need to have excellent time-management skills that will enable you to plan and balance coursework with your professional and personal responsibilities.

Willingness to actively interact with instructors and other students primarily through the Internet:
You should feel comfortable interacting mostly online with colleagues in the course and the instructor. This includes asking questions and posting comments online that pertain to reading materials or posts of other students and instructor.

Comfortable using a computer and the Internet:
You should like computers and feel comfortable using them. If the idea of sitting in front of a computer for extended periods of time does not appeal, to you online learning may not be for you. You do not need to be a computer expert to take an online learning course, but you must be able to complete basic tasks, such as downloading and installing programs, using word processing software (such as Microsoft Word), using a web browser (such as Internet Explorer or Netscape), and sending e-mail. DePaul University provides free training to graduate students who need to polish their skills computing.. For more information and to sign-up for this training go to http://www.itd.depaul.edu/website/students/training.asp

In general, we teach online courses with the assumption that students are familiar with the software tools required in these courses. Please contact the instructor before you register to find out what software skills (if any) you will need.

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