About online learning: Frequently Asked Questions This page gives answers to common questions about online courses: Overview What are online courses? Course Format How do online courses work? Required Skills What skills do I need to be successful in an online course? Equipment What computer hardware and software do I need to take an online course? Location Do I have to come to campus? Time Do I have to be online at a certain time each day (or week)? Registration How do I register for an online course? Cost How much do online courses cost? Visiting Can I "visit" an online class? Technical Help How do I get technical help? Computer Labs What computer labs are available on campus? Student Services What students services and resources are available? What are online courses? An online course is one delivered over the Internet using web pages, e-mail, online discussion forums, and other Internet technologies. Durham Tech offers a selection of full-credit college courses over the Internet, as a flexible alternative to traditional, on-campus classes. Online courses cover the same content as their traditional counterparts on campus and are taught by instructors who also teach on our campus. Class sizes are limited so that instructors can provide the same level of personal interaction as they do in the traditional classroom. How do online courses work? In online courses, students "attend" class by accessing the class web pages and completing assignments according to the class schedule. Students communicate regularly with the instructor and classmates via e-mail and online discussion forums. Durham Tech's online courses are NOT self-paced, independent study courses. Students are required to complete assignments according to the class schedule, to maintain regular contact with the instructor, and to participate in online class discussions. For some courses, attending scheduled on-campus activities is required. Online courses run on the same semester schedule as on-campus classes. What skills do I need to be successful in an online course? Taking a course over the Internet requires the ability to work independently and to devise your own regular schedule for "attending" class and completing assignments. Students learning online have a greater responsibility for their own success than students in traditional classroom settings. It is important that you have the self-discipline and self-motivation to work on a flexible schedule without getting behind. It is also important for online students to be comfortable using e-mail, the World Wide Web, and word processors. Complete the Online Course Readiness Checklist to help you decide if online learning is right for you. What computer hardware and software do I need to take an online course? You need regular, frequent, dependable access to a computer (PC or Mac) with the following: Internet access (usually through a modem and Internet Service Provider) Netscape 6 (or higher) or Internet Explorer 5.5 (or higher) A working e-mail address IMPORTANT NOTE: To take OST136 online, students must have access to Microsoft Word 2007. The online classes CIS110, CIS113, CTS130, CTS230 and DBA110 are designed for students who already have basic knowledge of how to use the applications in the Microsoft Office suite. Textbooks for these classes, if purchased in the DTCC bookstore, will include a student version of Microsoft Office 2007 for you to use. Do I have to come to campus? For most online classes, attendance is required at an orientation session at the beginning of the semester. Also, for certain classes, students must come to campus to attend scheduled meetings or to complete lab exercises.  During the permission request process (see How to Register), you'll be notified of any required on-campus sessions. You may also make appointments to see instructors on-campus, or drop by during their posted office hours. You may find it more convenient to use email or telephone. Some instructors return assignments by leaving them on their office doors. Do I have to be online at a certain time each day (or week)? No, but you are required to "keep up" with the class schedule and to complete assignments before the due dates. Some classes may have several due dates each week; others may require work once per week. You can choose the time of day or night you want to log on to the Internet to work on an assignment, but you must complete it and "turn it in" by the specified date and time. How do I register for an online course? See detailed information on the How to Register page. Registration requires 1) Self-Assessment, 2) Permission request, 3) Registration by phone or on campus, 4) Orientation . How much does it cost? Online courses cost the same as normal Durham Tech courses, according to the number of credit hours. Credit hours are marked on the course schedule in the "CR" column. Most courses are 3 or 4 credit hours. In-state tuition is $42 per credit hour (for legal residents of North Carolina), with a maximum tuition of $672.00 for students enrolled in 16 credit hours or more. Tuition for out-of-state residents (persons who have NOT maintained domicile in the state for at least the 12 previous months) is $233.30 per credit hour, with a maximum of $3732.80 per semester. North Carolina residents 65 and older are exempted from paying tuition. All students must pay a $35.00 student administrative fee per semester ($20.00 in summer). In addition, some courses require lab fees (senior citizens not exempt from lab fees). Financial aid is available. It's important to apply early. For more information, see the Financial Aid site. (Tuition figures current on April 1, 2008) Can I "visit" an online class? Yes and no. Many courses use an online program called Blackboard. You can access Blackboard at http://blackboard.durhamtech.edu/. Click on "Login" and then choose the "Preview" button to login as a guest. Look for the "Course Catalog", and then find the course you are interested in. Note that not all courses in Blackboard are Durham Tech Online Courses, so be sure you're looking at the correct one. We say "yes and no" because not all courses are available to guests, and guest access is limited to certain areas. Also, some online courses do not use Blackboard. However, you can always get more information about an online class by contacting the instructor or program director. What if I need technical help? For technical assistance accessing an online course, see our Blackboard Help site. We also recommend that you contact your instructor to let him or her know you are having technical problems.  You can also contact a member of the Instructional Computing team for assistance: Dave Sorenson, sorensond@durhamtech.edu or (919) 536-7213; Susan Horton, hortons@durhamtech.edu or (919) 686-3752; OR Karen McPhaul, mcphaulk@durhamtech.edu or (919) 686-3585. Many technical problems have to do with the student's particular Internet Service Provider (ISP) or with his/her own hardware or software.  In most cases, students will have to contact their ISP for technical support.  Durham Tech cannot resolve problems with your own hardware, software, or Internet Service. If you experience major technical difficulties with your computer, you may come to campus and use campus computer lab computers to complete your coursework.  See the Computer Lab Schedule page for lab locations and open hours. below. Computer labs on campus Online students are welcome at any time in Durham Tech's campus computer lab. All labs offer Internet access, and lab monitors are on duty to help you with computer questions. Labs will be closed on Durham Tech holidays. Visit the Computer Lab Schedule for hours and additional information about computer labs on campus. For links to maps and driving directions, see About Durham Tech. What student services and resources are available? All of Durham Tech's student services and student resources are available to online students. Please visit the resources page for more information about resources available to online students.