Practical Information

"e-Learning courses are NOT "SELF-PACED CORRESPONDENCE COURSES". The courses are based upon a semester system with fixed dates for tests and the final exam. There are requirements for electronic interaction with other class members (analogous to in-class participation and group work) and requirements for participation in the web sites.

E-learning is not for everyone. The learner must be very self-disciplined and motivated to learn. You will not have someone explaining every concept on a board as you probably are used to experiencing. You will not have fellow students to talk to in class and immediately after class as in the standard on-site class. We have made a means for you to communicate asynchronously with fellow students via e-mail and bulletin boards, however such requires an effort on your part to post something and then wait for someone to answer your post. You can ask questions of your instructor via e-mail, fax, or the bulletin board. You don't have to commute to campus. You can attend class anytime you want to do so. However do remember that you will be accountable for learning the material to the same level as the students taking the class on-site. On-line learning is excellent preparation for the rest of your life for the better you become able to learn on your own, the better you will be able to maintain a level of competency in your field for the rest of your life -- or the better able you will be to change to another field by self study. Usually people retain information better when they obtain the knowledge in the manner of on-line courses which is also of great benefit to you. So just as in the rest of life, the more you put into something the more you will get out of it.

I. Questionnaires to help you better understand yourself as a learner.

On-line learning is not for everyone. These questionnaires will help you decide if this type of learning is for you. You will go to another site, answer the questions as honestly as you can and then you will have another bit of information about yourself to help you decide about on-line learning for you. So, strap on your seat belts and go to this web site to answer questions in six different areas.

After taking the above six questionnaires, you need to report the results to your professor so that he/she can help you determine if you are the type of person to probably succeed in an on-line course.

II. What hardware and software is needed?

You will need a computer system with a modem(28.8 kbps or faster) and speakers. You may also have a MacOS 7.5.1 or later with a Power PC processor. It is preferable to have a Pentium computer system capable of running Windows 95/98. You should have at least 64 MB of RAM. You also must have an ISP (Internet Service Provider) with an e-mail account. You will need either Netscape (vs 4.0x) or Internet Explorer (vs 4.01 or higher) browser which is Java capable. You will also need to download realaudio/Video for viewing of video material such as some topical lectures. The browsers and Real are free:

Sometimes we will have some files which can only be seen when using the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is a free download. It is also very helpful to have a plug-in which you can use to rotate molecules which helps you to understand the three-dimensional structure of the molecules. A very good plug-in is Chime which can be obtained free here.

III. How will I communicate with the tutor and with fellow students?

We will use a program called WebCT to help in learning the material in this course. WebCT has two sections which help us in asynchronous communication: a student section with e-mail communication, and a section with a bulletin board feature. We will use the bulletin board feature for topical discussions and for threaded general discussions. There is also a chat room but that requires that you "meet" someone there.

IV. How will I take tests?

You will take self-help tests within WebCT to help you evaluate your comprehension of the course and these may count a small portion of your grade depending upon the instructor's methods. Tests which largely determine your total grade must be taken at a proctored site, either on the KSU campus or at some other mentor-approved site.

V. How will I turn in homework?

Some homework can be sent by e-mail or posted to the bulletin board sites on WebCT. However most of the homework will involve math and chemical formulas which are a bit difficult to get from you to me by any means other than by FAX (770-423-6744), mail, or bringing to campus. If you have a scanner, you could scan them and transmit them to me via e-mail.

VI. How will I get help?

You may contact the general class on WebCT via the bulletin boards, the tutor or anyone in the class via e-mail, or physically visit the campus for tutors (the department offers free tutoring service) or the instructor. You can call your instructor or make an appointment to visit him/her in a campus office. When your instructor is also teaching a traditional class on campus, arrangements can probably be made for you to occasionally visit the class if you think that such is needed.

VII. Searching the Web

Here is an excellent site to help you in searching the web. Here is a Microsoft site which has a lot of good information about the internet. Here is an excellent site for more information about the internet.

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