Is
this class for you?
On-line learning courses require
a high degree of commitment on the part of the student. There are no structured
meeting times, and no regular instructor contact. On-line learning means
the student must be an independent and self-motivated learner. The role
of the faculty is to observe the learning process of the students and
participate when it is necessary.
On-line learning is not individualized
instruction. The faculty expertise has been directed towards designing
the best possible learning experience for the self-motivated. You will
have access to your teachers for guidance and for specific questions.
Use the Faculty Office to contact your teacher - they are there for you
- but be aware that your instructor only directs you towards the proper
information to answer the questions yourself.
A calendar of deadlines and
due dates has been established for this course. If you follow these dates
closely, completing assignments and required readings, your level of success
in this on-line course will increase. If you tend to wait to the last
minute to complete projects, or prefer learning where there is face to
face personal interaction, this will not be a good college level learning
experience for you.
We want you to be successful.
The faculty have gone to great lengths to design a course that is convenient,
challenging and one in which you will learn more than in any land based
course. If distance learning is right for your learning style and fits
your needs, this is an exciting way to learn.
How
to Succeed
A key factor in ensuring your
success is self-discipline. You will need to manage your time efficiently
in order to complete the course in the allotted time. This is a writing
intensive course and you will be writing the equivalent of 3-4 pages per
week. I have found that those who are disciplined usually do very well.
Learn to consider each discussion question with perceptive insight before
responding. This will require that you read the assigned material and
visit the www sites in making your preparations before posting your New
Main Topic.
Also, you will need to assess
the peer responses from your previous postings which will help you prepare
for the next week of the course. Always feel free to contact the instructors
at anytime through the on-line Faculty Office.
We realize you will not have
the advantage of face-to-face classroom discussions with peers and faculty,
but the material included and the design of this course will help negate
this problem. The short essay discussion questions asked in relationship
to the readings, responses and visits to www sites will provide you with
the breadth of knowledge necessary to understand the complexities of the
history of photography. |