Student Expectations
To be a successful online student, you will need to meet various expectations:
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Commit a minimum of 6-8 hours per week to the course. Online courses aren't easier or any less time-consuming than face-to-face courses. However, they do allow greater flexibility about where and when you complete the course work. |
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Actively participate in online interactions. PLS online classes are not independent study courses. You are required to interact with the facilitator and other members of the class on a weekly basis. Communication occurs through written "conversations" posted in the Forums, Blog, and Chat areas of the course, individual assignments sent to the facilitator, and private messages sent within Sakai. Online courses also require participation in small group activities and wikis. |
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Meet weekly deadlines for posting discussions and assignments. Activities are due on a weekly basis. Your facilitator will provide you with activity deadlines. Many activities require a follow-up discussion with your classmates about your activity so the earlier you post your assignments, the more time you will have to receive invaluable feedback from your peers. |
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Communicate any questions or concerns to your facilitator or to PLS operations. Your facilitator won't know if you're having any problems unless you speak up. Please contact your facilitator if you need help with any assignments or if you're having technical difficulties. If you are unable to reach your facilitator or have other questions, please contact Judy Lalli at jlalli@plsweb.com or by phone at 215.872.0233. |
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Notify your facilitator if an emergency arises that prevents you from logging into the course for more than 5 days. Your weekly participation is a course requirement. Special arrangements may be made in the case of an emergency. |
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Read all course content thoroughly. Course content is provided online in the Key Information for each topic, on websites hosted around the world, and in any additional materials including textbooks or CD-ROMs. |
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Keep backup copies of all of your course work. Although every precaution is taken to safeguard your work within Sakai, it's important to keep copies of all course work on your computer as a backup. Coursework includes all discussion postings, assignments, and messages. You may also choose to keep a hard copy of your work. |
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Complete and return necessary paperwork to PLS and your college or university. Returning paperwork in a timely manner ensures that your grade and credit can be recorded accurately. |