Distance Education Office |
| Frequently Asked Questions about Distance Education at ECC |
What is Distance Education? Can anyone take these classes? Distance Education courses are designed for students who desire flexibility and convenience in their studies. Our courses are fully accredited and are considered equivalent to on-campus courses. Anyone who is eligible to take regular courses on campus may enroll in Distance Education courses.
How do these courses work? How will I interact with my instructor? Students in online courses communicate with their instructor and classmates electronically via a course website. The instructor posts such things as lectures, assignments, announcements, and other information to the site. The class may respond with questions, comments, etc. Some of our instructors are using a website for their course; others are using course management programs such as ETUDES-NG, Blackboard, and others.
Will I be required to attend class meetings on campus? This is determined by the instructor. Many instructors have on-campus meetings at the start of the semester, but some do not. If you are taking a course that has a scheduled first class meeting, your instructor will give you a course syllabus at that time. Instructors teaching entirely online will provide you with a syllabus online. The syllabus will include the course requirements and information about any on-campus sessions you will be expected to attend.
What software and hardware do I need? You must have at a minimum:
I think I have the technical skills I need, but I've never taken a course like this. How do I know if this is right for me? In order to succeed in a Distance Education course, you must be self-motivated and be able to work well independently with minimum supervision. You do not meet regularly with your instructor in the classroom, so you must be able to manage your time effectively and stay on track with your coursework. It's also important that you have strong reading and writing skills. (See the "Tips for Success" section in the Handbook.)
I have more questions! Who can I talk to? Contact the Distance Education Office at DistanceEd@elcamino.edu or telephone 310-660-6453. We are here to help you!
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