Here are some FAQs or frequently asked questions about taking an online class.

1. FAQ’s * for Online Students
*Frequently
Asked
Questions

2. WELCOME TO ESLW40
FAQ’s = “Frequently Asked Questions”
In this power point, we will try to answer
some common questions students have
about doing an online class. By the time
you get to ESL310, some reading and
writing classes are taught online. This is
just a short introduction. For this class,
you will have a class web page. We will
also practice doing a short quiz online and
a discussion board topic. Let’s get started!

3. Research shows that most successful
Online students are:
● Self-motivated and self-starters
● Have good organizational skills
● Have good time-management skills
● Are familiar with computers and the
Internet
● Are resourceful and actively seek
answers and solutions to questions
and problems.

4. Do You Know Online Etiquette?
● Identify yourself by name in each
email or postings.
● Be supportive and constructive in
your comments to each other.
● Everyone will benefit from a
positive online learning
environment.
● Read information on Online
Etiquette (use the back button to
come back and finish the
presentation).

5. Be sure to get the following course
information for your instructor:
● Course objectives
● Course expectations
● Assignments
● How to submit assignments
● How to label files
● How to address your e-mails to
the instructor
● Grading Policies
● Other course issues

6. Academic Honesty:
It is a violation of college policy to plagiarize or
to recycle work.
You must not:
● Take others’ thoughts or words without appropriate
acknowledgment.
● Submit work that has been written or revised in part or in whole by
another person.
● Submit work that you have submitted for another class.

7. Question: Is an online class the same as
a self-paced class?
Answer: NO
● Most online classes are NOT self-paced.
● Usually homework, other activities, and
online class participation must be
completed by deadline.
● Many Instructors set the deadline for
midnight on Saturday to assist those who
work Monday-Friday.
● Use a calendar for deadlines.
● Set aside time each week to login.

8. Question: How much time do I have to
spend online?
Answer: That it is up to you.
● You should plan to spend at least the
same amount of time you would spend
on a face-to-face class.
● For a one unit class - you'll spend a
minimum of one hour a week looking at
some of the class resources, checking
on assignments, contributing to
discussions, and posting homework.
● You’ll probably spend another 3 hours
on reading, practice activities and
homework.

9. Question: Do you have to log on at any
particular time?
Answer: Usually not
● You will have deadlines by which to
submit your homework, but WHEN you
complete that work is usually up to you.
● Your instructor MAY require chat sessions
or other real time activities.
● It’s important NOT to leave it to the last
minute to do your work or to submit it.
● If you have trouble connecting to your
ISP or the course website, then your
assignments will be late.

10. Question: Where do we meet for class?
Answer: Online, not in a classroom.
● Other than the orientation meeting,
most online courses don't really "meet"
in a physical face to face sense.
● We'll interact regularly through the
Internet.
● We'll be using some software called
Desire2Learn and using the Los Rios
eLearning web server.
● Course materials are available on the
course web pages, the bulletin boards,
announcements and email.

11. Question: How will we communicate?
Answer: In many ways.
● We'll communicate with each other using
web-based bulletin boards, chat rooms
and email.
● The instructor is available to you through
email, voicemail and virtual office hours.
● On-campus office hours are also available
by appointment.
● These same tools will be used for
student-to-student communication also.

12. Question: Is taking an online class easier
than a “regular” class?
Answer: No
● Some students think an online class is
even more demanding than a face-to-
face class.
● You have to stay motivated and stay
on top of your work for the class.
● The workload in an online class is
usually identical to an on-site class on
the same topic.

13. Question: Do I have to have a computer
at home?
Answer: No
● Access to a computer at home makes it
easier, but you do NOT have to own a
computer for an online class.
● Students can access computers on the
campus in several locations (the
Learning Resource Center, and the
Business Computer lab, for example) or
at other district colleges.
● Some students complete online classes
from work (with permission from their
employer, of course).

14. Question: What Internet skills would be
helpful in an online class?
Answer:
● Know how to use a web browser.
● Know how to use an email program.
● Know how to make and organize bookmarks in your
browser software.
● Some familiarity with web-based interactions
bulletin boards, chat and mailing lists will also be
useful.
● Some familiarity with word processing.
● Experience in successful Internet searches using a
variety of search engines.

15. Question: What is expected of students?
Answer: ● As in a regular face-to-face class, your
instructor expects that you will adhere to
standards of:
● Courtesy
● Professionalism
● Academic honesty
● Participate with appropriate consideration
for each other and for the instructor.
● Your emails and web postings should:
● On the topic at hand
● Be appropriate
● Should reflect a professional demeanor

16. Getting Started Online
● Another section of the orientation will demonstrate some of the
online tools that we’ll use for the course.
● You can read the written instructions or watch the video
demonstrations.
● Online links
● Try our FREE sample class
● http://d2lresources.losrios.edu/free_sample_class.htm
● Overview of Desire2Learn at Los Rios eLearning
● http://d2lresources.losrios.edu/index.htm
● Login to Desire2Learn at Los Rios eLearning
● https://d2l.losrios.edu/
Contact your instructor if you have
any other questions.