Northeast State currently offers many courses via the World Wide Web with new courses being added as they are developed. Other classes are being enhanced via additional materials or communications using the Web. Most of our online courses are offered via Desire2Learn (D2L). You must log into My Home within D2L in order to access those courses.
Web based classes are offered during the same timeframe as the campus semesters. To enroll in a World Wide Web section, students must have access to their own computer with a graphic Web browser and will have to contract with a local provider (not affiliated with Northeast State) for Internet service. If an orientation for the course is not scheduled, contact the instructor by phone or e-mail.
Some Web based courses include an onsite component, which must be met in order to successfully complete the course. Check with your instructor if you are not sure if your course has such a component.
Faculty interested in developing online courses or online components for existing courses can contact the Director of Academic Technology for assistance or to request a master course for development. (Note: these requests are for faculty/staff only. Students enrolled in web classes will have accounts generated for them automatically.)
Do you own or have frequent and convenient access to a multimedia capable computer?
Minimum specifications: (recommended)
-Pentium 3 450Mhz or better
-512 Megabytes of RAM or better
-Windows XP (or higher if possible)
-Communications software (this lets your computer talk to the modem)
-A modem (56k or better will give you best performance) (NOTE: A dial-up modem
will work for online classes BUT response will be extremely slow and file
downloads may take as long as several hours to complete. A dial-up modem
is NOT recommended for online course work)
-Dial-up connectivity may not be sufficient for some content. A DSL or Broadband Cable connection is best.
-And a dependable internet service provider (ISP). Any provider will do as long as you get an email account, have access to the World Wide Web, and don’t have serious problems connecting.
-Sound and video play capabilities
-An up-to-date Internet Browser such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox
-Windows Media Play 9
Is this computer connected to the internet? (such as AOL or an Internet Service Provider)
Is this computer able to establish connection to the Internet reliably 80%-90% of the time?
Do you have a good working knowledge and hands-on experience with word processing, spreadsheet, and data base programs? Microsoft Word is the accepted standard for submitting work online. Microsoft Works IS NOT acceptable and may only be used if documents are converted to .rtf format.
Do you have experience using modems and dial-up communications software or using a DSL or Cable connection?
Can you efficiently use a browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer without assistance?
Can you download and upload files via the internet? (Convert html files to txt or doc files?)
Can you use compression/decompression programs such as PKUnZip or WINZip?
Are you familiar with Internet etiquette ("netiquette") as it applies to e-mail and discussion lists?
Do you have an up-to-date virus detection program on your computer and do you know how to keep it updated regularly?
Have you ever successfully completed a course involving independent learning? (Examples: correspondence, independent study, telecourse or other distance learning course)
Are you self-directed and capable of completing assigned tasks with a minimum of supervision?
Do you see "due dates" as objectives to reach and not "last minute ordeal dates"?