Ten Things for New Online Students
First: You need to go to the http://vlc.udayton.edu website and create a
profile to be able to register for a course. Once you create a profile, it is
permanently in the system. Select a course and you will receive an affirmation
(as well as email) and further directions for online payment. Please note that
we strongly recommend that a first time e-student register for only one course
at a time! E-students are expected to spend approximately 5-7 hours a
week with the course material:
Second: You will receive a notice if you need a textbook for the
course. Please order the book immediately upon receiving the message. You
may be able to order this book via Amazon.com. We have a special VLCFF
bookstore there. Once you register for the course, you will receive those
directions. You can also find book information in the VLCFF online course
catalog available through the home page.
Third: Get started on the course as soon as you have access. You
will receive an email reminder about the course on the Friday before the course
begins. The official start day is always a Sunday but you will have access on
the preceding Saturday.
Fourth: Take some quality time to review each week of the course's
work. Become familiar with what is expected of you within the course. The nice
thing about our courses is that the format is basically the same for all our
courses. Thus, once you become familiar with the first session, you should do fine
with the other sessions and courses. It is a good idea to print the weekly
study chart provided with each session as a handy quick reference as you study
along within the online community of learners.
Fifth: Each session will have reflection questions, online quizzes,
discussion boards (2 or more), essay exercises, and an assessment
question/activity. Please pay attention to any required writing minimums.
Sixth: The discussion boards are 'imperative' for your success in
the online course. It is here that the facilitator knows that the e-student has
read, reflected and integrated the course information. Also, the
discussion boards create an online community. Participation is not only key, it is mandatory for completions. All students are
required to post a minimum of three times during the actual week for each
discussion board as follows: 1st post) your original thoughts related to the
question; 2nd post) comment on other's contributions on the discussion boards
along the way during the week. You can comment on individual comments, or read
several and write a kind of general response/contribution to their ideas; 3rd
post and others) toward the end of the week check in again to the discussion
board to post any closing thoughts.
We ask e-students to post a
minimum of 3 times because we are always asked, "How many times should I
post?" This is not a correspondence course. It is meant to be a 'living
course' with interaction flowing between the facilitator, e-student and
community of e-students. You can definitely post more than 3x’s!
It is only the minimum! Do not post your three comments all at the same
time within the same period of minutes! We are striving to create an experience
of quality adult learning in an online environment. We are looking for each
student to cultivate mature, adult, depth-learning skills, and experience the
sense of community online. Sometimes e-students think they can quickly go
through the course work within one day for the week. Such a student misses the
point for authentic e-learning as a community of learners. Once you start
to feel that you are part of a community and are getting to know the others in
your course you will know that you have the process correct.
Seventh: Stick to the schedule. You can definitely read ahead to
capture the breadth and depth of the content of the course to see how the
elements work together. However, stay with the community online within
each week, starting and ending promptly. Do not leave all the work until the
weekend because it puts all the other students behind as well since they are to
read your contributions on the discussion boards as well.
Eighth: Always feel free to communicate with your facilitator via
the VLC-Mail. You will see it listed at the top of the menu bar. You can
select to whom you want to send a message: to the facilitator (select her/his
name), or to the single student or everyone by putting a checkmark by “Select
All Users.”
Ninth: You will notice that some of the courses will have questions
for e-students in general or, if you are registered for a Certificate program -
like Certificate in Catechesis - you will have additional questions that
directly relates to the Certificate you are working on. You will respond to
these questions within the course. All Certificate students will receive
a score - Distinguished, Very Good, or Good. This is required because dioceses
want to know the quality of the e-student’s work. For more information
click the Certificate Programs link on the VLCFF Home page.
Tenth: Feel free to contact any of the VLCFF team or