Online Student Guide and Resources
Contents
1. Trinity Western University Online Learning Student Guide and Resources TWU Online Learning eSupport Team 12 4 2008 Welcome Welcome to TWU Online Learning We develop and deliver university credit courses in collaborations with renowned TWU faculties and the academic departments on campus We have more than 10 years experience in delivering online education to the community and we are committed to serve your learning needs by offering you outstanding service and a robust system Why study online Studying online is different from studying in the classroom Online learning at TWU is mostly asynchronous whereas learning in the classroom is synchronous Is classroom learning better than online learning Not necessarily Research has shown that students in the distance and online learning environments outperformed those in traditional environments on the conceptual part of the knowledge Studying online also gives students flexibility You can download course materials take online quizzes and collaborate with your group members at any time Studying online develops your deep level thinking because you do not have to feel intimated speaking in front of the classroom and you have the opportunity to reflect on the subject and share your unique ideas and viewpoint Online learning also promotes students self paced learning It trains students to engage actively in the learning process which ultimately develops their thinking skills Stu2. MyCourses Student User Guide We have also compiled a very useful student user manual for you to reference whenever you need it Please open the folder Step 2 Getting to Know MyCourses you will find a PDF file called MyCourses Student Manual Overview of MyCourses Version 1 0 pdf Meet with Us If you need more training after initial interface with MyCourses system please open a document called Contacting TWU Online Learning Support Team Version 1 0 pdf in the package under folder Step 3 Contact Us to schedule a face to face or phone training Starting Your Course Locating your online courses To get started with your online course you can easily do so by login to http students twu ca and click MyCourses on the right The webpage will take you to MyCourses portal page which lists your registered courses The courses are indicated pre registered or waitlisted will not show until the courses status become current You may submit a helpdesk request to www twu ca support or call our helpline Please refer to Contacting TWU Online Learning Support Team Version 1 0 PDF for more information Getting your course materials The university bookstore is the place to go for your course materials including textbooks and course packs The bookstore usually order the books prior to the course start date We recommend you purchase your textbooks as soon as possible because reordering the books may
3. in the world Please take the time to make yourself as familiar as possible with this tool https students twu ca Waitlisted courses From time to time you will find yourself waitlisted when you pre register We encourage you to remain on such a class list As we observe waitlist demands amp needs we will explore solutions that are amenable to students and faculty Priority seating for some courses may be determined by proximity to graduation Undergraduate courses If you are enrolling in undergraduate courses to complete program pre requisites please note that the course management policies of the undergraduate division govern all such registrations including payment of tuition by August 1 or December 1 for the Fall or Spring semesters Tuition and Payment Options Please note this information on the Enrolment Services site under the Financial Information link www twu ca es Online banking is the preferred payment strategy Summer Sessions 2008 Instructions O Summer Sessions registration is a first come first served system The payment schedule is different from the regular fall and spring semesters Tuition amp Payment Methods SGS amp ACTS Payment is due May Ist for all pre registered courses or at time of course registration if after May 1 o SGS amp ACTS Courses remaining unpaid after May 1stwill be waitlisted o Questions Email es twu ca or call 604 513 2070 o Refund amp Withdrawal Schedu
4. most recent updates so you can benefit from the active involvement of our work Before You Start TWU Online eSupport services At TWU Online eSupport we are committed to serve you and the community Our commitment can be expressed in six ways to ensure our learners and educators feel invited and fully supported and these are o Friendliness o Patience o Proactive Attitude o Humility o Enthusiasm o Professionalism Our recruiting training and employee monitoring procedure constantly assess these six areas to guarantee our services Best practices and tips for successful online learning l Be open minded about sharing life work and educational experiences as part of the learning process Introverts as well as extroverts find that the online process requires them to utilize their experiences This forum for communication eliminates the visual barriers that hinder some individuals in expressing themselves In addition the student is given time to reflect on the information before responding The online environment should be open and friendly Be able to communicate through writing In the Virtual Classroom nearly all communication is written so it is critical that students feel comfortable in expressing themselves in writing Many students have limited writing abilities which should be addressed before or as part of the online experience This may require remedial efforts on the part of the student Be Self motiv
5. normally accelerated and requires commitment on the student s part Staying up with the class and completing all work on time is vital Once a student gets behind it is almost impossible to catch up Basically the student needs to want to be there and needs to want the experience The instructor may have to contact students personally to offer assistance and remind the student of the need to keep up Just as many excellent instructors may not be effective online facilitators not all students possess the necessary qualities to perform well online In your online course you may want to include reference links to resources and tips for your students to use to help them be more successful online learners Clearly outline your expectations and the necessary characteristics of a successful online student so your students can understand if the online environment will be a productive learning environment for them Provide a questionnaire for prospective students to fill out to assess whether they are good candidates for online learning Source http www ion uillinois edu resources tutorials pedagogy StudentProfile as Frequently Asked Questions Q1 Where can I know more about MyCourses underlying technology A1 Please refer to site www moodle org Q2 How do I enroll in a class A2 First register through the Student Portal for your classes Second make sure your courses are current not pre registered or waitlisted Third
6. take longer Main Store Toll Free Textbooks Bookstore Hours Number Direct 604 513 2005 1 800 882 3188 604 513 2007 Monday Wednesday Friday 8 30 5 00 Tuesday 9 30 5 00 Saturday 11 00 4 00 Closed on Sundays Holidays amp Holiday Saturdays You can also purchase old books for undergraduate studies from the Cube located in Reimer Student Centre Campus locator http www twu ca campus map html 23 To get to TWU please read Directions to TWU http www twu ca campus directions In many cases instructors supply course materials and upload them in MyCourses If this is the case you need to login to MyCourses and enter to your course to retrieve them In some graduate programs the department will mail the books to the students prior to the start date of the program Please consult with the graduate program coordinator to confirm date and method of delivery Course Participation How to contact your instructor If you need to contact your instructors please follow these directions If the call is local and you are calling from campus you may dial the four digit phone number on the phone If the call is local and you are off campus you may dial 604 513 2121 ext XXXX to reach the professor directly Some instructors are part time and may not have a direct line to reach If this is the case you may call 604 888 7511 to the switchboard and ask the assistant to direct you to proper department general line If th
7. access MyCourses and see whether the courses are in your list Q3 Where do I see my online grades A3 Some instructors record grades online and you can simply click the gradebook in the course menu in MyCourses to check your grades However some instructors distribute grades in paper and email format Q4 When do your courses start A4 It depends on whether you are an undergraduate a graduate or by program you take Usually it is best to ask for the start date when registering Q5 How do I request a transcript AS Unofficial transcript is available to students in the Student Portal Official transcript can be obtained by email es twu ca or visit the Mattson Centre at TWU Q6 How long does it take to complete a course A6 Usually most of our online courses are 13 weeks long but some courses may follow undergraduate format which are 2 weeks longer Also other courses are very flexible and course instructors will determine when to end a course It is important for students to read syllabus carefully Learning to Use MyCourses Where do you start As a TWU student and alumni you are given a twuPass universal account and an email account If you are a new student to TWU the username and password should have been sent to you by our automated system But if you have not received it in email you can retrieve the twuPass here https www1 twu ca twupass help default aspx If you are a returning student and you lost y
8. ated and self disciplined With the freedom and flexibility of the online environment comes responsibility The online process takes a real commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow of the process Be willing to speak up if problems arise Many of the non verbal communication mechanisms that instructors use in determining whether students are having problems confusion frustration boredom absence etc are not possible in the online paradigm If a student is experiencing difficulty on any level either with the technology or with the course content he or she must communicate this immediately Otherwise the instructor will never know what is wrong Be willing and able to commit to 4 to 15 hours per week per course Online is not easier than the traditional educational process In fact many students will say it requires much more time and commitment Be able to meet the minimum requirements for the program The requirements for online are no less than that of any other quality educational program The successful student will view online as a convenient way to receive their education not an easier way Accept critical thinking and decision making as part of the learning process The learning process requires the student to make decisions based on facts as well as experience Assimilating information and executing the right decisions requires critical thought case analysis does this very effectively Have access to a co
9. by telephone as well Contact information for your instructor will be included in the course package or posted on the course website if applicable If you are having difficulties to reach your professor please contact the program coordinator department or TWU Online eSupport Team Participation requirement for an online course It is important to know course participation requirement for the online class Some courses may emphasis on forums more than others and therefore require more time spent online The best way to learn about the requirement is to read course syllabus posted by your instructor or contact the program coordinator or the department for clarification Policies and Procedures MyCourses student responsibilities When placing a service request via phone helpdesk or email please provide as much of the following information as you can o Detailed description of the problem o Ifthe problem relates to a specific course course name and id Introduction to Psychology PSYC105 A Fall 2008 o Isolation is anyone else you know experiencing this problem o Full description of any error message s received o Your name student id contact information phone number and email and times you can be reached for follow up questions if necessary You will be contacted within 24 hours of receiving your request to either be notified that the problem has been resolved or given an estimated time of completion Please exercis
10. credit in more than one course without faculty permission or plagiarism Plagiarism from the Latin word for kidnapper is the presentation of someone else s ideas or words as your own Whether deliberate or accidental plagiarism is a serious and often punishable offence The Little Brown Handbook 2nd Canadian Edition p 555 According to this handbook accidental plagiarism is where one has carelessly neglected to place quotation marks around another writer s ideas Deliberate plagiarism exists where a phrase sentence or even longer passage is passed off as someone else s ideas without acknowledgement or where one hands in as one s own someone else s partial or entire paper whether acquired from another person through the Internet or other source TWU Motivation Students can achieve academic goals if the students are clear about what those goals are For some students a university degree is a goal in itself For others completing courses degrees or programs of study will help them to reach career goals or acquire knowledge needed in their current jobs Here is a tool to assist you in articulating about your own motivation for learning Constructive Suggestions Regarding Motivation from Virginia Tech http www ucc vt edu stdysk motivate html Learning Resource Centre and Skill Building Resources TWU Learning Resource Centre can help you with a wide range of academic needs such as assistance in deve
11. dying online saves you time when you study from home you reduce the need to drive to school saving on gas and parking Online learners build strong relationships with their professors Professors are interested in your learning and your progress Your course activities are professionally monitored to ensure optimal outcomes MyCourses strengths and advantages Welcome to MyCourses The web application you are about to use for your online courses is a leader among the open source learning management softwares Thousands of web developers have contributed to the birth of the application MyCourses is famous for its flexibility robustness rich features and sound philosophy The active MyCourses community not only provides support for individual learners it also offers resources to maximize your use of the application MycCourses is built around the social constructivism model which extends constructivism into social settings wherein groups construct knowledge and collaboratively create a culture of shared artifacts with shared meanings When one is immersed within such a culture one is learning all the time about how to be a part of that culture on many levels We have also recruited talented developers and facilitators to help make MyCourses more stable and reduce the frustration associated with technology Our service exceeds the standards of many industries When there are feature and security updates we make sure the TWU community gets the
12. e call is long distance you need to add 1 in front of the phone number and long distance charges may apply to your call E g 1 604 888 7511 To find website contact information program information and so on please visit Campus Directory website at http www twu ca directory sites What should you expect from your instructor Your instructor is your guide in online learning He or she may contact you by email or by making announcement in the course It is very important to learn using the Announcement feature in MyCourses refer to MyCourses Student Manual Overview of MyCourses Version 1 0 doc o For online courses instructors may be much more involved with the group of students in the process of learning They also mark assignments and are available to students by email or by using the forum in MyCourses o For blended classrooms meaning some online activities and some classroom activities your instructor marks your assignments provides written feedback to you and is available to you by person email or announcement At any point in the course if you are struggling with the material or are concerned that you are not keeping up for whatever reason it is important to contact your instructor He or she may assist you in determining the best course of action You can contact your instructor by telephone mail and or email If your course is on line you will likely use email however most instructors are available
13. e patience by understanding the volume of requests the helpdesk receives at any given time and the rationale for assessing service priorities If you discover that the severity of the problem has changed the helpdesk must be contacted providing student number to contact the ticket and new information If TWU Online eSupport does not receive a response from you after three attempts to contact you email or phone and the lapse of 2 weeks your ticket will be considered closed MyCourses Scope of Coverage SUPPORT Reset twuPass username and password Setting up student emails All MyCourses technical problems All Ecourses technical problems Online course instructional design Training for MyCourses Ecourses Bug fixes for MyCourses Knowledge base MyCourses User access to MyCourses Ecourses Course population on MyCourses Ecourses DO NOT SUPPORT Other Department IT SST ACT ES SHOUT AO FS Staff and Faculty emails IT and SST Creation of twuPass for new users SST Username changes in TWUPass Computer Lab logins including all collegiums and computer labs TRINET Login SST Course population and creation on Jenzabar ES Computer usage help or computer fixes SHOUT Transcript ES Admission AO Tax Forms FS Course or Student Registration excluding Bellingham Campus ES Information Technology http www twu ca divisions technology Strategic System Team Stuart Schellenber
14. g http www twu ca divisions technology sst Academic Computer Team Dave Friesen http www csc twu ca faculty php Enrolment Services Grant McMillan http www twu ca services enrolment contact us html SHOUT computer support team http www twu ca shout Admission Office http www twu ca undergraduate contact html Financial Services Marlys Wassen wassen twu ca Key Contacts Courses registration School of Graduate Studies Fall 2008 Instructions Coming soon School of Graduate Studies Fall 2008 Instructions Please note the following important items as you register for your courses each semester o Degree Completion You are responsible to select the required courses and to determine a plan for how you will complete your degree from the time of your first course Discern in your own mind how many years you want to be a student and thus how many courses you need to take every year and each semester For assistance in determining this please consult with your program director or assigned advisor We want to do whatever we can to help you in making wise course selections each semester Course Selection With your degree completion plan in mind select the courses you want to take each semester in consultation with your advisor program director Online Registration The online registration tool empowers you to register from wherever you can access the internet at home on campus or elsewhere
15. le Other resources TWU scholarships and grants http www twu ca admission awards funding acts scholarship html TWU Financial Aid http www twu ca admission awards More department links Department and Divisions Website and other information Admissions http www twu ca undergraduate Global Learning Connections http www twu ca gle External Relations http www twu ca external relations default html Facility Services http www twu ca divisions facility default html Finance http www twu ca divisions finance default html Housing amp Conferences http www twu ca divisions housing Human Resources HR http www twu ca divisions hr about Information Technology http www twu ca divisions technology default html Parking http www twu ca divisions parking default html Telecom http www twu ca divisions telecom default html University Communication http www twu ca divisions ucomm default html Writing Centre http www twu ca divisions writing default html Website under construction as of October 2008 Supplemental Materials Academic integrity Academic honesty is mandatory in the online environment just as it is on campus at Trinity Western University Academic dishonesty may include cheating on exams tests lab etc impersonating another student at a test or exam falsifying or misrepresenting information on academic records submitting the same or substantially the same essay for
16. loping better study habits guidance in the writing of academic papers and the promotion of equitable access to educational programs and campus facilities TWU Equity of Access and office http www twu ca life wellness learningresources equity of access TWU learning resources tips http www twu ca life wellness learningresources learning resources quick tips Other Learning Resources Links Reading skills for university http www yorku ca cde Isp skillbuilding reading html Note taking at university http www yorku ca cde Isp skillbuilding reading html University time management http www yorku ca cdc Isp skillbuilding reading html Preparing for tests and exams http www yorku ca cdc Isp skillbuilding exams html Virtual pamphlet collection http www yorku ca cdc Isp skillbuilding exams html Academic Skills Center by Dartmouth University http www dartmouth edu acskills videos index html
17. mputer and a modem The communication medium is a computer phone line and modem the student must have access to the necessary equipment Be able to think ideas through before responding Meaningful and quality input into the virtual classroom is an essential part of the learning process Time is given in the process to allow for the careful consideration of responses The testing and challenging of ideas is encouraged you will not always be right just be prepared to accept a challenge 10 Feel that high quality learning can take place without going to a traditional classroom If the student feels that a traditional classroom is a prerequisite to learning they may be more comfortable in the traditional classroom Online is not for everybody A student that wants to be on a traditional campus attending a traditional classroom is probably not going to be happy online While the level of social interaction can be very high in the virtual classroom given that many barriers come down in the online format it is not the same as living in a dorm on a campus This should be made known An online student is expected to e Participate in the virtual classroom 5 7 days a week e Be able to work with others in completing projects e Beable to use the technology properly e Beable to meet the minimum standards as set forth by the institution e Beable to complete assignments on time e Enjoy communicating in writing The online learning process is
18. our twuPass information you can also using this link https www1 twu ca twupass help default aspx to reset your login You can also send a ticket to www twu ca help to get twuPass support Please indicate the following information in your helpdesk request l 2 3 4 Full legal name Student ID if applicable Stating nature of the request What are other methods we can reach you Once you have a working twuPass you will need to login to http students twu ca and click MyCourses button on the right hand side of the screen For more detailed instruction please refer to first section in MyCourses Student User Guide MyCourses Student Online Video Training Resources We highly recommend students to first look at our online training videos especially if you are new to MyCourses system For starter please go on our website and watch these short tutorials https guide mytwu ca kb Training Videos For Students or simply open the folder called Step 2 Getting to Know MyCoursess in this package The folder contains all video tutorials listed below General 1 Announcement 2 Homepage 3 Contact eSupport 4 Navigation 5 Student Portal Redirect 6 My Overview Forums 7 Forums Grades 8 Checking Grades Grades Documents 10 Download documents Participants 11 View Participants Profile 12 Profile Editing Assignments 13 Submitting Assignments Quiz 14 Taking a quiz
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