1. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR ONLINE
STUDENTS)
FAQ’S

2. Sociology 300
Introduction to Sociology
MokhtaS@arc.losrios.edu
Hello everyone,
Welcome to my Online Sociology 300
In order to maximize your understanding of the material, as well as
learning how to be successful in an online class, please read the
following to help you understand the online learning environment
and how it operates.
I am looking forward to meeting you all online on8/22/2012 from
12:00 to 2:00p.m.
For now, let’s start with some basic information pertaining to my
online class and most Frequenly Asked Questions.

3. • 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. • 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. • 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. • 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/