About Distance Education

 
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Distance Education Mission
Types of Classes
Is Distance Education for You?
Additional Information

Distance Education Mission

The mission of Piedmont Community College’s distance learning program is to provide increased access to education for students to accomplish educational goals. PCC’s Distance Learning program consists of teleclasses, telecourses, teleweb, Internet, and hybrid courses.

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Types of Classes

The Distance Learning Program consists of telecourses, Internet courses, hybrid courses, and teleclasses.  These courses are equal to other courses in credit hours, academic rigor, and student requirements.

Telecourses (Section 91) are a complete and integrated instructional system that generally includes television programs broadcast by public television, local education access cable channels, or videocassettes checked out from the Learning Resources Center.  Students watch the scheduled programs or tapes for their course and complete reading and writing assignments according to a syllabus provided by the instructor. Instructors are available via phone, e-mail, or on-campus visits for assistance. Testing is done on campus.

Internet (Section 71) courses give students access to their classes 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Once logged in, students are able to view their syllabus, course documents, assignments and materials. Information about instructors is provided. The majority of tests are taken online. Some instructors, however, require that tests be taken on campus.  Requirements include access to a personal computer capable of providing graphical access to the Web, as well as appropriate Web and email software.  A graphical browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer (recommended) or Netscape Navigator, and a high-speed modem (14.4 bps or greater) are recommended.

Hybrid (Section 61) courses blend traditional class meetings with the World Wide Web, email, and other Internet resources to provide opportunities for student-faculty and student-to-student interaction in person as well as online.  Requirements typically include class meetings once a week, access to a personal computer capable of providing graphical access to the Web, as well as appropriate Web and email software.  A graphical browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer (recommended) or Netscape Navigator, and a high-speed modem (14.4 bps or greater) are recommended.

Teleclass (Section 81) courses are delivered in a video-conferencing environment with two-way interactive audio and video.  Students have regularly scheduled class meetings on campus.   Students will be in the Distance Learning classrooms on the Person County Campus in Roxboro or the Caswell County Campus in Yanceyville. Students will be able to see and talk to the instructor. The instructor will be in one location televising to the other one.

Teleweb (Section 51) courses are an interactive instructional system that integrate telecourse delivery (videotapes, DVDs, or CDs) with online activities, resources, and tools via the Internet.  Students view lessons through telecourse delivery and use the Internet to participate in class discussions and instructional activities.  Students access the web-based portion of the course through Blackboard. 

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Is Distance Education for You?

Do you have what it takes to complete a distance learning course?

Successful distance learning students are highly motivated and can work independently. They are "proficient" computer users (particularly using word processing, e-mail, and web browser functions), and they have easy access to a personal computer (either at home, office, or school).

Preparing for a distance learning class requires self-analysis to determine if you have the discipline necessary to structure your own schedule and balance your time around the assignments and requirements of each course. The following questions are designed to help you decide if you have the basic skills to be successful.

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Will I be able to allocate as much or more time to a DL course as I would a traditional classroom course?
  • Are my reading skills at an average college level or better? Am I comfortable using reference books and dictionaries as needed to understand material?
  • Am I able to stay on task without supervision?
  • Am I good at handling multiple tasks?
  • Can I prioritize my workload?
  • Do I regularly consult the syllabus and assignment schedule to make sure I am prepared for the week ahead?
  • Do I learn best from reading text assignments or do I learn best from the spoken word and visual presentations?
  • Do I enjoy learning new computer skills?
  • Do I usually understand written instructions or do I prefer having the instructions explained to me?
  • Am I comfortable contacting the instructor via e-mail, voicemail, or in-person when I have questions?
  • Am I good at assessing my own progress?
  • Am I highly motivated? A self-starter? Or do classroom interaction, hearing what other students are doing and saying motivate me?

Technical Considerations:

  • Can you run applications you need to use the computer? (This should include any specific applications unique to your course).
  • Do you know how to install software and plug-ins on your computer?
  • Are your keyboarding skills good enough to allow you to work efficiently? (An online class assumes you are already proficient).
  • Can you create, save and manage files on your computer?
  • Do you know how to cut and paste?
  • Do you have access to the Internet five times a week and up to two hours a day?
  • If you do not have your own computer (highly recommended for online courses), can you regularly get to campus to use the computer lab or arrange to use another computer for your class work?
  • Who is your ISP? Are you familiar with their help desk?
  • Are you comfortable using your Internet Browser and URL's?
  • Do you know how to bookmark your favorite web sites?
  • Will you have an e-mail address you can use all semester?
  • Do you know how to send and receive e-mail messages?
  • Do you know how to attach a file to e-mail?
  • Do you know how to open an attachment to an e-mail you have received?
  • Do you know how to paste text to an e-mail message?
  • Do you have a modem or cable Internet connection? What is your speed?
  • Can your computer handle streaming video?

Students who remain uncertain of their potential for success in a distance learning course are urged to enroll in a traditional, face-to-face section of CIS 110 (Introduction to Computers) or CIS 111 (Basic PC Literacy) and complete the course with a grade of "C" or better.

When in doubt, please discuss your plans to take a distance learning course with your academic advisor or with a counselor in Student Development. We want you to succeed. If you are unsure, then check it out before you enroll in an online course.

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Additional Information

Students enrolled in a Telecourse or Internet course "MUST" complete orientation.   If you have additional questions regarding Distance Learning courses, please contact Libbie McPhaul-Moore, mcphaul@piedmontcc.edu or 336-599-1181, ext. 445. 

Distance Learning Online Orientation
http://www2.piedmontcc.edu/dlorientation/

LRC/Distance Education
http://www2.piedmontcc.edu/lrc

 

Online Services for Distance Learners
http://www2.piedmontcc.edu/DL/online_services.htm

 

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