How+do+virtual+classrooms+and+online+classes+work+at+SLIS?

= How does distance learning work? =


 * How does an interactive video (VIC) course work?**

The Virtual Indiana Classroom (VIC) allows several campus locations to connect and interact with two-way audio and video. Usually class is conducted with the instructor in Indianapolis, although some instructors travel to other sites during the semester.

As much as possible, instructors try to engage students in discussions and activities across the sites. VIC is not intended to be simply a "talking head" one-way instruction mode, but has potential for students and instructors to engage in interactive teaching and learning.

Many instructors establish an online discussion area on [|Oncourse] or a class mailing list to allow students additional opportunities to contribute to class discussions. Students often have the opportunity to elaborate on class topics and to share additional information concerning issues that are raised in the class sessions.

VIC class sessions are often videotaped for the instructor's use. Depending on the policy of the instructor, taped sessions may be made available to students on request, but recordings are NOT made for the purpose of providing the course over videotape.

Students are expected to attend VIC sessions just as in they would a face-to-face class. The evaluation of students may include grade reduction for failure to attend VIC sessions.


 * How does an online course work?**

Many of the classes offered online through SLIS-Indianapolis use [|Oncourse] as the platform for delivering the class. Oncourse is an online course environment developed by Indiana University (IU). Every class at IU has an Oncourse component, although some instructors may not utilize it. Through Oncourse, instructors and students can make use of tools such as class rosters, discussion forums, e-mail, calendar, and gradebook. You can learn more about how to use [|Oncourse] by clicking on the link, then clicking the "Help" button on the menu on the left of the screen.

Each instructor will establish the parameters for the online course, just as in a traditional face-to-face course. In general, you should expect to do both independent and small group work, as well as engage in class ‘discussion'. Activities and assignments will be similar to those you would receive in a traditional class. Most instructors do not require students to be online at the same time (i.e. synchronously); instead, most instructors set deadlines for students' contributions to ongoing discussions and activities.

Most students spend a bit more time preparing for and interacting in online courses than they do in traditional courses. This extra time is a result, in part, of the text-based nature of interactions—reading and writing often takes longer than listening and speaking. You will want to plan to check in on your online course at least two or three times each week in order to stay current with the class.

Students are expected to have regular access to a high speed Internet connection in order to facilitate efficient access to course materials, including the video and audio files that instructors may choose to include.

School of Library and Information Science at Indiana University – Indianapolis: www.slis.iupui.edu