Courses that Employ Online Components
Courses at NGU that employ online components, mainly “online” (or distance/DE) and “hybrid,” require a higher level of maturity and ethical standards on the part of the student. Instructors in these courses tend to post material to the course and expect the students to access it. Hard copies are rarely, if ever, distributed in these types of courses. The mention that specified resources are on the website, implies that the student is expected to access the materials for themselves and take whatever action is needed.
Ethically, the student in these types of courses must recognize that their education is their own responsibility and they must rely upon themselves to maintain their moral and ethical standards and avoid the temptation to take short cuts. Online/DE courses (also called “asynchronous” courses) in particular differ significantly in some respects to a course offered in a traditional classroom setting where the student and the instructor meet face-to-face on a regular basis during the semester. These courses ordinarily require a large amount of reading and constant attention to detail. The course syllabus spells out how the course works. Students cannot afford to ignore or never read all of the introductory materials to a course. To do so will result in a failure to follow procedures and thus lose points on their grades. Courses that employ online components are rarely easier than traditional courses. They are more accessible and allow for greater flexibility in one’s daily schedule.
Students who enroll in these types of courses must possess adequate computer and Internet resources. Students are required to have reliable access to a reliable computer to fulfill the course requirements. The computer must be able to access and manipulate Blackboard® and the other software used in the course. The computer must be loaded with compatible software. It is absolutely necessary that your word processing software be capable of manipulating Microsoft Word® files, and probably Microsoft Excel® compatibility is also a minimum requirement. Some courses will require other and perhaps higher-level software compatibility. Students using Mac machines sometimes encounter problems with Blackboard®. At this time, NGU is able to offer very little help for Mac users in these areas of compatibility. Failure to have a reliable computer, Internet connection, and/or compatible software are not reasons for failure to complete work on a timely basis in any course that requires online submissions. NGU offers computers for student use in a variety of locations on campus such as the library and the computer laboratories.