What is an online course really like at OHCC

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Am I on my own to do this? No, every course is led by a qualified and experienced instructor who will interact with you on your work and assignments.

2. Do I have to be in the course room at a set time each day? No, you work on your course at any time of the day or night. You will have a schedule of activities and assignments to help you keep on track. Just keep up with that and you are good to go!

3. How do I access all the materials for the course? When you enroll in a course you will be able to see if any textbooks are required. If so, full information is given on how to get these materials. In the course, all lectures, video or audio clips, Power Points, etc. are available in the course room. You do not have to search on the Internet for these materials.

4. How do I find my "course room"?  All Oak Hills online courses are hosted on a specific course website. Once you enroll, you are given a user name and password to access that course site. In your course you will see your grade book (to track what you have done and the instructor's assessment), activities, a forum for communicating with other students and your instructor, a way to email your instructor or fellow students, and more. It is all in one spot!

5. How much do I need to know about computers to take an online course? If you can do email, use a text program like WORD to type papers, move around in your document and check your spelling and grammar, you can learn the ins and outs of doing an online course. In general, it will take you about a week to feel comfortable in the online course room. When you do have a problem, there is always the "HELP" button to get assistance!

6. How much time will it take? Online courses are college-level academic courses. When you do your work is more flexible, but you still do need to commit to do some quality study time if you want to excel. The time will vary by student, but you should count on 8-9 hours/week or more for each 3 credit course.

7. How do I know if I am cut out to be an online learner? Some people make better online learners than others. But not for some of the reasons you might suspect! It is not because you need "people contact" -- the online courses can still be very interactive with the instructor and other students.  You have to make the decision to communicate! Online learners do need to manage their time, be motivated to get into the online course room, be able to read and write with some comfort and be proactive about learning. We have a "Readiness for Online Learning" assessment that you can take. Just contact us as oakhills.edu under Adult/Online.