Distance Learning classes utilize educational technology, but are somewhat less flexible because they require students to come to classes on campus. There are several options available and each requires a different level of attendance in class.
Distance Learning / Teleconference
Distance Learning Teleconference classes require students to attend on-ground class meetings that are televised to several locations. Students can register to attend classes at any of the locations listed in the schedule. We have sessions available at Jackson, Savannah, and various other places in our service area. Some instructors record the lectures and make them available for review online. Attendance to the ground meetings is required and recorded lectures are for review only.
Hybrid
Hybrid classes require students to attend some class meetings and access some of the class online. About 40% of the class is online and the other 60% consists of scheduled on-campus meetings. Some hybrid classes offer on-campus meetings via the teleconference system. Check the schedule to see what options are available for your class.
Web-Enhanced Ground Class
Some classes offered entirely on campus provide supplemental materials online. If your instructor uses an online component, he or she will tell you what services are available for that class.
How can I tell what kind of delivery method a course uses by looking at the online schedule?
Examples from the online schedule:
Ground class
AGR 141 01 Fundamentals of Horticulture
Distance class
BIOL 2020 DS1 Human Anatomy Physiology II T - 6:00PM-8:45PM Savannah
BIOL 2020 MK1 Human Anatomy Physiology II T- 6:00PM-8:45PM McKenzie
BIOL 2020 PR1 Human Anatomy Physiology II T - 6:00PM-8:45PM Paris
Each listing in the schedule represent the same course that is televised to different locations. You will register for the class closest to you and attend the sessions at that location. Some of these classes have online sites where students can access recorded lectures for review. Attendance to the on-campus meetings is required.
Distance Hybrids
Some hybrid classes offer a distance education option for the ground portion of the class. Distance hybrids are very similar to normal distance classes, except they have a required online component. Distance Hybrids
ECON 2020 0H2 Principles of Microeconomics - W 5:00PM-6:15PM Jackson
ECON 2020 2HL Principles of Microeconomics - W 5:00PM-6:15PM Lexington
ECON 2020 2HS Principles of Microeconomics - W 5:00PM-6:15PM Savannah
Each of the sections has an H at the beginning and the letter for the center on the end. Each of the listings in the schedule represent the same course that is televised to different locations. You will register for the class closest to you and attend the sessions at that location. Some of these classes have online sites where students can access recorded lectures for review. Attendance to on-campus meetings and the online portion is required.
Hardware and Software Requirements
Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements Hardware-- The following is a list of the basic minimum requirements for Online Courses. Some courses will have more advanced requirements. Information on advanced requirements may be found in each course syllabus.
PC users:
- A minimum computer system that will help you access all the tools in the courses is a Pentium 166 or better
- 64 Megabytes of RAM or better
- Windows 98 (or higher if possible)
- A modem (56k minimum; Cable or DSL will give you best performance)
- And a dependable internet service provider (ISP). Any provider will do as long as you get an email account, have access to the World Wide Web, and don't have serious problems connecting.
Mac users:
- Minimum system requirements for Mac users are a 604 PowerPC processor Preferably a G3 (iMacs are included) or G4 processor computer running Mac OS 9.x , OS X v.10.2.x or above.
- Your Macintosh should have a minimum or 64 MB RAM, preferably 128 with at least 25 MB assigned to your browser. If you need assistance in adjusting memory please refer to your Apple Help file searching under the header Memory - Adjusting your memory usage. It is advised that you not have multiple applications open while working in your browser within eLearn* . This requires more RAM and will cause the browser to run very slowly.
- A modem (56k minimum; Cable or DSL will give you best performance)
- And a dependable internet service provider (ISP). Any provider will do as long as you get an email account, have access to the World Wide Web, and don't have serious problems connecting or maintaining a connection.
Remember! The above specifications are minimal, and you'll get by with them, but more sophisticated systems are better.
Browser Recommendations:
Windows:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5, 6.0
- Netscape 6.2.x , 7.0 , and 7.1
- AOL 7.0, 8.0, 9.0
- Mozilla 1.5 , 1.6
Macintosh:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 (OS 9.x and OS X 10.1) and 5.2 (OS X 10.1, 10.2, 10.3)
- Netscape 6.2.x (OS 9.x and OS X) , 7.0 & 7.1 (OS X)
- AOL (OS X)
- Mozilla 1.5 , 1.6 (OS X)
- Safari 1.2 (OS X)
Other:
- JavaScript must be enabled.
- Cookies must be enabled.
- Java must be enabled in courses which use the Whiteboard and/or Chat tools.
General Software Recommendations
Instructors generally recommend that students use "Microsoft Word" for papers and assignments. This program offers the greatest common denominator in terms of sending documents across different platforms. Sometimes, specific courses will have specific recommendations about software. See your course syllabus for specifics about required software. Even if you don't have the most recent release of Microsoft Word, there are add-ins that will enhance the performance of your program. For instance, as the World Wide Web becomes more commonly accessible, instructors are beginning to require students to create their own web pages, or to put their pages into html (hypertext markup language).
Order Microsoft Products
Go to the following site and click "register" on the left hand side of the page.
They will send you a confirmation with a password through JSCC email.
Once you receive your confirmation you can log in and order any available software. You must use a credit card. You will only be able to order 1 copy of any available software.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Information Technology at (731) 424-3520 ext. 50294.
