Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my course is an online course or view the online course listings?
Look up the course section on SeaNet (no password is required). Online courses are designated ONLINE in the Instructional Method field. SOME courses listed as online will still require face to face meetings. Be sure to read the notes about the course and contact instructors for details.
How do I access my online course?
Access to courses depends on the platform for your course. Your instructor can notify you of this information if you are unsure.
*Note: courses will normally not be available before the first day of classes.
Login Instructions for Blackboard Vista 4
Will my online course have class meetings?
Maybe! Some instructors prefer some face to face meetings even if your section is designated ONLIN in the Instructional Method field. Check with the instructor if you have a question about this.
Are there due dates in online classes?
Absolutely. Online classes are not self-paced; your professor will have a schedule of assignment due dates.
Is there anything I should do to get ready before my course begins?
Yes!
- First of all, you should check your UNCW email account frequently, and keep your inbox clear. If you are a new or visiting student and don’t have or know about your UNCW email account, contact the TAC immediately. Remember that your UNCW email account is the only way your professor has of contacting you.
- Next, go to the Technical Requirements link to make sure you have the right hardware and software. You will have an easier time in your online course if you have 24/7 high-speed internet access at home. It’s possible, but much less convenient, to do your course assignments from the computer labs on campus.
- Buy your books and materials from the campus bookstore.
How can I contact my professor?
In your SeaNet schedule, there is an email icon [image emailicon.gif] next to your professor’s name. You can also check the UNCW directory for your professor’s email address and office telephone number.
Can I arrange a face-to-face meeting with my professor?
Yes! Just go by your professor’s office during office hours, or email or call to set up an appointment.
How much time will I spend in an online class?
About the same as in a regular face-to-face class. This will vary according to the level of the class and your aptitude for the subject matter, but a good rule of thumb is to plan on about three times the credit hour value of the class: that is, around nine hours a week for a three-hour class.
While online courses give students much flexibility in scheduling, they do not take less time than conventional classes. In fact, more responsibility and effort is shifted to the student in the learning process and more involvement and commitment is required.
Is there anyone who should not take an online course?
If you require a classroom structure and regular face-to-face interaction with an instructor and other students, online courses are not for you. This does not make you an inferior person. But, the fact is that in an online course you must be able to pace yourself more carefully and be highly self-motivated. You will not have the professor holding you as part of a "captive" audience, hassling and harassing you to keep up, to remind you of deadlines, or to reinforce course content in the lecture. The issue is not so much your personal capabilities and talents as it is your determination to self-start and sustain involvement and your individual learning style. On-line instruction methods simply are not for every student.
