Student Handbook

Distance Learning Student Handbook

Florida Community College at Jacksonville Mission: We are dedicated to meaningful learning and excellent teaching, enabling individuals to achieve their hopes, dreams and full potential, and to being a leading partner in creating a dynamic, prosperous community of enlightened leaders and thoughtful, effective, global citizens.

This handbook is designed to provide new and current distance learning students with quick reference information about Florida Community College's extensive distance learning program.

Please consult the Florida Community College Catalog 2007-2008 for complete College general information, admissions, academics, student services, degree and certificate programs, and rules and regulations.

"Distance Learning," or "Distance Education" refers to a course delivery method in which students do not have to be physically present in the same location as the instructor, or other students. Before the advent of Internet communications, distance learning was conducted as the "correspondence course," which utilized audiotapes, telephone communication, and the mailing of assignments.

Today, the "online course" and the "telecourse" are used as primary modes of distance learning. We offer online, cd-based, and telecourses in an extensive variety of credit program areas.

CD-Based courses are self-paced courses. The course consists of textbooks, a study guide, a syllabus and a CD containing professionally-produced telecourse lessons. Each course has an assigned instructor. As a self-paced, course you will have access to your instructor via e-mail, phone, and postal mail.

Online courses are offered via the Internet. At Florida Community College, online courses are offered through the Blackboard learning management systems. A learning management system is an Internet-based software platform that you use to take an online course. It contains tools for distance learning, such as a hyperlinked syllabus, course content and notes, a Bulletin Board system and chat for collaboration and communication, assignment drop boxes, interactive quizzes and exams, and much more! All online courses are instructor-led and use the same schedule as on-campus courses. This means that you may have midterm and final exams, papers, and discussion assignments to complete with deadlines. Online instructors use a variety of learning methods and assignments in online courses just as they do in an on-campus class. For more information about online courses, visit the Distance Learning Online Course Page, and the Online Course FAQs .

Telecourses are professionally produced video lessons that can be viewed on cable TV, on videotapes at any Florida Community College at Jacksonville learning resources center or recorded on your VCR. Students follow a program airing schedule for weekly viewing of lessons, and follow a syllabus, study guide, and textbook under the guidance of a faculty member. For more information about telecourses, visit the Distance Learning Telecourses Page, and the Telecourse FAQs.

CD-based courses, online courses, and telecourses require assignments, papers, participation, and exams. Distance Learning is more convenient for students who cannot physically come to on-campus due to schedule conflicts, however, distance learning courses are not"easier!" Distance Learning courses are as comprehensive, and require as much study time and effort as on-campus courses.