1. Must I log on to the course at one particular place or time?
You can complete your work from anywhere. Please read about use of VPN and firewall of other countries question and answer. Anytime means day or night, however online courses have regular assignments and deadlines. Your instructor will expect you to have assignments completed by their due dates.
2. How often do I have to log on to the course?
Depending on the specific requirements of your course, you should generally plan to log-on for three to four times a week for several hours at a time.
3. Can I get credits more easily with an online course?
No, each course takes 9-12 hours a week, depending on the number of credits you will earn for the course. You should plan your schedule to allow enough time for each course you take, including your face-to-face classes.
4. Do online courses follow semester calendar?
Yes, online courses follow the regular academic calendar. Your attendance will be measured by your participation in the course and your completion of assigned work by the due dates.
5. Will I be excused from my work if I have computer problems? or I have an exam in other class? or I am working?
No, computer problems are not acceptable excuses. You can NOT rely on a computer at the college computer LAB, Cyber Café, Starbucks, or at a public library, because you need specialized software for all of my courses. Always have a back-up plan and complete your work ahead of the due date to avoid a crisis. No, your other course is not an acceptable excuse for not doing your assignment. No, your work is not an acceptable excuse for not doing your assignment.
6. Will I be provided with a computer?
The college does not provide computers for take home use. Students should have their own computer. A computer is like any other required course material. Don’t depend on others for access to a computer.
7. Do I have to be an experienced Internet/computer user to take online courses?
You should have basic working knowledge of computers such as word processing, using the Internet, and checking e-mail. Good typing skills will also be helpful.
8. Can I remain anonymous?
Students cannot remain anonymous and do well in an e-learning course. For most classes your grade is partially measured based on your active participation in discussion activities. Shy students often feel more open to participation in an online format.
9. Can I use VPN for the course, if I am not in the United States of America?
You should immediately notify your professor, if you are not in the U.S. This is especially important, if you are a foreign student with a Visa. You cannot use VPN for this online course, and your account can be suspended by the Defense software of this course. Students in the other country can be effected by the firewall of that country. I don’t advise student not in the U.S. to take my online courses. Foreign IP can be banned from this online course.
10. Will I be successful if I procrastinate?
E-Learning students must be responsible for meeting deadlines ahead of time. You must be able to schedule your academic, work and personal responsibilities.
11. What should I do, if I never receive any email from my professor?
You should immediately contact your professor so that you never receive email from the class. Do NOT wait till the end of the semester to find out that your professor have the wrong email address. Start to blame your professor because you have never received any email for the class, and it is not going to help you receive a better grade. It is your responsibility to ensure your professor has the right email address from you!
12. Is there any personal attention from the teacher?
Professor Chang log on regularly and respond to questions via e-mail, course discussion board, or live chat. Often e-learners notice more interaction with the instructor than in face-to-face classroom environment. Zoom meeting or phone call can be arranged after the initial live chat. Prof. Chang’s office hours 7 days per a week online. Make sure you mention that on your course evaluation.
13. I have encountered a problem while doing my assignment. Should I immediately text Prof. Chang for troubleshooting?
No! You should try to watch a video or read your PDF a few times before you are looking for troubleshooting. Chat is NOT used for technical assistance. It is used to troubleshooting as a last resort. Prof. Chang is very busy, and very often not near his computer. Very often students miss a step or few, and the result comes up differently. You should always go back to your videos or PDF first. Chatting is ineffective for an immediate troubleshooting especially at the last minute, because it takes many hours to solve your issues. Typically by going back to your video, re-start your assignment, or re-read your PDF is a faster way. Unless a technical issue such as a bug. It is especially true for visual programming course.
14. What should I do, if I am sick ?
We don’t meet in the Zoom. We are an asynchronous online course with a tight schedule. Your session typically opens for two weeks in the first half, and a week in the second half. Waiting till the last day to submit your assignment is always discouraged for this type of online course. Of course, you cannot do anything if you are in the hospital. Promptly inform your professor about your situation immediately (with proper documentation), and Prof. Chang will decide what to do. Most undocumented sickness will be denied due to CCNY’s registration policy. There is a caveat for this, because any medical situation can indicate your poor health can affect your study. You may ask to withdraw from your online course, and you won’t receive any grade for missing assignments or incompleteness. The final project is barred from any medical emergency.
15. Are teamwork on assignments and quizzes considered as an act of cheating?
Yes! In this digital age, it is very easy to find out that you didn’t do the assignment or share assignments with others. All assignments and quizzes are an individual effort. Sharing answers and assignments are considered cheating. Your assignments are a very important part of your course! Your online course should be entirely done by you. You are NOT doing a group project. it is also considered cheating, If you receive answers and assignments from students in the previous semesters. You will receive ZERO for your shared assignments. Repeat offenders will be forwarded to school for possible disciplinary action.
16. What is RED ALERT penalty?
When you have been issued a Red Alert penalty, it must be that you ignore a few warning emails. For example, for a course violation such as tardiness of incomplete assignment, idling too long, or assignment submission violations, you fail to address your problems within an allowable time frame. A five (5) to ten (10) points will be served as a penalty.
17. Should I worry about the idling policy?