Distance Learning Center – Frequently Asked Questions
What is an online course?
An online course utilizes the Internet and a web browser as a means of creating a learning environment outside of the traditional classroom. Lectures and discussions will take place on a Distance Learning Center Web site. You will be able to access your course lectures (for the most part, text based with some courses utilizing audio and video) and communicate with your classmates and instructors through the use of a discussion forum (message board). The online courses follow a classroom structure of covering a lesson based on time units. You can access your course Web site anytime of the day and anywhere you have access to the Internet (dependent on security settings).
Who can take online courses?
Anyone can take an online course as long as they have access to a computer with Internet capabilities, have an active email account and have enrolled for the class. An online student also has to be motivated to participate in discussion forums and regularly check the Web site and keep up with the course work.
How do I enroll for a course?
Read through the course catalog and select the courses you want to take. Pay for the courses online (you do not need to be a member of Paypal to use their payment gateway). Upon receipt of payment, your class material is immediately available to you.
I don't want to use an online payment system
Mail a check and class registration to:
PDA Classes
Eric Serejski
4933 Auburn Ave. 207A
Bethesda, MD 20814-2631
You Must Include:
? Courses by name and course number
? Your full name as it should appear on your certificate
? A valid email address by which all communication will follow
? A postal address
? A contact telephone number.
You will receive an email confirmation in two weeks when your check clears.
How do online courses work?
Once you begin your course work, you will find that through the use of the course site tools, you will be able to navigate within the course site. You will be able to maneuver through the Web site to post/read assignments and to download/upload files from your instructor. Your instructor will primarily be contacting you through the discussion forum or by email.
Can I access my course from anywhere?
You can access the course anywhere that you have Internet access. Some companies have firewalls that prevent you from participating in the chat sessions and posting to the discussion forum. Please check with your company’s technology department before you attempt to access the course.
Are there specific dates that I need to log on to the Web site?
Generally, there are no set beginning and end date for your online course. It is suggested that you log on to check the discussion forums and read assignments and lectures. This is the “asynchronous” aspect of the course.
There might be occasion when the instructor will set a chat time or “synchronous” session where he/she assigns a specific date and time for all the students to meet online.
What happens after I sign up for a course, how do I get started?
If you enroll through the Web site at http://trigrams.net you will be directed to a paypal payment page. After payment is processed, you will have access to the specific course for which you enrolled.
Your confirmation will contain instructions for accessing your online course, a URL and enrollment key. Some online courses are under preparation. Their availability will be posted on the section "Latest News."
If you enrolled by mail, you will receive your confirmation by mail or email. The instructor will provide you with an enrollment key and the course will then be available.
What is an enrollment key?
An enrollment key is required only for the first time that you enter your online course.
How many hours a week do I have to devote to my online course?
Similar to a classroom course, to get the most out of any type of learning you must commit a certain amount of time. If a course is rated “10 PDAs”, the material provided will most likely require 10 hours of reading, including taking the test. The Distant Learning model is an evolving concept and adjustments to the courses format will certainly occur through students' feedback.
All assignments, quizzes, exams, and projects must be completed by the end date of the course. The instructor relies on the ethics of the student to access the quizzes after reading the course.
How will I obtain my Certificate of Completion?
The Certificate of Course Completion is available after passing the class assessment (generally a multiple choice quiz). The Certificate is then automatically generated as a PDF file which can be immediately downloaded to your computer.
Will having a firewall at home or at work prevent me from working on my online course?
Although this very seldom occurs, your firewall may prevent you from posting to the discussion forum while allowing you to read the lectures and other resources. If you are accessing your course through a work computer, you will need to contact your IT department for assistance.
How do I communicate with my instructor?
You communicate with your instructor by email, discussion forums, or chat sessions. Students are highly encouraged to use these modes of communications, as faxed or mailed assignments are not accepted.
Will I be able to see my online instructor or communicate with him/her via telephone?
All communication with your instructor will be done either through email, the discussion forums or the chat sessions. Please do not expect your instructor to telephone you.
Is my online course an instructor-led course?
Like a traditional course, your online course has an instructor who will conduct the course by giving assignments, answering questions, leading discussions and assigning grades.
Who do I contact if I am having problems with the instructor?
Please contact the Distance Learning Center office at (240) 688-3431 or info@trigrams.net. Your instructor should be very explicit on the course syllabus or welcome message as to their availability. If the instructor is going out of town or will be away from the computer for an extended period of time, he/she must notify the class.
Do I need to have cookies enabled?
Yes, it is necessary to have your cookies enabled. To best protect your computer, it is suggested that you vary your cookie options to ensure the most secure level.
What happens if I have trouble accessing the URL with my login and password? Contact the Distance Learning Center (DLC) office at info@trigrams.net or (240) 688-3431 and we will assess and work to fix any problems in the most expeditious manner. In order to better serve you, please note the problem as it occurred.
What happens if I want a refund?
Once you have enrolled for a class, you are in possession of the material. There is no refund. This is equivalent to enrolling in a seminar, sitting in the class room and walking out of the room. The difference is that with Online Learning, you do not have to complete the class at a set date.
What kind of grade options do I have?
The grading options are exactly the same as that of classroom courses.
Do I need to purchase books or any additional items?
Some books or software may be suggested but all courses aim at being self-contained or the continuation of other courses.
Will the platform for online courses be changing continually
There will be changes periodically. Changes occur mainly as a result of student and instructor feedback to our Web site. This is done to maximize the tools.
Why do I get emails of the discussion forum postings?
If you are receiving emails from the discussion forums, you are subscribed to that particular forum. You can change this option by going to the forums sections on the left side of the course site under Activities. By selecting forum, you will be able to see all the forums created and to turn on/off the subscription function. There may be a forum that you will not be able to change. More than likely, that will be a place where the instructor will post announcements.
I like getting the forum subscribed emails, but the responses I made are not on the course Web site.
If you prefer to receive the subscribed emails from the forum, please do not reply to the email directly, but post your reply to the specific forum where the posting originated. This will ensure that others, including your instructor, will see your reply or comment.
Can I get a degree online?
At this time, you can only receive a certificate of completion, which is used for continuous educations purpose. With regard to Systems Energetics Applied, completion of specific courses will allow you to be certified in the system and approved for teaching certain courses.
I am confused and frustrated; I can’t seem to find my way around the Web site. What can I do?
Call us at (240) 688-3431. We will be happy to walk you through the tools and show you everything you need to know.