Is Online Education Right for You?

tips on how to be successful in a distance education course

It is important that you begin an online course by reviewing the syllabus and other course items, so that any questions you may have can be addressed as soon as possible. If you have questions or concerns please contact the instructor immediately. Do not wait until the end of the semester as it will be too late for an instructor to help you. Below are some tips on how to be successful in a distance education course.

• Get to know your course. Navigate through your course at the beginning of the semester and make sure that you read each item. This will ensure that you know where everything is located and what will be expected of you.
• Keep in contact with your instructor. This is important.
• Ask questions when you're in doubt. The instructor(s) and the Distance Education office are happy to assist students. (DISTED@VINU.EDU or 1-800-880-7961).
• Work on your course a little at a time through the week. Do not wait until the last minute. You will not get the appropriate exposure to the subject if you rush assignments at the end of the semester and it will be reflected in your grade.
• Course participation is important. Your attendance is based on course activity. Course activity is participating in scheduled course activities and submitting assignments on due dates.
• Complete reading and course assignments. It will help improve your knowledge and help your success in your course(s).
• Check the course announcements and your preferred email often. Distance Education and your online instructor will communicate with you through your preferred e-mail address.
• Check your grades often. You are responsible for getting assignments turned in to your instructor. By keeping track of your grades you are making sure that your assignments are being received and that you understand the course material.
• Manage your time carefully. Set time aside each week to study.
• Be respectful when communicating with your instructor. Make sure that you are polite and not using offensive language.
• Remember that not participating can result in being dropped from the course at 0% tuition adjustment.
• If you need to drop a course, go through your academic advisor. The drop must be in writing from the student.
• Remember it is the student's responsibility to confirm financial aid availability, class participation, and course materials. Tuition refunds are not granted for non-attendance, not accessing an online course, not having course textbooks and materials, or non-receipt of Financial Aid or other tuition funding.
• Remember the student is responsible for checking their VU-x account, e-mails, and Blackboard to confirm enrollment. Tuition refunds will not be granted because the confirmation email was not seen or the systems were not accessed.

technology requirements

While some academic requirements for online classes can be adequately completed via the use of a mobile device, tablet or Chromebook, Distance Education students are expected to have access to a laptop or desktop computer with a Windows or Mac operating system to complete all online academic tasks.

At the following link you will find the minimum and recommended hardware and software requirements necessary in order to access an online class through Vincennes University's current version of Blackboard.

Minimum and Recommended System Requirements (opens in a new window)

Individual instructors may have additional requirements for specific classes. Be sure to check your course syllabus and discuss technology needs with your instructor as early in the class as possible. You will also be able to test your internet browser at the following link to make sure it is compatible with taking online classes via the Blackboard system.

Online course functions often require webcam and microphone capabilities. If a student's current computer set-up does not have an integrated microphone then an external microphone and webcam should be purchased.

academic honesty

Vincennes University students are expected to be honest in all academic work. A student's placement of his or her name on any academic exercise shall be regarded as assurance that the work is the result of the student's own thought, effort, and study and that the work was completed in a manner consistent with University policies and regulations. Acts of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary sanctions and include, but are not limited to instances of cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of misrepresenting academic work.

1. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, accessing information or using resources not expressly permitted during an examination, doing work for another student, and receiving or disseminating content of an assignment or activity (e.g. test, quiz, paper) without instructor permission.
2. Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else's work, including the work of other students, as one's own. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged. A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, opinions, theories, formulas, graphics, or pictures from another person or source without acknowledgement or applicable permissions.
3. Other forms of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, submitting the same work for multiple assignments without instructor permission and furnishing false information to any university official, faculty member, or office.

The instructor will determine appropriate student disciplinary action that is consistent with the academic dishonesty policy contained in the syllabus of the instructor, which may include referral to the OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS for appropriate disciplinary action in keeping with procedures used in the handling of other types of student conduct situations.

weekly study & Tutoring

Online courses require at least as much study time as their campus-based counterparts. You should expect to study at least 2-3 hours a week for each credit hour you are enrolled for in a given term. In other words, for each three credit hour course, you can expect to study 6-9 hours per week. These amounts are to be used as a rough guideline, as the actual time needed to study for a given course will vary from student to student.

Below is a chart that illustrates the general amount of time per week you should expect to study for a given class (per credit hour) based on the course length. For example, if you enroll in an 8-week course as opposed to a semester-long 16-week class, you should expect to spend double the time studying for a given course each week. In general, the shorter the class length (number of weeks), the greater the number of hours you can expect studying each week.