When are online courses usually offered at Ithaca College?
The majority of our undergraduate online courses occur in our condensed winter and summer sessions. These sessions are much shorter than the fall and spring semesters and require more work. Here's an overview of the college's semesters and when online courses tend to occur:
- Fall (15-16 weeks) - no online courses offered
- Winter (2-3 weeks) - mostly asynchronous online courses with very few on-campus courses
- Spring (15-16 weeks) - no online courses offered
- Summer (5 weeks) - mostly asynchronous online courses with very few on-campus courses
Do I have to log-in to the course at a set time?
Most online courses are "asynchronous" and allow you to participate at a time that's convenient for you. Still, all online courses have due dates for participation and assignments so you'll still need to do the work of the course in a timely fashion. Some courses may require you to login and participate online via scheduled Zoom sessions in addition to other coursework.
Will I get to know other people in my course?
For most online courses, you will never meet in person, but peer and faculty-student relationships develop online. In most online courses you will have opportunities to meet with other students in the course via discussions, collaborations, or other course activities. Most online faculty also schedule weekly office hours online so that you can meet to ask questions.
Will I get to talk?
Many online courses use features such as e-mail and discussion boards to exchange thoughts and questions. Some courses will use voice and video technologies too. This means that if you're used to talking in class, you will still have a voice and if you are usually more reserved in a class, you may find yourself really opening up in an online course now that you have the chance to reflect and then respond to course material. With the increase of the use of Zoom video conferencing technology, you may find that you need to speak in those synchronous classes either as a whole class or within breakout rooms.
How much reading is involved?
The amount of reading for an online course varies for each course, but courses taught online traditionally deliver most materials and directions through a written format. Please remember that in condensed sessions, you are taking a course that is normally delivered over 15 weeks, so the work is more condensed.
Is online learning right for me?
Are you comfortable making and following a study plan to stay on track? Self-motivated learners are a perfect fit for online courses. Remember that any tendency to fall behind will be multiplied in condensed sessions when classes are only two, three, or five weeks long.
