How does an online course work?

Distance Education courses are every bit as challenging as traditional courses. In order to succeed in a Distance Education course, you must be self-motivated and be able to work well independently with minimum supervision. You do not see your instructor regularly, so you must be able to manage your time effectively and stay on track with your coursework. You also need strong reading and study skills. You will find detailed information about the skills and equipment you need to be successful in an online course in the Student Handbook for Online Courses.  

Are you prepared for an online course?

You can also take a brief Student Readiness Assessment. Click here to access the online Self Assessment Test or download a printable version of the self assement for online learning.

How does an online course work?

Students in online courses communicate with their instructor and classmates electronically via a course website. The instructor posts such things as lectures, assignments, announcements, and other information to the site. The class may respond with questions, comments, etc.  Online students must have at a minimum:

•  Regular access to the Internet and a computer (either a PC with Windows and a Pentium processor or a Macintosh with at least system 9.0)
•  A recent version of a web browser such as Microsoft Explorer
•  An Internet Service Provider (dial up access will not be sufficient for online courses.)
•  An email address (ECC provides an email address for all students)
•  Current word processing software as required by the instructor Some courses may have additional requirements. Computer literacy and experience with computer communication is recommended.

 Will I be required to attend class meetings on campus?

This is determined by the course instructor. Many instructors have on-campus meetings, but some do not. For details, please consult the Student Handbook for Online Courses, available here on our website.

Course Management Systems (CMS)

Most of our online instructors use Etudes-NG to communicate with their students. You may visit the ECC Distance Education website to learn which CMS will be used by your instructor. Your Instructor will provide you with information about the program at the start of the semester. If your instructor is using Etudes-NG, you can read more about it in the Online Student Handbook.

How do I enroll?

Register for our courses just as you would for a regular course. Visit the Admissions Office for more information. http://www.elcamino.edu/welcome/admissions/.