Anytime,
anywhere, education is online at Los Angeles Harbor College!
Earn
college credit in a variety of courses that provide flexibility in
scheduling and the ability to study when it is convenient for you.
Online classes feature the same content and most offer the same
transferability as on-campus classes.
Online courses can help you reach your educational goals more quickly:
- If
your job hours vary and have kept you from attending class in the past
or caused you to drop out. You can work at hours that are convenient
for you.
- If you have missed class because you have trouble getting reliable transportation to and from school.
- If you have children and are unable to find child care so you can come to school.
Success in an online class requires some special preparation by you, the student.
Technology Requirements
You need to have a connection to the Internet.
You
also need to have an email account that you check regularly for
communications from your instructor. Harbor College provides an email
address for all students or you can sign up for a free email account
with a site like Hotmail.
An
online student needs to be comfortable using a computer, locating
information on the Internet, and sending and receiving email. You don't
need to be a computer expert but it won't work if you're a novice.
If
you do not have access to a computer at home or at work, you may do
your computer work at the campus computer labs. Printing from the labs
requires the payment of a $5.00 lab fee to the bookstore.
Personality Requirements
Since
you will not have a scheduled set of class meetings to attend, you must
be a self-motivated individual. It's easy to forget to check into the
class site or email and ignore the whole thing. The instructor will not
be standing in front of you reminding you of what you need to do to
pass the class. It works best to set up a schedule for yourself to do
the class work on specific days and times. Taking a class that you
really have to have to get your degree makes it easier.
You
also need to be able to work on your own. The instructor and other
students will be available by email, discussion group, and phone so
you're not entirely on your own, but sometimes there can be a delay in
getting an answer. You will be reading materials and figuring things
out independently. Some people prefer to work this way. If you need the
immediate feedback of your fellow students and instructor, an online
class is not for you.
Take
an honest look at yourself before enrolling in an online class. Some
students thrive in online classes and others hate it. Ask yourself the
following questions. If most of your answers are "Yes" you are a good
candidate for online courses. If you answer "No", you may want to stick
with face-to-face classes.
- Is the online course a course I need to take immediately for a specific goal?
- Do I prefer to learn at my own pace?
- Do I prefer to learn on my own?
- Do I have strong reading skills - can I read and understand college-level textbooks?
- Do I have reliable access to an Internet-connected computer and basic computer skills?
- Can I read and follow directions accurately?
- Are you interested in learning more about how to use the Internet?
- Are you a self-starter?
See also:
