SPSU 1001
Hitchhiker’s Guide to SPSU
On Line Options
Copyright © 2010 by Bob Brown
About On Line Courses
• They are harder than the equivalent
classroom-based courses:
• You do not get the face-to-face interaction with
other students and your professor.
• No regular class meeting times mean a need for
greater self-discipline.
• Everything you do for an on line class is
written.
• Courses available at SPSU follow a
semester schedule; some may be slightly
different from the SPSU calendar.
On Line Options
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eCore courses
WebBSIT
On line versions of SPSU courses
“Half-Web” courses
eCore
• Offered by a consortium of USG
universities.
• Staffed by faculty from several universities.
• Covers most of the required core curriculum
courses.
• You must complete an on line orientation to
register for eCore:
http://ecore.usg.edu/reg/spsu
• You will receive registration instructions by
email.
WebBSIT
• A fully on line bachelor of science
program in information technology.
• Offered and staffed by faculty from a
consortium of USG universities.
• These courses have different course
numbers (starting with WBIT) from the
regular SPSU courses.
• Some WebBSIT courses can be substituted
for equivalent SPSU courses; see your
advisor for approval before registering.
On Line Versions of SPSU Courses
• Many SPSU courses are offered on line as
well as in the classroom.
• Credit is equivalent to the classroom based
course with the same course number.
• You can recognize on line courses by
section numbers in the 900 series.
“Half Web” Courses
• These courses have regular on-campus
classes, but meet for only half the number
of hours as classroom based courses.
• The remainder of the instruction is on line.
• You gain the advantages of a regular class
meeting, but with half the trips to campus.
• But, many of the difficulties of on line
classes remain.
Delivery Mechanism
• Blackboard Vista is the University System
of Georgia standard for on line courses.
• So, most (perhaps all) of your on line
courses will use Vista.
• Many classroom based courses (such as
this one) also use Vista for submission of
homework, supplementary material, etc.
Finances
• Most distance courses are more expensive
that corresponding classroom based
courses.
• Often, a financial aid arrangement will
cover the difference. (But, as always, you
must check with the Financial Aid office
to be sure.)
Equipment
• You will need a computer with a modern
browser, and…
• A relatively fast Internet connection.
• You may need sound equipment,
depending upon the course.
Technical Support
• Distance students will need to be fairly
self-sufficient concerning technical
support.
• Generally, your professors will not be able
to provide technical support.
• That is especially true for your home
equipment.
• Technical support is available; options
vary depending upon the program.
Synchronous Classes
• Most distance classes are asynchronous,
that is, you can set your own schedule as
long as you meet the deadlines.
• Some classes have “synchronous”
components; all students are expected to
be on line at specific times.
• It is important to know whether your
proposed course has a synchronous
component. Your professor or program
office can tell you.
Proctored Exams
• Most on line courses require one or more
proctored exams.
• A proctored exam is one you take “in
person” and in a supervised setting, on a
specific day.
• Proctored exams may be computer-based
or pen-and-paper.
• You will generally be allowed to arrange
for your own proctor, saving a trip to
campus.
Arranging for a Proctor
• Some programs (like WebBSIT) require you
to arrange for your own proctor.
• Programs will have a list of approved proctors.
• Often there is a fee, over and above tuition, for
the proctor’s services. $25 is typical.
• Sometimes your professor may arrange to
proctor an exam session; there should be no
fee in that case.
• At SPSU, the ATTIC can arrange to proctor
exams. Whether there is a fee depends on the
program. Ask!
Library and Other Resources
• The SPSU Library provides resources for
distance learners:
http://www.spsu.edu/library/Dl/dlguide.html
• Your SPSU ID will give you access to
other USG libraries, and possibly to
others.
• You should make library arrangements in
advance, not when you have an assignment
due the next day!
About Registration
(This pertains to regular classes, too.)
• On line course bulletin:
https://banweb.spsu.edu/pls/PROD/schedule_temp.main
• Phase I registration starts earliest.
• You may be assigned a specific time (“time
ticket”) when you may register. Check
BANNER.
• You will use your Plan of Study and the
course schedule in BANNER to select classes.
• Revise your Plan of Study (if necessary)
when you have registered for spring classes.
Time Tickets
• You may not be able to register
immediately at the start of Phase I
registration.
• Instead, you will get a “time ticket” that
tells when registration opens for you.
• You can discover your assigned time by
looking in BANNER on the same screens
where one registers, and selecting
“registration status”, where holds and
other useful information are also visible.
More On Time Tickets
• Time tickets are assigned according to the
number of credit hours earned at SPSU.
(Transfer hours do not count.)
• More hours means an earlier time ticket.
• The rationale is to allow people who are
closing in on graduation to get the classes
they need to graduate.
• Honors students register early (beneficial!)
Questions