“Success is the result achieved when nobody answers” --Gertrude Stein

When it comes to Distance Learning courses, success is the result achieved when students don’t e-mail you with questions such as: What are the assignments? How do I turn them in? What are the due dates? Are there any textbooks? WHERE’S THE COURSE?!!!

During the last couple semesters several students who attended the Distance Learning Orientations discovered that their courses were not available and/or not ready during the first week of classes. On-line students in general are usually a little worried, paranoid, and on edge to begin with. They assume it is their own fault when they can’t find a course or relevant info—and often drive themselves bonkers trying to find the material. NEVER in their wildest dreams do they imagine that a MCC FACULTY MEMBER would not be prepared to start the semester.

If you are an on-line instructor with a regular Spring 2004 start date, your course should be ready by the morning of Tuesday, January 20. Those with later start dates should be ready by the morning of that start date.

For help on elements that should be available to students at the start of the semester, please consult the “Distance Learning Course Information Checklist.”

Faculty members who use various on-line tools, such as WebCT, Webboard and Midas, automatically provide students with easy access to their course materials via the MyMCC portal. If you don’t use any of these tools, please be sure to provide access--or at least instructions on how to access the course--via your personal homepage.

If you are interested in using the MCC automated homepage, please go here for instructions and a description of features.