DISTANCE EDUCATION HANDBOOK

CONTENTS & General Information

Frequently Asked Questions	Are Distance Ed.  Courses for You?	Computer Labs
	Course Requirements	Distance Education Definition
Counseling Services	Email
Distance Education Office	Equipment/Technology Required	Fees
Class Meetings/Orientation	Exams	How to Get Started
Internet Courses, Getting Started	Library	On-Line Computer Access
Parking Regulations	Registration	Strategies for Success
Telephone Numbers	TV Viewing Area	Student E-mail
Videotape Rental   (vendor)	Web Page (Saddleback College)
Music 20 Audio	Music 28 Audio


Course Information

Courses vary by semester.  Please check the Schedule of Classes, online or in print, for the semester in which you are interested for up-to-date listings of courses available.

DISTANCE EDUCATION OFFICE

The Distance Education office is located in room 117 in the Administration & Governance Building. The office is open 8am to 5 pm, Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 4:30 pm on Friday, and is closed on weekends and school holidays.

For technical help not covered in this handbook, contact:  Phone:  (949) 582-4515 or
email: snelson@saddleback.edu.  Please include your registered name and student ID number in any message.
For course content questions, please telephone or email the instructor of the course.

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Admissions & Records	949-582-4555
Bookstore	949-582-4715    or online at www.saddleback.bkstr.com
Counseling	949-582-4571
Library	949-582-4526
Safety/Parking	949-582-4585



SADDLEBACK COLLEGE WEB PAGE
The Saddleback College web page is located at:
http://www.saddleback.edu

To reach Saddleback College Distance Education web information, go to the Saddleback web
page, select Distance Education.  Then select from among the topics offered. 
Course offerings will be listed in the Schedule of Classes.  

PARKING

There is limited free parking at the college.  Many lots also have some metered parking.
There are one-day parking permit vending machines at various points throughout campus parking lots.  Cost is $1.


FEES

The per unit registration fee is the same as for regular on-campus courses and can be found in
the Schedule of Classes. 



DISTANCE  EDUCATION DEFINITION

Distance Education courses are Saddleback College credit courses which give students the
opportunity to complete course work outside of the traditional classroom, on their own time
within the semester the course is offered, usually at home or in the computer lab.  The courses
are academically equivalent to on-campus courses.  Success in these courses requires maturity
and a strong commitment by the student to follow through on their own to complete all requirements
of the course.  (See "Are Distance Education Courses For You?" to help assess your success potential.)

Telecourses are pre-produced television courses which can be seen on Saddleback's dedicated
channel 39 over COX Cable television and on videotape in our broadcast area.  They are not available through
other cable stations or via satellite dishes. They are not available in through Cox in Irvine. However, most telecourses
are available through other sources such as the college library AV desk, or purchase or lease from an outside vendor.
See Videotape Rental   (vendor) later in this document.

Music 20, 27 and Music 28 are offered over Saddleback's own KSBR, 88.5 FM on your radio and lessons may also be accessed over
the Internet (if you have a sound card and speakers for your computer).  See "Music 20 (or 27 or 28) Audio" and in the "Contents" section above.  Computer and Internet courses are just that, courses designed to be completed on a computer or over the Internet. 
Mixed media, or hybrid, courses are classes which use a combination of instructional materials:  videotapes, audio tapes, computer disks, online
computer assignments. The method of instruction is listed individually for each Distance Education course in the semester
Schedule of Classes.


DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Campus Visits:  Students come to the college campus at designated times to meet with the instructor and other students.  Some courses have a mandatory on-campus orientation, an optional review and two to three required exams, depending upon the course.  Students may also telephone, email or make appointments to visit with instructors during office hours. The preferred method of contact will be designated by the instructor.
2. Use Media/Technology:  Telecourse and radio classes are viewed by students at home or in the college library; some videotapes are available for lease from an independent vendor (see Videotape Rental   (vendor)).  Courses with an online computer component require students to have access to a computer with Internet access.  There are computers available on campus for students who do not have the equipment available elsewhere.
3. Reading assignments:  Students are required to read and study the textbook, study guide, and other materials as assigned by the instructor.  This is usually the most concentrated and time-intensive portion of the course.  Books are available at the college Bookstore or may be ordered through your local bookstore.
4. Complete Assignments/Exams:  Students complete assignments or special projects given by the instructor.  They may be turned in, as designated by the instructor, online or by mail, fax, email or in person.  In addition, reviews and exams may be held on campus at scheduled times, usually evenings and Saturday mornings.


HOW TO GET STARTED IN YOUR DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE

1. Select the course(s) you are interested in from the Distance Education Section of the Saddleback Schedule of Classes for the semester in which you want to enroll.
2. Enroll in the course(s) in person at Admissions and Records or over the Internet.  Detailed instructions and hours are given in the Schedule of Classes.
3. Attend Course Orientation if one is scheduled for your class.  Dates, times and locations are given in the printed and online Schedule of Classes.  You will not receive any other form of notification.  If you are unable to attend a scheduled orientation, let your instructor know so you will not be dropped from the class by the instructor.  You will meet with your instructor and learn what is required of you during the semester, what materials you will need, review and exam schedules, course outline and other pertinent information.
4. Purchase the Required Materials at The Saddleback Bookstore.  It is best to also purchase any scantron form(s) or bluebook(s) required for exams as the Bookstore is not open Friday evenings when most exams are given.  You may also reach the bookstore online at http://www.saddleback.bkstr.com.
5. Consult the Assignment Schedule in your course syllabus for the reading and other assignments required.

IS DISTANCE EDUCATION FOR YOU?  A SELF-TEST OF YOUR SUCCESS POTENTIAL

Answer "yes" or "no" to each of the following statements:

1. I am a self-motivated individual
2. I am able to work independently with little direction
3. I am a self starter
4. I can budget my time well and prioritize activities efficiently
5. I regularly have 5-6 hours per week to spend on a course
6. I have specific days/times available to work on a course.
7. I am capable of self-discipline
8. I am an organized person
9. I have good study habits
10. I can capably take notes from lectures, reading materials, or television programs
11. I am a good reader, quickly understand written instructions and I enjoy learning by reading.
12. I enjoy working independently and seldom need reassurance I am doing this correctly.
13. I am able to gather information visually
14. I can capably take exams
15. I realize the work for a distance learning course is equal to or greater than an on-campus course.
16. I am comfortable and willing to take responsibility for getting whatever help I may need by contacting my instructor.
17. I realize my instructor may not be available when I want and I may have to leave a voice or email message
18. I am not intimidated by college professors and am comfortable asking for clarification when necessary
19. I can structure my time effectively to meet course requirement due dates and attend scheduled on-campus meetings and/or exams.
20. I am skilled at using the technology/equipment necessary for the course I am considering (computer, CD-ROM, Internet, tv/vcr)
21. I consider myself a mature adult
22. I am confident of my academic abilities
23. I do not give up easily
24. I am capable of doing college-level work
25. I have at least a 2.5 grade point average
26. I do not have to enroll in any remedial courses
27. I complete whatever I start
28. I have completed at least one semester of on-campus college work
29. I am goal directed; if I set my sights on an end result, I usually achieve it
30. I believe I am responsible for my own education

If you answered yes to 24 of the statements, distance education may be right for you.  If you answered yes to fewer than 24 statements, rethink your reasons for enrolling in distance education courses before making your decision!


STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS!

Have the Required Course Materials

1. Make sure you have a syllabus for the course you are taking or know where to find it online.  Read it carefully; it should answer most of the questions you have about the course.
2. Textbooks, study guides, other course materials, exam forms and other supplies may be purchased at the Saddleback College bookstore.  The bookstore is located on the first floor of the Student Services Building.
3. Preview your textbook by scanning the table of contents, major chapter headings and subheadings.  Read the directions at the beginning of your study guide.  These materials are correlated with the media portion of the course and you will be tested on the content of all these course materials.
4. Check television reception to be certain you receive Saddleback's dedicated station: COX Cable Channel 39, if you plan to view video programs at home.


Develop a Study Plan

1. Use the broadcast schedule or your assignment schedule from your syllabus to develop a set schedule for completing the weekly assignment(s):  watching video, listening to the radio, doing required reading and/or written assignments, Internet and/or computer work.
2. Keep notes for each unit or topic.  By doing this, you will be able to review for examinations in an organized and timely manner.


Avoid Interruptions

1. Let your family or roommates know about your study schedule and aske that you not be disturbed while you are studying.
2. Avoid interruptions and distractions while you are viewing a telecourse, listening to a cssette, reading the textbook or working with the study guide.  Let your answering machine get the telephone or take it off the hook if no one else is available to answer calls.


Recruit a Group of Study Partners

1. If possible, identify one or more classmates with whom you can review assignments, discuss video/audio lessons and prepare for examinations.
2. Use the questions at the end of each topic or unit in your study guide to discuss general concepts of the course.
3. Look for ways to relate and apply what you are learning to the world around you.  Share this with the study group.

SADDLEBACK COLLEGE LIBRARY / COMPUTER LABS


The Saddleback College Library has videotapes of telecourse lessons and audiotapes of radio
lessons at the audiovisual counter for use in the library and a computer lab is available for your
use in completing your Distance Education courses.  All Saddleback students are given an
email account which may be activated in the library and basic instructions are included below.
Email and world-wide-web drop-in workshops are given on a regular basis.
Check with the reference librarian on duty.

ADDITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES

The Saddleback College Library provides the following services to students in the distance
education program:

WEB PAGE
A number of helpful reference and research links are available via our library web page.  The address is: /AP/lr

By clicking on Search the Internet, students can access other college and university libraries as well
as online reference services such as the Internet Public Library and AskEric.  Web sites for
specific topics can be reached by clicking on Subject Resources.

ASK A LIBRARIAN
Students may contact Saddleback College reference librarians via Ask A Librarian on the Library web page
for research assistance and for help locating information.  The reference desk staff may also be contacted
by telephone at 949-582-4525 during regular library hours.

ONLINE DATABASES
Students have off campus access to several databases covering over one million full-text articles
from scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers and government documents.  They are available via
our web page by clicking on Magazines and Online Indexes.  Students will be requred to input a valid Saddleback College student username/ID number.

ONLINE CATALOG
EllieCat, the online catalog that allows students to search the holdings of the libraries of both Saddleback
College and Irvine Valley Collegs, will be made available on WWW during the 1999/2000 academic year.


HOW TO ACCESS YOUR STUDENT E-MAIL

All students are given an email account when they register.  Do not change your email address or password.

Your user name is your first initial, last name followed by the number that is a part of your Saddleback email address as shown on your registration receipt, for example, if your email address is jdoe0@saddleback.edu, your username would be jdoe0 (zero, never the letter "oh").

Your email password is your pin number followed by two zeroes (if you did not select your own PIN, the default is the last four digits of your social security number ).

If you prefer to receive your email at another address, go to the email section on MySite (from the Saddleback homepage)  follow directions to have your Saddleback email forwarded to your preferred address. Review your entry carefully and then click on Submit.  Do not change your email password; if you forget it, we can reset your account password but previously sent emails will be lost.

IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE:
1. Go to the Library on campus and visit the Computer Help Desk. Talk to the person on duty and explain what you were trying to do and the results or errors you encountered. They should be able to resolve your problems.
2. If you find you are still having problems, please see a librarian at the Reference Desk and ask to leave a note for Eric Garant, who will contact you to resolve the problem.


TELEVISION VIEWING AREA

Saddleback College's dedicated television channel 39 is viewed over Cox Cable in Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano and some surrounding areas. It is NOT available in Irvine. If you are receiving Saddleback programming on your television channel 39, you will receive the telecourse broadcasts.  Most video course tapes may be leased from RMI Media Productions, and INTELECOM, both independent vendors.  Some tapes are also available from RMI via video streaming.  See the instructions below for complete information.


COUNSELING SERVICES AVAILABLE ONLINE

Need to speak with a counselor but cannot come to campus?
Email a counselor at  eadvise@saddleback.edu
See the on-line advisor website for more details at  /serv/couns/advisor/

The Counseling Department is now offering online advising services, using an email delivery system.
The service is limited to academic advising information (transferability, course prereqs, degree/certificate
requirements, course content); it is not appropriate for evaluation of student transcripts or personal/career
counseling. Please share the news about The Online Advisor with students. If you've got questions or comments about this service, e-mail Professor Bob Froehlich at bfroehlich@saddleback.edu.


GETTING STARTED ON YOUR COURSE VIA INTERNET

Computer System Requirements:  Your success in the course requires certain computer system requirements.

Computer:
PC: Pentium III processor or higher with Internet access
MAC:  G3 or higher

Operating System:
PC: NT, 2000, or XP
MAC: OS 9.5 or higher

RAM:  128 MB or higher

Internet Connection:  56kbps or higher speed

Sound Card and Speakers:  Recommended

Plugins: Audio and video can be found at http://www.realaudio.com.  Adobe Acrobat reader and Windows
Media Player are also recommended.

Browsers: Firefox (preferred), Internet Explorer or Netscape. Saddleback College
supports Netscape Communicator 4.61 or higher.  Netscape software is available as a free
download from the company web site.  The browser can be downloaded from: http://home.netscape.com/download.
Microsoft Explorer is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE. The class web sites can be accessed using Microsoft Internet
Explorer 4.0 or higher, but this browser is not supported by the college.

Browser Settings: To use all of the features of the class web site, your browser must accept all
cookies, and have javascript and java enabled.  This is generally the default setting of the browsers,
so if you are using one of the browsers listed above, and you have not changed the settings,
then you should have no problems.

ISP (Internet Service Provider):  We strongly advise against using AmericaOnline (AOL) as your ISP for taking an online course. 
AOL has an idle timer function, which disconnects you from the Internet if the AOL or CompuServe browser does not have any
activity for certain specific periods of time.  If you have one of the two providers, it will be necessary for you to always set a timer for every ten minutes or so to return to the site and do some activity to reset the timer.  Even more importantly, there are some features in the class web sites that will not be available to you if you connect using AOL.

Student Online Course Access Information

KEEP YOUR REGISTRATION RECEIPT -- IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION

You may download these instructions by going to URL: http://www.saddleback.edu/de/documents/BBInfoandFAQ.pdf

Once your instructor has uploaded the class roster into the online course, you will be able to access your course by going to URL http://socccd.blackboard.com Click on "Login"

Your user name is your first initial, last name and the number assigned as part of your Saddleback email address (no capitals, no spaces), for example, if your email address is jdoe0@saddleback.edu, your username would be jdoe0 (zero, never the letter "o").

Your password is your four-digit PIN plus two zeros.   You will then get a listing of the distance education course(s) in which your instructor has uploaded your enrollment information. Click on the course title to get into the course.

Instructors upload class rosters every few days the first two weeks of the semester; if you did not register prior to the class start date, it may take a few days before your information will be uploaded into the class.  Until that time, you will not be able to access the course.

Do not change your password or email address.

Good luck and let me know if you're having problems by emailing me at  snelson@saddleback.edu . Please include your name, the course you are having a problem accessing, your student ID number and telephone number.  I will check for problems and contact you as quickly as possible. You may also call me at 949-582-4515 when you're on the computer and I'll try to talk you through it. If you reach my voicemail, please leave the same information, and remember to speak slowly and clearly -- you are familiar with your telephone number, but I'm not.

.
ACTION/RMI VIDEO RENTAL and INTELECOM: ACTION/RMI Media Productions, Inc. currently has sets of most course videotapes available for use through the entire semester.  The rental price is approx. $35-55 per set (subject to change), plus postage and handling.  They also have video-streaming available for many of the courses for the same price. Computer requirements and other information is available at the telephone number shown below. INTELECOM is available at http://www.intelecom.org, click on "Student Store."  As of Spring 2007, most courses are available for video streaming to your computer.  Many courses are also available for DVD purchase at prices starting at $15.00.
Fees are nonrefundable.

If tapes are leased, you may use the tapes for the semester in which you are enrolled in the course.  You will have thirty
days from the conclusion of the course to return the video cassettes. If the tapes are not returned by
the end of the 30-day grace period, an additional charges will be applied to your account.  Please
return all material in the original bag or box.  The tapes, along with the packing slip listing your name
should be returned by certified mail.

RMI also has the same videos available to video stream onto your computer.  You can watch each lesson three (3) times.

Call RMI at 1-800-745-5480 or reach them online at http://www.rmimedia.com/.  Tapes are
shipped directly to your home.  Visa and MasterCard are accepted.  You may also place your order
and send RMI a check for the correct amount (materials will be sent upon receipt of your check or
money order.  No shipments will be made in advance of payment).

RMI Media Productions, Inc.
1365 North Winchester Street
Olathe, KS 66061

Have the following information ready when you call RMI to order your videotapes:

 . The course name and title of the telecourse (as shown below)
 . Your Visa or MasterCard number
 . Your current and permanent address
 . the name of the college where you are enrolled (Saddleback College)

Please expect a 10-day delivery period.  Special orders will require additional fees.
 

ACCT 120   Dollar$ & Sense
ACCT 214   By The Numbers
 BUS 1         It's Strictly Business
 BUS 120    Taking the Lead
 BUS 135    Concepts in Marketing
 BUS 137    The Sales Connection
 BUS 160    Something Ventured
 CA 1           MediaWaves
 JRN 1         MediaWaves
 
 
  Frequently Asked Questions regarding Telecourses:


1. Is it important to attend orientation if one is scheduled for my class?  Absolutely!  Orientation gives you a chance to meet your instructor and learn what, exactly, will be expected of you throughout the semester.  You will receive a syllabus (workbook for the class) with class assignments, a broadcast or lesson schedule, exam dates, and other important information.  If you do not attend orientation, and do not contact your instructor, you will be dropped from the class.
2. I work; are there times when I am required to come on campus?  Midterm and final exams are mandatory.  Tests are given in the evening and some instructors offer a choice of two dates (the second date is usually a Saturday morning).  Review sessions are offered to assist the student - attendance is up to you!  If you are unable to come onto the college campus, the instructors will work with you to make arrangements to have the exams proctored at a school or library near you.
3. There are more lessons than there are weeks in the semester.  How long do classes go on?  Most courses have lessons that are 30-minutes long, so you view two lessons per hour.  All courses are completed within the semester offered.
4. How can a one-hour television program equal a two or three-hour on-campus class?  There are no interruptions.  The program is fully scripted to impart the necessary information in one hour.  Reading and written assignments complete the instruction format.


Now you're ready to check out the courses being offered this semester.  Go to the Saddleback College Home Page, select "Schedule of Classes," and click on "Distance Education " near the upper right-hand corner of the page.