Marist College's eCourses are 10 weeks in length. Almost every aspect of this course can be done right over the computer, and for the most part, completely on your own time. For more information regarding the upcoming online schedule, please visit: http://www.marist.edu/ce/elearning/courses.html
How will I know what to expect?
Approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the start of the course, students will
receive, via email, a welcome letter which contains the link to the course
website, user ID (Marist account) and password, book order, instructor
information, virtual "orientation" dates and conference call information
(if a call is scheduled). Students new to online learning at Marist will
be required to attend an orientation. This orientation session is
conducted online and lasts about thirty minutes. The purpose of the
orientation is to introduce students to the virtual environment and how to
navigate the online course. We have found that students are much more
comfortable with the learning platform after attending the orientation
session. The conference call gives students a way to interact with their
instructor and other classmates at the start of the class. The instructor
goes over his or her expectations for the course and students have an
opportunity to ask questions. However, instructors may use an audio clip,
schedule a chat, or post a detailed announcement in lieu of a conference
call.
How do I access the course?
The course is delivered through our eLearning system, Educator. Students
use their Marist account and password to access the contents of the
course. Students have access to the course material 24 hours/7 days a
week. If you forgot your Marist account, registered students can call the
help desk at (845) 575-HELP (4357) for assistance.
How much time will I have to devote to an eCourse?
Marist's undergraduate online courses are accelerated, intense courses.
Students will be spending approximately 3-4 hours a week on the internet
(same amount of time you would spend sitting in class) and roughly 8-12
hours per week on homework (e.g., reading, research and assignments).
Please remember that these courses are accelerated and the curriculum,
although designed for an online learning environment, is equivalent to a
traditional semester Marist course.
How do I order my books? Students can order their books online by visiting the Marist Bookstore website at http://www.bkstore.com/marist/. Please have the course number handy (course number will be listed in the welcome letter) when ordering. The books will then be shipped to the address specified. Local students can also visit the Marist Bookstore at the Main Campus in Poughkeepsie.
Do you have to be online at a specific time?
Generally, classes do not meet at any particular time. The flexibility
you gain as an online student is one of the great benefits of taking an
online course. However, the instructor may set up group chats or post
his/her online "office hours" at a particular time. Usually, the
instructor will ask for the availability of those in the class and will
schedule group chats to reflect the availability. In regards to the due
dates for assignments, the instructor will usually post due dates at the
beginning of the course.
How do I get in touch with my instructor?
Communication is highly valued and encouraged in online courses. As such,
instructors are always accessible via email. In addition, most
instructors usually posts weekly online "office hours". This means that
the instructor will be "available" for questions in the Educator chat room
at that particular time. Therefore, if students had questions, they could
simply log onto the chat feature and then be able to communicate with the
instructor via instant message. The instructor also usually gives their
phone contact information as well.
