English 1A, offered through Distance Education, offers the same curriculum as a standard 1A class, but via a technology that both saves time AND enhances the learning experience. However, this class is NOT for everyone. The dropout rate is very high, so read on to find out if this class is right for you.
NOTE: This information is valid for the upcoming semester only and is subject to change in future semesters.
Are there any class meetings?
There are no class meetings, and there are no tests that must be taken on specific dates, nor is there a final exam.
What are the benefits of Distance Education?
1. Students benefit from seeing instructor feedback for all other students' work in addition to their own.
2. They get increased opportunities to express their opinions and practice their skills, opportunities not possible in a live classroom where there is only time for a limited number of people to talk and answer questions.
3. They can work according to their own pace and time constraints
4. They have access to the best materials the Internet offers, instead of relying on a single textbook that may be strong in some areas and weak in others.
Why do so many students drop?
However, despite these advantages, 75% of the students who enroll in this class are likely to fail. Why? I have included this section of the web page to help you determine if this class is right for you. Below, I have listed the top five reasons that students fail to complete this course:
1. Students assume they will be able to blame late work on computer or family problems, which they cannot. Work is never accepted beyond a due date. If you have personal or technical complications, you will have to re-take the class.
2. Students do not manage their time to complete assignments by due dates, believing they will be able to ask for an extension, which is never allowed.
3. Students do not take the time to read directions, the work submitted by other students, and the feedback to that work. I often post responses that say exactly what NOT to do, and they are ignored.
4. Students do not write specifically enough. They try to write their posts and essays as quickly as possible, sticking to general and vague observations like "Sometimes parents tell children to do things, but because of stuff that happens, other things result." I do not give credit just for writing words, but for hard, time-consuming thought about specific subjects.
5. Students do not participate seriously in the discussion boards. Serious participation means you put time and thought into what you will write, that you try to engage other students by interacting with their ideas -- not just repeating them. Serious participation means contributing multiple times to the same discussion, inviting feedback, giving feedback, criticizing or adding to other students' ideas. A post that takes five minutes to write won't get a passing grade.
What software will I need?
In addition to an Internet Browser, such as Internet Explorer or Firefox, you will need a word processor such as Microsoft Word.
Sadly, 25% of the students enrolled never even participate for more than a week before dropping, wasting slots other students could have had. This page was created to try to reduce this problem.
Take This Class if...
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Don't Take This Class If...
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You are prepared to devote 30 minutes of thought to every 5 minutes that you actually write.
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You are uncomfortable working with computers.
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You want a class with high standards that will prepare you for difficult college work in the future.
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You tend to avoid assignments unless directly supervised.
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You work better with written instructions than oral ones.
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You already struggle with ESL problems, which are easier to handle in face-to-face communication.
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Your schedule prevents you from regular attendance, but NOT from completing assignments on a weekly basis.
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You have limited access to computers, or your schedule prevents you from working on a class for more than a week at a time.
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You are looking for a challenge and want to benefit from higher technologies AND standards.
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You are looking for “the easiest way” to take English 1A.
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Above all, please note that though the material is the same as a traditional 1A course, the fact that ALL your communication is done via writing effectively makes this class seem more advanced. I do not recommend it to people who already lack basic skills with either computers or verbal communication.
Can I enroll or get on the wait list for this class?
Enroll using the College's online registration at MyEcc, and if the class is full, your name will be placed on a wait list by the computer. If the computer will not even put you on the wait list, you can still let me know that you're interested in taking a space that might become available during the first week of class. To do so,complete the form below by the end of Friday during the first week of classes.
At the end of Friday during the first week of classes, I will drop all students who have not begun participating in the class and give their spots away. First priority are those on the college's official waitlist. Then come those who have completed my waitlist form: first come, first serve. You will be notified by email only if you are added. I will not add anyone previous to the end of Friday during the first week of classes (no exceptions).
Please make sure that when contacting me about enrollment issues, you always use the same email address and that you always include your full name and 7-digit ID number in every message. Please do not correspond about enrollment via telephone.
How do I get started / make sure I don't get dropped ?
To indicate that you intend to take the course and avoid being automatically dropped, you must log in to Canvas by the end of Friday during the first week of classes, read the Orientation Module, and click Mark as Done control in the top right corner to indicate your acceptance of the class terms. Note that Canvas may not be available until the first day of the semester. Once that day comes, for help logging into Canvas, visit http://www.elcamino.edu/library/distance-ed/
At the end of Friday during the first week of classes, I will drop all students who have not read and Marked as Done the Orientation Module and give their spots to those on the wait list. I will not reinstate anyone who gets dropped this way, so be sure you do this on time.
What are the books we'll be reading, and can I access the class before the semester starts?
The class site will not be available until the first day of the semester. You may purchase the books now, however. They are Making the Best Case by Jeff Jung, Five Grounds by Scott Rempell, and Literature and the Law edited by Thomas Morawetz.
How can I contact the instructor?
Before the semester begins, you can email me at jjung@elcamino.edu. After the semester begins, please use the messaging system provided on the Canvas site using the Inbox icon on the left-side menu. However, I do not return messages that simply ask questions already answered on this page, especially those about adding the class. If you don’t get an answer regarding adding the class, please read this page carefully and you will find the answer here. I add people to the class strictly in the order in which they are on the college waitlist, then in the order in which they filled out the backup waitlist form, so sharing the reasons why you need the class won't help your situation. If you have other questions or concerns, I will gladly answer them.
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