Taking a Telecourse, or any other "Distance Learning" course in which you do not see the instructor on a regular basis, can cause certain types of problems which many students are not aware of until it is too late to do anything about them. The Distance Learning site has put together an instructional page covering such matters, and has requested that all Distance Learning instructors post the following notes on their web sites: S.I.D.E. Road "S.I.D.E. road" project (Success in Distance Education) is now available for LBCC students. "S.I.D.E.road" assists students in acquiring the skills they need to be a successful Distance Learning student, as well as avoiding typical hurdles that many Distance Learning students experience such as procrastination and poor time management. "S.I.D.E.road" includes a Web based checklist and an interactive CD. * Access "S.I.D.E.road" on the Web at: http://de.lbcc.edu/sideroad and follow the instructions on the page. * "S.I.D.E.road" interactive CD can be purchased for duplication costs only at LBCC bookstore (on both campus and online at http://www.lbccbookstore.com) * A text-based version of the project is also available for check-out at the Center for Learning Assistance Services. Additional Suggestions From the Telecourse Consortium "How to Succeed with Instructional Television Courses (ITV)" What is an Instructional Telecourse?       An Instructional telecourse is a learning experience developed to offer you time flexibility through a distance learning process. It is a complete Instructional system that presents a body of knowledge through the use of sight, sound, color, movement, and print. An instructional telecourse includes video lessons, text materials, interaction with faculty members holding teaching credentials in the discipline area of the courses, review sessions, and examinations designed to measure your understanding of the course materials.       Instructional telecourses are more than just watching television programs. Behind every course there are expert academic contributors and advisors, professional instructional designers who match content with the best teaching medium, skilled educational editors and writers, and television producers who bring to life complicated and abstract matters. The courses are managed by faculty members with commitment and expertise not just in teaching, but also in teaching at a distance through Instructional telecourses. Your instructor is readily available by telephone, e-mail, at review sessions and in person during set office hours or by appointment. In addition, college support staff are available to answer procedural question and provide you with assistance. Course Requirements - By their nature, Instructional telecourses require self-motivation and discipline on the part of the student. The course requirements of these courses have been carefully designed to encourage maximum learning. The content covered, type of learning experiences, amount of learning activities, and demand of student's time are equivalent to an on-campus course. ITV courses are NOT easier than traditional on-campus classes. Instructional telecourse students, however, complete most of their required learning experiences at home rather than in on-campus class sessions. ITV Students Need To: Attend an Orientation - Orientation attendance is mandatory for all students enrolled in an ITV course. Students MAY be dropped if they do not attend. If you cannot attend, you must send someone in your place to guarantee continued enrollment in the course. This person will be responsible for letting the instructor know whom they are standing in for, and also, for collecting all handouts distributed at the orientation. If enrolled in more than one ITV course, students need to attend an orientation for each course. See the printed Schedule of Classes. Course materials - The required materials should be listed in the course syllabus. Be sure to attend an orientation during which time the course syllabus will be distributed. Purchase the textbook - These are available through the College Bookstore. Text materials should be purchased prior to viewing the first video lesson. Read the textbook - You will be tested on the material you learn. Due to the concentration of information while viewing a video lesson, it is difficult to take lengthy or detailed notes. By reading the assigned textbook and study guide chapters before viewing the video lessons, you should be able to jot down words or phrases while you are viewing the video lesson. View the video lessons - Each lesson has been designed to illustrate and enrich the concepts in the textbook. A listing of the broadcast dates and times for all video lessons is distributed at the orientations. And, this information is available on the College website, under Distance Learning. For all telecourses, the semester begins at the time of the telecourse Orientation. Tapes of all broadcasts are available in the Library, and may be viewed there. Contact your instructor - via the information provided in the course syllabus, by telephone, via e-mail, at the review sessions, and/or in person, by arrangement. Instructors are available to help students achieve their goals. Your instructor will be available as noted in the course syllabus. If you have any course content questions, please contact your instructor by the phone number listed or via e-mail. If you have questions not pertaining to course content, please contact the Distance Learning Office. Attend review sessions - The instructor will review the course content, which will help prepare you for the midterm and final examinations. The number of class meetings for telecourses may vary. For most classes, students should expect to meet together as a class a minimum of six times at the college for orientation, midterm reviews and exams, and the final exam. Students will be notified at the orientation meeting of there are additional class meetings required for a specific telecourse. Take the midterms and the Final examination - You are required to take the course examinations at the time and places indicated. You must contact your instructor at least one week prior to exams if you have a testing conflict. Any change in testing arrangements must be made with the instructor. Exams may consist of multiple-choice, matching, true false and essay questions. The exam questions will be based on the textbook, study guide and video lessons. Withdrawals - Upon entering the College, the student assumes the responsibility of completing each course in which he or she is registered. If it becomes necessary to withdraw from a course, it is the student's responsibility to officially drop the course at the Admissions and Records office.