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760 Rose St • 603C College of Nursing Bldg • Lexington, KY 40536-0232 • 859-257-3377 • 800-828-0439 |
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Frequently Asked QuestionsFollowing are some questions that students often ask regarding Distance Learning Programs and the courses and programs we offer. You may wish to peruse these, but by all means, please do not hesitate to contact us with further questions. You may e-mail us at distancelearn@lsv.uky.edu or phone us locally at 859-257-3377, or toll-free at 1-800-828-0439.
Why participate in Distance Learning? Participating in Distance Learning gives you a certain degree of flexibility you may not be able to experience with traditional courses taught directly on the main campus of the University of Kentucky. This flexibility varies with the method of delivery through which you take the course. The majority of our courses are taught at locations throughout the state of Kentucky via interactive video or satellite delivery. This makes a course that is taught at one location accessible to students at distant locations, such as Northern Kentucky University or Paducah Community College. Telecourses offer the student the capability of viewing the course programs at home while attending lectures only a few times throughout the regular semester or meeting on-line with no actual class meetings. Online courses offer the greatest amount of flexibility, reducing or completely eliminating the need to attend a traditional classroom and offering UK accredited coursework to anyone in the world who has access to the Internet! How do interactive video courses work? Interactive video is two-way audio and video technology that enables students throughout Kentucky to participate in the same course in a real-time learning environment. Classes have many of the same features as traditional lecture classes or seminars, except that students at multiple locations interact with each other, as well as the instructor, through voice-activated microphones at each seat and video monitors at each interactive video site. A traditional course is conducted at one location in the state, and is broadcast in real time to sites throughout the rest of the state. Classes are held in somewhat traditional style, with the exception being that you will be viewing and interacting with your classmates and instructor through the television monitor. On-site technicians proctor classes and assist with any difficulties. How do telecourses work? Telecourses are courses taught with a television component, meaning that the majority of your time during the semester will be spent viewing an actual television program from the comfort of your home or any other area with access to a television. Some UK courses use programs that require local access to Intermedia Cable, while others may be viewed on Kentucky Educational Television (KET). You may meet as a traditional class throughout the semester, but only on average 6-8 times, or your telecourse may meet on-line. To learn more about your individual class meeting times and the broadcast schedule for your class, contact our office. How do online courses work? Online courses offer the most flexibility. Most UK online courses utilize a course management system called Blackboard, which can be accessed from the Distance Learning online page or http://myuk.uky.edu. If you have not used Blackboard within the past year, you will first need to set up a new user account. Instructions for setting up a new user account are at http://www.uky.edu/IT/CustomerService/docs/blackboard. Registration for online courses is the same as for any other course. Online courses should be accessible the first day of the semester. When you log into Blackboard, you will see links to the course pages your are enrolled in. Course pages contain links to the syllabus, assignments, discussion forums, ways to communicate with the instructor, and important class news. Once you have entered your course page you will find links to the syllabus, important class news, instructor's e-mail address, assignments, etc. Distance Learning Programs' on-line courses are offered within the same semester framework as other on-campus courses. A computer with a minimum computer configuration may be required. How do KET College Courses work? KET College Courses are telecourses delivered through a combination of nationally-produced, high-end video content with a mix of Blackboard components, video streaming, broadcasts on KET and UKTV (Insight cable channel 16) and possible select class meetings. Broadcast schedules are available online the week before the start of classes. Should you miss a particular broadcast, all programs are available at the audiovisual desk in the lower level of the William T. Young Library and for rent through KET (http://www.ket.org/rentcourses). How do I apply and register? To enroll in any course at the University of Kentucky, you must first be admitted as either a Graduate or Undergraduate student. If you are not already a UK student, you may contact the Undergraduate Admissions office or the Graduate Admissions office for the appropriate application packet. If you are a continuing student, you should register at http://myuk.uky.edu. If you're having problems with registration contact us toll-free at 800-828-0439 option 6. For more information, please go to General Information. How do I buy textbooks? You may purchase textbooks at one of the following bookstores such as the UK Bookstore, Wildcat Textbooks, and Kennedy Bookstore or from other online sources. There are always other options and you may wish to shop around for pricing. Student textbook stores, however, sell many used books for less, and usually will buy your books back at the end of the semester. Do Distance Learning courses apply toward my degree? Distance Learning Programs offer the same fully accredited courses that are taught on the main campus. If you take a course through Distance Learning Programs, you will earn the same credit as if you had taken the course on the main campus. As with on-campus courses, not all offerings are applicable to all degrees. If you have questions about a specific course, please consult your adviser or department chair. If we offer a course that applies toward your degree, taking it through Distance Learning will not change that. In addition, Distance Learning Programs does offer select complete graduate degree programs. Please take a moment to review our Distance Learning Programs. If I am outside of Kentucky, what degrees may I seek and which courses may I take? The majority of our courses and programs are only available within the state of Kentucky due to on-site meeting requirements. We do have a growing interest in courses conducted completely on-line, however. These you may participate in from anywhere you have access to the Internet, as long as you have a certain minimum computer configuration. If you are interested in seeing what types of on-line courses we are offering for the current semester, please visit our Online courses for more information. Starting with the Fall 2004 Semester:
I don't have much experience with e-mail or the World Wide Web. Should I even consider taking an online course? You may still wish to consider taking an on-line course even though your experience with the Internet may be limited to none. Many of the features of the Internet are extremely user-friendly and even if you have never been on the Internet before you will probably soon find yourself navigating around very quickly. Further, you will not only be learning about the material in your course, but you may become fluent with Internet use as well. We have an excellent support system for students and faculty alike, and you will receive the attention you need while embarking on this new phase of learning. Please do not feel as though taking an on-line course is something only for the experienced Web user. Many of our on-line students are doing this for the first time. What technology is used to take a Distance Learning course?
What is the difference between Distance Learning and Independent Study courses at the University of Kentucky? Many times Distance Learning Programs and Independent Study are confused one for the other. We are both similar in that we offer students University of Kentucky courses in non-traditional formats to assist them in meeting their educational goals. We differ, however, in how we actually deliver those courses. Independent Study offers traditional correspondence-style education. There are no class meeting times, nor do you meet with your professor. You submit your assignments regularly to Independent Study. Independent Study courses are not offered on the semester timeline and enrollment in an Independent Study course will not be represented on your academic schedule or transcript until you complete the course. Distance Learning courses are offered within the traditional semester framework and your enrollment is the same as on-campus credit courses. Please contact the Independent Study Program for further information by calling toll-free at 1-800-432-0963. Am I eligible for financial aid as a Distance Learning student? As a Distance Learning student you are enrolled at the University of Kentucky, and therefore are entitled to the same financial aid access and privileges as an on-campus student. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information on your specific needs. Where can I find broadcast schedules for a telecourse or a multimedia course? You can view television broadcast schedules online or contact our office and we will be glad to mail you the broadcast times for your telecourse or multimedia course. Can I contact the professor of the course directly? Yes. Please see the campus directory, or contact our office for further assistance. How can I obtain an override for a closed course? You may obtain an override for a closed class by calling the department offering the class to see if the professor is willing to take more students. Can I earn a degree online? Online courses are offered by departments throughout the university as a convenient, flexible way for students to earn college credit within degree programs that include traditional, on-campus lecture classes, seminars and laboratory sessions. Course offerings vary by department. Please consult your academic department with questions concerning completion of a degree program online. |
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