Getting Started with Your Course
So you've registered and have received your Independent Learning course materials—what's the next step? Review the materials that you have received to make sure you've received all of the texts, course guides (for print-based courses), information about accessing the course web site (for online courses) multi-media, or other learning resources that you'll need. If you did not purchase your textbooks through the Center for Distance Education & Independent Learning, be sure that you obtain the appropriate editions.
Download the current version of the Student Survival Guide: A "How to" manual for your Independent Learning Course. The document is mailed or handed out with all course materials but in case you misplace it, here's a copy for you to download. This should answer all of the questions you have about working through your Independent Learning course.
The course will follow the same standards for instruction and grading that's applied to the classroom. Graded lessons, instructor's comments, and answers to student's specific questions will be returned to students for use in evaluating progress and in studying for examinations.
Personal Study Schedule
Begin now to take responsibility for your own learning by preparing a personal study schedule. Please print out the Planning Schedule form and following the directions for its use.
If you are a graduating senior or have any other personal deadlines, it is imperative that you write to your instructor on your first lesson and inform him/her of your needs. Although the staff and faculty will do everything possible to help you, a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency for the staff and faculty! Please plan ahead!
YEAR-LONG: Remember, it is assumed you will be taking up to a year to finish this course. At a bare minimum, we ask that a student take at least three months to complete a course, and instructor's permission (in writing) must be obtained to finish in this accelerated time frame.
SEMESTER-BASED: If you are a semester-based student, please follow the semester time requirements provided with your book purchase. Remember lessons cannot be accepted if turned in all or several at once.
Online Course
Most CDE online courses use the Blackboard Learning System ™ as a course content manager, although some of our instructors use other interfaces. Once you're registered in your course you'll be directed to the appropriate web site and will be given a username and password to gain access to the course material.
Official correspondence and announcements to those registered in University of Alaska (UA) courses will be sent to the official UA email address given to students when they enroll. Please note that communication with CDE students will also use their UA email address. Its very easy to have email transfered from this address to the one that you prefer. Please follow the instructions at UA Email Help for directions.
Print-Based Course
When you submit your lessons for grading, please attach a Lesson Cover Sheet. It should be completed as neatly as possible, printed in ink, as it will become your return mailing label. Even if you are e-mailing or faxing in your lessons, please include a lesson cover sheet and its pertinent information including a return mailing label appropriately placed, the complete course number, instructor's name, the appropriate lesson number, as this will aid in the timeliness of returning your lessons. In your packet, you will find prepaid envelopes for mailing each assignment. Please do not attach these to large manila envelopes. They are not to be used as a mailing label and the assignment might not be delivered to us by the US Post Office. Let us know if you need an additional supply of cover sheets or envelopes.