Why take an online or web-based course?
Online courses provide you with the flexibility that you need to get coursework completed toward your degree. 探花精选 offers both fully online courses and hybrid courses, which require scheduled in-person class meetings.
What does 探花精选 offer online?
You can check out 探花精选's current list of online courses, which includes online and hybrid courses, on the Course Schedule link.
Online courses will have a "W" in the course code. For example: ENG 1330 AAW1
Under schedule, the course will be indicated as Web/Internet or Online.
Hybrids will have an "H" in the course code. For example: GUI 1010 AAH1.
Some hybrids will indicate specific days and times for meetings, while others don鈥檛. In that case, students will get a schedule of meetings from their instructor via email.
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What kind of internet connection do I need?
Online courses work best with a high-speed internet connection. Files with graphics, video and audio can become quite large and may not download with slower connections. If you are restricted to a slow internet connection, you may want to consider other course options or at least develop an alternate plan for accessing and posting course materials. Students may use the 探花精选 computer lab or the computers in the C.H. Cozean Library. The Library also offers a limited number of laptops to check out each semester.
Many wireless hotspots (Panera, McDonald's, public libraries, etc.) are now available for properly equipped mobile computers. These locations may be an alternate option, but should not be the primary method used for taking online courses.
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Are any campus meetings required?
If the class is fully online, there will not be any class meetings; however, select courses may require student attendance as needed to meet course objectives (e.g., proctored exams, field experience, interviews).
If you are enrolled in a hybrid class, you will meet in person up to half of the class time. Your instructor will provide a schedule of required class meetings.
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How do I get started?
It's easy! First, click the link at www.MineralArea.edu labeled 'Apply Now!'.
Once accepted, you鈥檒l be assigned an advisor who will help you with the course registration process.
Technology Access
Question:听I am having problems logging into My探花精选. What can I do?
Answer: First, check the browser that you are using. Internet Explorer doesn鈥檛 work very well with My探花精选. For best results, try Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.
If that doesn鈥檛 remedy the problem, you will need to contact the help desk at helpdesk@MineralArea.edu or 573.518.3850.
Question: How can I get access to Microsoft Office?
Answer: All currently enrolled 探花精选 students can access Microsoft Office 365. Sign into http://www.office.com听using your full student 探花精选 email address听and your current My探花精选 password.听Once logged in, click on the听desired application icon such as Word听or Excel for immediate use of the online application.听You can also click 鈥淚nstall听Office鈥澨�to download and install the Office 365 applications to your computer.听You will be required to uninstall previous versions of Office.听Installation is available on up to five computers.
Other questions? Visit our IT Services page.
All students are expected to be honest and behave with integrity.听There will be no questions asked nor explanations accepted for plagiarism, cheating, or any other acts that suggest that you have not fulfilled your responsibilities.听Any evidence of academic dishonesty and plagiarism may result in a grade 鈥淔鈥� for the course or for a particular activity.听All instances of听dishonest behavior will also be reported to the college administration.
Netiquette
Avoid language that may come across as strong and offensive.听Language can be easily misinterpreted in written communication.听If a point must be stressed, review the statement to make sure that an outsider reading it would not be offended; then post the statement.听Humor and sarcasm may easily be misinterpreted as well, so try to be as matter-of-fact and professional as possible.听This includes language of the internet---e.g., do not write using all capital letters because it may appear as shouting.听
An online classroom is still a classroom.听Although the course is virtual, appropriate classroom behavior is still mandatory.听Respect for fellow students and the instructor is as important as ever whether communicating via email or the discussion forums.听For example, when communicating via the discussion forum, many different ideas are presented.听While you may not always agree with some of them, it is nonetheless important to respect these differences.
No inappropriate material.听Do not forward any chain letters, jokes, pornographic material, or use the discussion forums for personal communications.听
Breach of Netiquette.听Any violations of these policies may result in any number of negative consequences, including zero credit for an assignment or forum posting, a lowered course grade, 鈥淔鈥� grade for the course and/or academic probation.听If a violation occurs, the instructor may contact the student for a face-to-face meeting and/or referral to the Dean of Students office for disposition.听
Cheating and Plagiarism:听For most online classes, forms of cheating and plagiarism include, but are not limited, to the following examples:
- Online exams are not necessarily 鈥渙pen book鈥� and you may be expected to answer questions without use of textbook and/or notes
- Having someone other than the student take an online exam
- Attempting to supply a test question to another student听
- Collaborating with others, by any means, during an exam or exam window
- Attempting to download or distribute any exam materials to others
- Making a false claim of a loss of power or disruption of server connection to be allowed a retake
- Exceeding the posted time limit
- Attempting to save a test and resume taking at a later time
- Copying whole papers or passages from another student or from any source
- Allowing another student to copy or submit one鈥檚 work
- Buying or obtaining a paper from any source and submitting that paper or passages as one鈥檚 own
- Pasting a passage from the internet or any computer source into one鈥檚 paper or forum posting
- Submitting a paper that one wrote during a previous semester or from another class听
- Improper citation of any sources used鈥攅.g., failure to quote or attribute passages to actual source
- Fabricating or falsifying a bibliography
What should I do if I have any questions, concerns, or a complaint?
If you are having technical difficulties, please contact the听探花精选 Help Desk:
helpdesk@mineralarea.edu
573-518-3850
For non-technical issues, click the link below to determine the appropriate procedure for your situation:
Complaint Policies and Procedures
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Students who are enrolled in online courses should attempt to resolve their complaints according to the above policies.听Online learning is under the Provost and the Director of Online Learning.听Direct complaints may be filed with them by emailing听DistanceEd@mineralarea.edu, calling 573-518-2100, or going to the Provost鈥檚 office.
探花精选 hopes to be able to resolve all student complaints.听However, if students are unable to resolve their complaint satisfactorily with an online course offered by 探花精选, students may appeal to the state鈥檚 portal agency, .