Online Education

You can now study online to earn a graduate degree or a certificate from Northwest University. In the coming months, the opportunities to earn degrees online will continue to expand. “We have wanted to offer programs online for quite a while,” states Dr. Jim Heugel, the University’s Provost (chief academic officer). “We didn’t jump too quickly because we wanted to ensure that what we offer is of the highest quality. We are tremendously pleased with the courses we now offer, and we are excited about the future.”

Online Expertise

Our ability to offer great classes online is to a great extent the result of the experience we have gained in recent years using the web to enhance many of our regular classes.

We use a system called Discovery, by which each class can offer students a variety of resources, including the syllabus, bibliography, exercises, and other resources. Students can upload papers and other assignments online. It’s faster, more convenient, and more environmentally sensitive.

It also, surprisingly enough to those who haven’t experienced it, can help provide a greater sense of community.

Typical assignments for either on-campus or online classes can require a student to read certain material, write a response or an evaluation, and post it as a commentary. Each student in the class then responds to what the others have submitted.

In some circles, this is called a forum. In the web at large, it’s also called a threaded discussion. “There are numerous interactive opportunities available to professors and students in our online classes,” reports Ben Thomas, Director of Extended Education. “Resources include video lectures, class discussions, podcasting, wikis, and more.

“Our online courses offer many of the capabilities that traditional courses do. For example, students can create individual presentations or they can collaborate and present group projects,” Ben adds.

“The goal of every online class is to provide each student with three strong and rewarding interactions,” notes Lis Kraus, the Associate Director of Curriculum in the Office of Extended Education. “These interactions are with the subject material, with the professor, and with the other students.”

Online courses are. . .

Interactive

• Students will interact with a wide-range of materials (recorded lectures, podcasts, readings, interactive group and individual activities, virtual presentations, etc.)
• Students will participate in active discussions with peers and professors.

Self-directed

• Courses are easily navigated.
• Students have flexibility to complete the coursework during times of the day that work for them.

Excellent

• All classes are designed and facilitated by highly qualified instructors who provide individual and collective instruction/facilitation.

Accommodating of learning styles and needs

• The wide range of technology will appeal to all student needs (audio, visual, kinesthetic).
• Most students with learning needs/difficulties can be successful in these classes. Students with severe physical disabilities (blindness, deafness, etc.) may need to meet with the Academic Success Office before determining whether or not these will be a good fit.

Online courses are not. . .

Easier than traditional ones

• Timeframes may vary, but the workload stays the same. It is merely condensed or stretched. An undergraduate student can expect to spend approximately 15 hours per week on coursework. A graduate student will spend approximately 15–20 hours per week on coursework.

Correspondence or Self-paced courses

• Students will follow a syllabus and assignment schedule put together by the professor. Though the work can generally be completed asynchronously, students will be expected to meet designated due dates.

For students who do not have high-speed internet connections and/or technological capabilities

• To access course materials successfully, students will need a high-speed internet connection at home, as well as the ability to adapt well to Northwest University’s online teaching system called Discovery. For example, students will need the ability download documents, watch recorded content, and upload assignments. An orientation to Discovery will be available to all students taking online courses.