What is Distance Education?

How can I be successful in Online Learning?

How do I know if online courses are for me? 

Online courses are a great fit for many students, but they are not a good alternative for some other students. Factors that impact this include:

Learning styles - Do you prefer to read information or have someone explain it?
On-screen reading speed and comprehension - How comfortable are you reading from a computer?
Technical Competency - How skilled are you at using your computer?
Situation-in-life variables - Do you have the time to devote to an online course?

How do you know if online courses are a good fit for you? To help you answer this question for yourself, TSUM provides the READI - Readiness for Education At a Distance Indicator tool. The TSUM Distance Learning Center asks all online students to use this tool. You will get immediate feedback that will let you know your level of readiness to learn in an online environment.

Your READI scores will in no way impact your grades in your courses. In fact, your faculty members will never see your READI scores. If a student receives a low READI score, a staff member from the Distance Learning Center may contact you and share information with you on how you can improve your chances of success in your online courses. READI scores are on a scale of 0 to 100. An average score is 50.

To begin go to http://tsum.readi.info .  When you are ready to begin click "Start." To log in use

username = tsum
password  = student 

Average time for completion is about twenty minutes.

How do I register for an online course? You may register on any registration day. See the Schedule of Classes for dates and times.   Check the Schedule of Classes to see if you meet the criteria for Internet/Mail/Fax registration.

When do I meet on campus? Each class is unique, but most require that you only visit campus in order to complete your exams at the Gene Elrod Success Center. Your syllabus will provide you any dates for on-campus meetings.

Why didn't I receive a syllabus by mail? All the course information you need is posted on the web. Go to /DL/internet/default.htm and select your course to begin.

When do I log-on to the class? The online classes are asynchronous which means that you do not have to be online at any certain time.  The courses are structured to begin and end within the school term.  You may complete your assignments at any hour of the day, however, you must adhere to the specified dates of the term. Classes using the BlackBoard format require that you log in with a user name and password. The first page of your course will provide instructions on logging-in.

How do I "participate" in class? Most classes use the a discussion area to post class discussions. Courses that use the BlackBoard format will use the Discussion Board to post responses. 

How do I communicate with the instructor? The primary means of communication in online classes is through email. It is very important that you take a moment to submit the online information form found on your course home page. This form is sent directly to your instructor.  The instructor can then send you information via email. All online students must have an email address. There are free providers such as Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, and Juno.com .

What if I need technical help? If you need assistance, please call the online office at (334) 241-9553 or send an e-mail to msmyers@troy.edu. 

Is there a way I can log in to Blackboard and see what it is like before I actually enroll in an online course?  Yes, a sample course is available for this purpose.  Click here to log in.  Use username help-spc and password help.  If you need instructions on how to log in view the tutorials.

I have limited access to a computer, can I still take an online class?  Yes, if you are dedicated.  There are computers for student use in the TSUM library and computer labs on the sixth floor of Whitley.   Hours in the Whitley computer labs vary from term to term, so check the current term's hours. Public Libraries now have computers with Internet access.

Are textbooks required for online courses? 
Yes!  The bookstore can assist you in purchasing the correct texts for online courses. They can mail your texts if you are outside of the Montgomery area. 

How can I order textbooks if I live outside of the Montgomery area? Check your syllabus for the required text(s) and then visit this site to order books.
http://www.e-mbs.com/cgi-embs/Esearch.mac/search1?FVCUSNO=40370.  Using that website you can order your books online using your credit card.  The on-campus bookstore does not accept credit card orders over the phone.  Other sources for purchasing your textbook are Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, or Wal-Mart.com textbooks.

How do I take my tests?
If you live in the Montgomery area your professor may instruct you to test at the Gene Elrod Success Center on the 5th floor of Whitley Hall. If you live outside the Montgomery area, you may have your test proctored by an approved person. Some online course tests are administered online.

What if I live outside of the Montgomery area, can I still take a TSUM online course?  If you follow the procedures to register that are located on our admissions page, you can live at a distance and take an online course.  For testing, you can identify a proctor in your area to administer the exams. Please see the proctor criteria. When you have identified a proctor, send the information to online-mgm@troy.edu.

Where can I find help with my writing skills?

The Gene Elrod Success Center has several online writing skills tutorials.  In addition to these online resources you may visit the Gene Elrod Success Center for personal writing tutorial services.