How are courses delivered?

Courses are delivered on-site, online, and via interactive television and videoconference. On-site courses are traditional classes where the university instructor is in the classroom with the students. All nine University College Centers offer a selection of on-site courses.

Online courses generally don’t require classroom attendance (some online courses require occasional on-site attendance for meetings and proctored exams). These courses use computer conferencing (Blackboard, WebCT, FirstClass), e-mail and the World Wide Web for communication, research, and information resources. Students who don’t have access to the Internet from home can participate in these courses from the computer lab at their local University College Center. Students taking courses at high school sites should always schedule computer time first.

Interactive television (ITV) courses are broadcast live by faculty from the university campuses to University College Centers and sites across Maine. Students attending at these sites view the class on TV monitors and interact with the instructor and other students using a toll-free classroom telephone. Another form of ITV (videoconferencing), available at campuses and University College Centers allows two-way video interaction. Most ITV courses use computer conferencing to deliver course materials, hold discussions and encourage interaction.

ITV and online courses may use videotapes for part or all of the course material; others may include streaming video and/or audio technology, enabling students to view and/or listen to the class on a multimedia PC connected to the web. Check course descriptions carefully for special instructions.

Since many courses use computer conferencing as part of the course, take a moment to visit ourGuide to Online Learning for more information and a self-survey that will help you decide if these courses are right for you. And to be sure you are well-prepared for your course, see our computer resources guide.