DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT TAKING ONLINE CLASSES Dear Strayer University Online Student: Our records indicate that you have registered for Strayer University Online classes. If you are a new student or a returning student to Strayer University Online that did not take a class in the past year, please review the tutorial on the Strayer University Online Web page (http://online.strayer.edu) for the type of class you are taking, synchronous or asynchronous. The tutorials provide an overview of how the online classes operate and the basic functions of the software (Horizon Wimba, eCollege, eCompanion and Blackboard). It is highly recommended that all Strayer University Online students review the tutorial each quarter before the beginning of classes; this will keep you aware of any updates or changes. As part of our ongoing efforts to protect sensitive personal student information, Strayer University has transitioned to a new method of identifying students. As of December 5, 2005 you no longer use your social security number on the Strayer University Web site or at the campuses. In place of your social security number, you are issued a randomly generated 10-digit number that is used to identify you on printed documents, in the computer system and on the online student server. Every Strayer University student is automatically assigned a single Login ID and password. If you have not received your password, you can obtain it by clicking on the DL Login ID icon located on the left side of the online.strayer.edu Web page. Remember you must enter your student ID, your pin number (month and year of your birth date, unless you have changed it, only 4 digits) and your home zip code. This Login ID will remain the same as long as you are an active student at Strayer University. Your login information will be activated on April 3rd. Strayer University offers two forms of course delivery online. They include the synchronous classes (real time), which are conducted using Horizon Wimba, or the asynchronous classes, which are available 24/7. Attendance is taken in both class formats, synchronous (log into the Horizon Wimba Session at the scheduled time) and asynchronous (access the class Web page each week). If you are taking a synchronous class, please be sure to download Real Player 8 and to run the Horizon Wimba Wizard. The Horizon Wimba Wizard and a download link for RealPlayer 8 are located on the Strayer University Online Web page at http://online.strayer.edu. The wizard will check your PC to ensure it is ready for Horizon Wimba class sessions. If you run into any difficulty with the wizard, call the Online Campus Tech Support at 1-877-642-2999 to receive assistance. It is important to run the wizard prior to your scheduled class so that any glitches can be caught and corrected before class begins. Also, all synchronous classes have a supporting
eCompanion class resource page. This page may consist of your class syllabus, additional lecture information and course assignments. Be sure to log into your eCompanion page to obtain your synchronous class information prior to the start of your class. If you are taking an asynchronous class, please to be sure to download Real Player 8. Asynchronous students should also complete the “Browser Test” under the eCollege Technical Requirements tab on the eCollege login screen (select the Attend Asynchronous Class tab on the Strayer University Online Web page). If you run into any difficulty during the Browser Test, please call the eCollege Technical Support Help Desk at 866-448-6703, which is available 24/7. Beginning this quarter, Strayer University Online will be using the Blackboard Learning System for some of its asynchronous courses. The Blackboard Learning System delivers a complete course management system and offers a robust set of tools, functions, and features for learning. You can access your Blackboard courses by selecting the Attend Asynchronous link on the Strayer University Online website. Use your Strayer Login ID and password to log into your class. Support for the Blackboard Learning System can be reached at 1-866-350-9427. For a successful class, it is important for your instructor to be able to reach you by phone and email. Be sure to have your current phone number in the Strayer University student record database and in your course homepage email account. You can call your home campus business office to update your personal files (name change, address, phone numbers), and once you have access to the class you can update your email through the eCollege and eCompanion home page. If your home campus is Strayer University Online, please call 1-800-360-1588 or 703-339-1850, and ask them to update your student information. Thank you for your cooperation. We hope you enjoy the convenience of taking your classes online.
Pam Bell, Provost Strayer University
Login ID and Password You have been assigned a Login ID and password. This will be your user ID and password for the Horizon Wimba, eCompanion, eCollege, and Blackboard programs. To obtain your Login ID and password, you must simply go to http://online.strayer.edu, and select “DL Login ID.” You will then need to fill in your student numbers, Strayer University PIN, and your ZIP code. Another screen will open and your Login ID and password will be provided. You can refer back to this screen at any time to get your user ID and password. The user ID will be in the formal Last Name_First Name form, up to 18-20 characters. Common names may have a number at the end.
Figure 1:
• • • • The DL Login ID tab on the online.strayer.edu Web page links to the page shown above. From this page, you can obtain your Login ID and password that can be used in the Horizon Wimba, eCollege, eCompanion, or Blackboard programs. Enter your student#, PIN#, and ZIP code. Then click on continue and your Login ID and password will be provided. You will have the same Login ID and password as long as you are a Strayer University student.
Horizon Wimba Overview Your synchronous classes will be taught using the Horizon Wimba software. Use your Strayer University login/password to login into Horizon Wimba. You can access your Horizon Wimba class by selecting the “Attend Synchronous Class” tab on the online.strayer.edu Web page, then select the day, then select your course. After you log in, you will see your course lobby. The “live event” is your active class session that you will attend at the scheduled class time each week. Select the class name to connect to the live session. Horizon Wimba will automatically start your RealAudio (RealPlayer) and set the correct channel. Please try to log on 5-10 minutes before class to ensure you are connected prior to the scheduled class start time. Your course lobby will also contain the archived classes that your instructor will save each week. You can select and listen to any archived class whenever you want to. They are listed by the date of the class. The archive will play back the class (audio, slides, chat) as it actually occurred.
Figure 2:
• • • After you select your class from the attend class tab on the Strayer University Online Web page, or select the link from your eCompanion class page, you will be prompted with this login screen. Enter your Login ID and your password (which are the same as eCompanion). Click on “Log In”.
Figure 3:
• • You can select to enter a Live Event or an Archived Event (previous classes). You must click on the course link under Live Event to enter the “live” class at your scheduled class time. Horizon Wimba will automatically start your RealAudio (RealPlayer) and set the correct channel. Try to log in 5-10 minutes before class to ensure you are connected prior to class start time. Click on the desired link under Archived Events to view the Archived Event at any time.
•
Figure 4: The figure shown above is what your classroom looks like. The screen and all the blocks are a fixed size, intended to fill a 15” monitor. You can… 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. • • View the presentation and listen to your instructor. Send private messages using tell. Click on Yes or No to respond to your instructor. View chat entries and enter chat messages. View the participant list. Send chat messages.
To send a chat message, enter your message in the “Send a message” text box and press Enter. Your message will appear in the chat box. Others will see your name followed by the message. The “Y” next to the name in the participant list indicates that the student clicked on Yes, “N” indicates No. If you click on the question mark, your name will move to the top of the list and a question mark will be next to your name.
eCompanion Overview Strayer University uses the eCompanion program as the learning portal for your synchronous classes. By “portal” we mean that eCompanion provides a multifunctional platform that supports your learning efforts by providing course content (syllabus, course outlines, course instruction files), communication tools (email utility, group chat rooms, file transfer utility “doc sharing”), and links to course specific reference materials. eCompanion is available anytime, which means your course content is available any time. If you can get to the web, you can get to your course materials. Each synchronous course has its own “course page” in eCompanion that contains the materials relevant to that course. The supporting eCompanion Web page can be accessed using your Login ID and password at http://strayeronline.net.
Figure 5:
•
•
Use your Strayer University login/password from the DL Login ID tab on the http://strayeronline.net Web page to log into eCompanion. This will take you to the welcome page displaying links to the courses that you have registered for. Click on the course that you would like to enter. You can select the Help tab on your course eCompanion page to get information on the function you are performing. If you need additional help you can click on the helpdesk tab to email Strayer Online technical support. If you need to talk to Tech Support, please call 1-877-642-2999.
eCollege overview The gateway to all your asynchronous classes is the eCollege learning platform, which is accessed through http://strayeronline.net. Use your Strayer University login/password from the DL Login ID tab on the Strayer Online Web site to log into eCollege. Please view the demo class to get an idea of the eCollege Web page format. You can select the Help tab on your course eCollege page to get information on the function you are performing in eCollege (viewing an item, chat, etc.). The Help tab is keyed to provide information about the eCollege area you are in at the time you select the tab. Scroll down when the Help screen appears and select More Help to email eCollege tech Support. If you need to talk to eCollege Tech Support, please call 866-448-6703 or email your concern to helpdesk@strayeronline.net.
•
Select the user profile link located in the upper right hand side of your eCollege screen to update your email address. This will be the email address used by your instructor to contact you with course information and responses to questions.
Once you are inside your course shell, you can perform the following functions: 1. View the syllabus by clicking on the syllabus link under the course home tab. 2. View the contents of each week by clicking on the weekly tabs on the left side of the course shell. 3. View your grades by clicking on the Gradebook tab. 4. Contact your instructor through the Email tab. 5. Submit assignments using doc-sharing or the dropbox.
Blackboard Overview Strayer University Online also uses the Blackboard Learning System for some of its asynchronous courses. The Blackboard Learning System delivers a complete course management system and offers a robust set of tools, functions, and features for learning. To log into Blackboard, use the Attend Asynchronous link on the online.strayer.edu Web site. Click on the name of your class on the following page to enter the Blackboard Learning System.
•
Within the Blackboard Learning System environment, navigation is simple with a header frame that includes images and buttons customized by the institution and tabs that navigate to the different common areas.