What is a Telecourse?
Telecourses are college credit courses organized through the use of a study guide, textbook, and video programs.
Click here to follow a student through their
Telecourse.
The course requires that you complete related readings, assignments, and examinations. Students have contact with their assigned on-campus instructor for the course, a faculty member at Western, in a variety of ways: by telephone, by mail, by e-mail, or in person by appointment for discussions. Examinations are delivered in multiple formats as determined by the instructor.
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Is A Telecourse A Regular Class?
Telecourses show on a student's transcript just as any other course would. That is, no distinction is made on a transcript between a Telecourse and a regular course. Students signing up for a Telecourse have to submit to Western's regular placement and testing procedures if the Telecourse has prerequisites
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Why a Telecourse?
Telecourses are designed to meet the needs of busy adult students. Telecourse students enroll for many reasons, including their need for a learning format that is convenient to their working schedules and life styles, and one that enables them to learn in the surroundings of their own home apart from the traditional campus setting.
Many people are particularly drawn to the flexibility of the telecourse. They enable people to earn credit at home, with only a few required trips to the campus. Telecourses not only help save commuting time, but the use of a video delivered in multiple formats facilitates earning credit at the student's own pace.
Telecourses consist of quality video lessons with textbooks and study guides.
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Who Teaches Telecourses?
Full-time or adjunct faculty instructors who are qualified in the field of study pertaining to each Telecourse teach Telecourses. The Telecourse syllabus is developed by the instructor and is available on the web for prospective Telecourse students to view. The instructor also provides an orientation to the Telecourse students either via phone or through a video. The orientation will introduce the instructor, explain how the Telecourse will work, and discuss the importance of self discipline and keeping on schedule in order to successfully complete the Telecourse.
The Telecourse instructor then supplies the students with assignments, comments on the students' learning, and tests them through examinations or research papers. The instructor is available for questions and discussions, and handles assignments and exams.
The credit received for completing a telecourse is the same resident credit that is earned by taking a standard course on campus. Telecourses will vary depending upon the course. Final grades will be based on these and other assignments required
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How Will I Get The Course Materials/Textbook?
The Western bookstore can provide you with any materials needed for a class. When students pick up a syllabus it will have book information attached. Students will place orders directly by internet, phone, fax, or mail.
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What Telecourses Are Currently Being Offered Or Will Be Offered In Upcoming Semesters?
Telecourses are listed in each campus/site bulletin just like any other course.
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How Do I Register For A Telecourse?
Students can enroll in a Telecourse just like any other course.
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Tips for Sucessful Telecourse Study
- While telecourses are convenient, they do require time, ability and willingness to read and study independently.
- Make sure you arrange a time when you can conveniently view each lesson either at home or in the LRTC. If you plan on viewing a lesson in the LRTC, remember that each lesson takes 30 minutes to complete. Lessons may not be started after 8:30pm (l1:30am on Saturday).
- Obtain your study guide and textbook from the Western Bookstore before you watch the first lesson. The study guide ties together all the course elements. It outlines lessons, gives details on assignments, includes pre- & post-tests, tells what to watch for in the video and helps you review before exams. The text contains the primary reading material for each lesson. Both the study guide and text are required.
- Read the associated study guide and text material before watching the video lesson. Watch the lesson in an environment that is quiet. Have a writing surface available. Call your instructor whenever you are having difficulty. Be up-to-date with your assignments.
- A telecourse is a flexible way to take a course, but requires discipline for successful completion
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Telecourse Orientation
All telecourse students (new and former) must attend or watch an orientation session for each telecourse in which they are enrolled. These sessions, conducted by the telecourse instructor, will last approximately 30 minutes.
The instructors will give broadcast schedules and times, homework outlines, phone numbers for getting help, and other relevant information. Dates and times for Fall 2001 orientation sessions are listed below.
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General Fees and Tuition
Tuition and fees for telecourses are the same as regular classes, except that there is an additional per hour telecourse fee that is added to the tuition. This fee helps defray some of the licensing costs and surcharges associated with the telecourse. Please call the Business Office @ 580-477-7730 if you have any further questions.
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Broadcasts
Telecourses are broadcast via the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) In Altus and Southwest Oklahoma, OETA may be viewed on the following cable and broadcast channels:
- CHANNEL 13 (CABLE)
- CHANNEL 12 (VHF-CHEYENNE)
- CHANNEL 19 (UHF-ALTUS)
- CHANNEL 56 (UHF-FREDERICK)
If you are on a cable system outside of Altus, check with your cable company if you are unsure of the channel for OETA.
ACTUAL BROADCAST TIMES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED DURING THE SCHEDULED TELECOURSE ORIENTATION SESSIONS.
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