Distance Education at Casper College

Distance Education Facts

• Distance Education is a major contributor to Casper College's total annual head count, FTE, and revenue.
• The distance education program is approved and accredited to offer degrees by distance education by the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
• Casper College began its distance education program in 1994, with the delivery of 1 telecourse to 2 students.
• In 2007, there were nearly 2, 800 students enrolled in various distance learning programs.
• The first full-time Director of Distance Education was hired in the Fall of 2000.
• The majority of distance education students, nearly 80%, come from within Natrona County.
• Casper College has been highly involved in the formation of the Wyoming Distance Education Consortium and has worked closely with the Wyoming Community College Commission.
• The Distance Education program primarily offers four different delivery styles: online internet courses, telecourses, compressed video courses, and hybrid courses.

Casper College Facts

• In 1945, as Wyoming’s first junior college, Casper College was located on the third floor of Natrona County High School.
• Currently, we have 28 buildings spanning over 200 acres. In November, 2008, a $35 million bond was passed to partially fund the new Gateway Building/Center for Training and Development, Student Center and UW/CC Center, Music Building, and numerous renovations to provide additional space for new and expanding majors. New residence halls to be funded by revenue bonds.
• The first fall enrollment in 1945 was 73. Now, approximately 3,200 traditional and non-traditional students from all over Wyoming, 20-plus states and 15 foreign countries, attend Casper College.
• Through its 108 two-year Associate degree programs and 37 one-year Certificate programs, Casper College has developed a national reputation for its academic standard and career programs. Our largest programs are general studies, elementary education, business administration, nursing, and fire science technology.
• The College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and many other program-specific accrediting authorities.
• Casper College has more than 350 full-time employees and nearly 150 part-time employees that work together to carry out the College's mission.
• The men and women who work at Casper College are experienced professionals in their field. In fact, approximately 80% of faculty have their masters or doctorate degrees.

Casper College Degrees and Certificates

Get Started with Distance Learning

First Step - Are You Ready for Online Classes?

1. STUDENT ORIENTATION to Distance Learning
2. NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION - Apply to Casper College or register for courses (non-degree seeking only)
3. ACTIVATE MYCC GOOGLE ACCOUNT - Use your WebAdvisor login

Second Step - Is Your Computer Ready for Online Classes?

1. Access the Technical Requirements Tab for computer system recomendations and requirements
2. Always use the Mozilla Firefox browser to avoid time-out issues with assignments and quizzes
   Mozilla Firefox can be installed on Windows, Mac and Linux systems
3. Have antivirus and antispam software installed

Student Resources

DE News

Casper College DE Blog New!

DE News Archives

• Cisco WebEx - Casper College new webconferencing tool. Cisco WebEx is a multifiction webconferencing tool which allows for live, media-rich communication over an Internet connection. The Casper College site is located at: MyWebEx. For more information, click on the WebEx link,.
• Fall semester starts August 30, 2010 - Starting fall semester, Moodle4Me courses will remain hidden from student view until you make then available. You can make your Moodle4Me course visible to students as early as the week prior to the start of school, but no later than the first day of class. For instructions on how to make your course avialable, go to our DE Blog, July Tip, http://ccdistance.blogspot.com/p/moodle-tips.html
• Rent-a-Text News Release from eFollet
• SmarThinking single sign-on - Stating in Fall 2010, once a student logs into Moodle using their WebAdvisor username/pin they will see the SmarThinking link to access services directly. No other login required :)
  • Instructor Handbook
  • Sample Tutorials
  • About SmarThinking Tutors

Faculty Forms

Moodle4Me Course Request
To request a meta (multi-section) course, a course for future development, or a course for the current semester, use this form.

Traning Session Request
To request training sessions at the Center for Excellence.

WebEx Account Request
To request a WebEx account to schedule meetings and lectures.

Webconferencing Meeting Request
To request a special webconferencing meeting to be scheduled.

Moodle4Me

• 2010-11 academic year courses are located at https://moodle4me.caspercollege.edu/
  
  
• Please remember that the recommended browser for Moodle is Mozilla Firefox. If you do not have Firefox installed, you can download it from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ie.html. tart of semester checklist
  
  

• Instructor Moodle Demo Course (link is also avialable in Moodle4Me > Instructor Help menu
  
  
• Instructor Course Packet
  • Quality Course Guidelines Checklist - For online, hybrid or web-enhanced courses that uses Quality Matters standards.

Library

• Goodstein Library @ Moodle4Me (can login as guest)

Moodle4Me Training

• Sessions available at the Center for Excellence. Worshop schedule is available at the DE Blog site
• One-on-one - By appointment
• ITEC 2525 - Teaching Online with Moodle - Offered online (3 credits)
  Contact Dave Siemems or Ana Thompson for more information

Moodle.org

• Moodle worldwide usage statistics
• Create a free account to provide feedback to the Moodle developers and communicate with other Moodle users in the world.
• Office Add-in for Moodle (works with Office 2003 and 2007, Windows XP SP2 or higher, Moodle version 1.8 and 1.9)

Moodle4Me Handouts for Instructors

• Get Started with Moodle4Me
  Contains the basics of the HTML editor, course navigation, editing your course front page and adding resources
• Communication Tools
  Learn how to add forums, polls and chat sessions to your Moodle4Me course
• Add Assignments
  Learn how add four different types of assignments to your Moodle4Me course
• Create Quizzes
  Add assessments and exam questions to your Moodle4Me course
• Upload Questions
  Easily convert questions from Microsoft Word and upload onto your Moodle4Me course using the Aiken format
• Using Moodle Forums
• Backup and Restore Content New!
  Run Backup and Restore functions to move content in Moodle4Me from one course to another. Until end of Summer 2010 semester, courses for the 2010-11 academic year will be available at https://moodle4me.caspercollege.edu/
  
• Kaltura Part 1

Note: When moving content from one course to another, it is recommended to use the Backup / Restore process. Backup / Restore allows you to selectively bring content across (remember to unselect "User Data") and either add to or replace current course content in the target course. If you have any questions, feel free to call Dave Siemens or Ana Thompson in Distance Education.

Moodle4Me Video Tutorials for Instructors

• Edit your profile tutorial

Other Moodle4Me Resources for Instructors

• Moodle.org - The world-wide Moodle4Me community site. Create a free account so you can browse resources, vote for new features and participate in discussions with other "Moodlers" around the world
• Moodle.org Demonstration Course Information - This links takes you to Moodle.org not Casper College Moodle4Me
• Faculty who are using Microsoft 2007, please click here

Please let Distance Education know if anything is unclear in the tutorials. Comments are appreciated so that future tutorials are comprehensive, accurate and useful.

Quality Matters

Quality Matters™ (QM™) is a self-supported organization that specializes in training and course reviews to produce effective distance learning courses.  Their core concepts are based on a nationally recognized course rubric that aims to produce “better than good enough” courses.   In a peer course review, course design and alignment are assessed to make sure all areas of the course “work together”.   Courses that are reviewed and receive the QM™ seal of approval meet 8 core competencies and get at least a B+ or 85% grade based on the QM™ Rubric.

Casper College along with the other higher education institutions in Wyoming are proud subscribers of QM™.  Quality Does Matter!

• Link to Quality matters Website
• Underlying Principles of Quality Matters (PDF)

Course Definitions

• Online: All coursework is delivered in an online environment. In certain instances, students may be required to attend some campus sessions.
• Hybrid: Combination of online and in-class instruction with reduced in-class seat time for students in a face-to-face environment.
• Web-enhanced: students meet face-to-face during scheduled hours and have resources and/or activities available in an online environment to augment traditional instruction.

Faculty Resources for Distance Education

• Upcoming Conferences
• WebAdvisor for Faculty
• Faculty Office Hours
• Instructional Technology Council (ITC)
• Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration
• League for Innovation
• Sloan Consortium

Course Information

Course Schedules

• Complete Casper College Fall 2010 Credit Class Schedule
  • General registration for Fall 2010 classes will begin May 3, 2010. Fall classes start August 30, 2010
  • Fall schedule changes
  • Late starting courses (as of Sept.01-2010)
• WyCLASS
  • Statewide Distance Education course offerings for informational purposes only. When you submitting a course request, please follow-up with the corresponding college to check on course availability and registration processes.

REGISTER TODAY!

• CURRENT STUDENTS - Go to WebAdvisor and register online for Casper College courses. You will need your WA username and pin. If you do not have one, please contact the Admissions office at 307-268-2207
• NEW STUDENTS - To apply for Admission or register for courses as non-degree seeking student, click here

Tuition & Fee Information

This page (http://www.caspercollege.edu/business_office/tuition_fees_refunds_withdrawal_info.html) has the official information regarding current tution, fees (WICHE and WUE included), withwall and refunds. Students are classified as Wyoming Residents, WUE residents, or Out-of-state residents at the time of application for admission or time of registration.

Students may request re-classification according to the Residency Petition Policy (http://www.caspercollege.edu/pdf/catalogue/admission_policies.pdf) by the end of the refund period each semester. Course fees are in addition to tuition and per-credit fees and are indicated with the course listing.

Payment Options and other information

CAUTION: Dropping courses or withdrawing from college may affect current and future financial aid rewards. It can also affect your eligibility to retain insurance coverage. Check your student status requirements to maintain your insurance policy. Students are responsible for charges incurred to the date of formal withdrawal.

Financial Aid Office

**IMPORTANT** Financial Assistance is only available for degree-seeking students at Casper College.

Casper College Bookstore

Find textbooks by course - Fall textbook information available July 1

New for Fall 2010 - Click image for details

Online Program Offerings

Our Distance Education Program is growing rapidly and fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. No matter what your major program is, it is likely that you could take at least a portion of your required courses by distance delivery. Currently, the following degrees are offered via distance education:

• Associates degree in Agricultural Business
• Associates degree in General Studies
• Associates degree in Early Childhood Education
• Associates degree in Fire Science
• Associates degree in Medical Lab Technician (MLT)*
  *This is a hybrid program which requires 40 hours of lab work on campus in four sessions per semester.

Many courses in other degree programs are also offered via distance education. See the list below for individual program requirements. Course offerings via distance education will vary by semester. For semester schedules
and a full list of course descriptions, please check the Schedule of Classes page

English and Math Placement Information (COMPASS Testing)
	English Placement Brochure (pdf)
	English Course Placement Table (pdf)
	Math Course Placement Table (pdf)
	Math Course Sequence Chart (pdf)

All Casper College Programs Degrees and Certificates UW/CC Outreach Programs Transfer certificate, undergraduate, and graduate opportunities

Delivery Methods

• Internet / Online - Coursework is delivered online. These courses are identified as N1, N2, etc., sections and NET under the delivery mode. All courses follow a schedule and are not self-paced.

• Hybrid / Blended - These courses,identified as H1, H2, or sometimes 01, 02, etc., may consist of an internet component that replaces part of an on-campus lecture course or they may contain an on-campus/online lab component.

• Compressed Video - These courses, identified as C1, C2, etc., are offered to remote sites through live video classroom presentation over the Wyoming Equality Network (WEN) serving the State of Wyoming or another webconferencing tool.

• Telecourse - These courses, identified as T1, T2, etc., are offered through television broadcast over the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) or by video arrangements made through your instructor. There is a $22 course fee attached to this delivery method.

Independent Study Abroad Program

The Study Abroad Program at Casper College offers the opportunity to obtain college credit while traveling in Europe! Read the Footprints Fall 2008 news announcement by clicking on this link (PDF). For course offering information, please contact instructors directly. For more information about the program, including registration, go to the International Education page (http://www.caspercollege.edu/international_education/index.html)

• The Art and Architecture of the Renaissance and Baroque Era
  (mostly in southern Europe, particularly Italy)
  Contact: Valerie Innella (http://www.caspercollege.edu/directory/innella_valerie.html)
• Women’s Studies - “Gender and Context”
  (includes reading Victorian women’s travel journals)
  Contact: Georgia Wheatley (http://www.caspercollege.edu/directory/wheatley_georgia.html)
• Nursing
  (for health science students to study European health care delivery systems)
  Contact: Kelly Politte (http://www.caspercollege.edu/directory/politte_kelly.html)
• The Literary Landscape of Southern Europe
  (concentrates primarily on writers from the modernist movement)
  Contact: Terry Rassmussen (http://www.caspercollege.edu/directory/rasmussen_terry.html)

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Additional Important Links

• WebAdvisor
• Admissions and Student Records
• Placement Tests
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Testing Center

Technical Requirements

Casper College uses the Moodle Open Source course management software for distance education. Casper College recommends that you use Mozilla Firefox for Moodle. Spyware and pop-up blockers may cause one browser to operate incorrectly, whereas a different browser may function properly. You may also need to download a new version of Java. The recommended browser is Mozilla Firefox

• If you're having problems you may want to download and install FIREFOX:
  http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
  
• If you're having problems with Windows or XP operating systems, you may want to download and install updated JAVA: Version 6 Update 2
  http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

Technical Knowledge Prerequisites
Before participating in any course online, you should be comfortable performing the following tasks with your computer:

• Accessing the Internet and using a web browser.
• Creating and editing documents in a word processing program such as Microsoft Word.
• Copying and pasting text from one document to another.
• Receiving and sending emails with attachments.
• Downloading and opening attached files.
• Allowing pop-ups from Moodle.
• Maintaining current Antivirus and Spyware protection.

System Technical Requirements & Recommendations
Below are general hardware and software requirements. Some courses may require hardware or software not mentioned below.

For additional information check with the course instructor or the Additional Technical Requirements listed for each course.  

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I have tried contacting (emailing, phoning, meeting, etc.) my instructor without any response. I am so frustrated that I want to drop the class. How should I contact them?

Notify (email)  the Chairperson of the Department your enrolled in and carbon copy (Cc) the Director of Distance Education, Ana Thompson so that she can document the problem and track results.

Schools (Business and Industry; Fine Arts and Humanities; Health Science; Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences)

2. Who do I call about Moodle?

Contact DE Student Support at 1-800-442-2963 ext. 3882 or 307-268-3882.

3. I did not receive my WebAdvisor login who do I talk to?

If you are a new distance learning student that has never been registered at Casper College, the Admissions Office will provide you with a WebAdvisor username and password: 1-800-442-2963 ext. 2458. This will be the same username and password you will use to log into Moodle courses.

4. What is my username and password?

There are four main ways of identifying your username and password:

• Contact the Admissions office at 1-800-442-2963 ext. 2458
  
  
• Contact the DoIT Service Desk at 1-800-442-2963 ext. 3648
  
  
• Contact DE Student Support at 1-800-442-2963 ext. 3882
  
  
• Email distance_ed@caspercollege.edu

5. When will my courses be on the site?

Each semester, Moodle4Me classes will be open by the first dayof class. Once you are officially registered for a course, if it available in Moodle4Me, you should see your course 1-2 business days after you are enrolled. If you do not see your course, please call DE Student Support 1-800-442-2963 ext 3882 or 307-268-3882.
Note: Each semester, students are given access to the Moodle4Me site approximately 1-2 weeks before the start of semester.

6. Moodle4Me is not accepting my login, etc. I have been into it before but am unable to get into it now and my assignment is due.

• First of all make sure you are using the correct username and password – remember WebAdvisor login (username/ pin) is used for Moodle, on-campus computer labs and MyCC Google account.
• Always use Mozilla Firefox Internet browser.
• Make sure you bookmark the Moodle4Me entry page.
• If you continue to experience problems contact, DE Student Support, 307-268-3882.

7. My class requires an access code. Where can I find this information?

Please contact the Distance Education department.

8. What is the difference between Moodle4Me and WebAdvisor?

Moodle is course management software, an interface between you and the instructor, over the internet. WebAdvisor is software used to register for classes and to access your grades. They use the same username and password information.

9. What is myCC?

MyCC (http://my.caspercollege.edu/) is a Casper College Google account all students receive when they apply for admission or enroll in course as non-degree seeking students. This account is yours to keep after you leave Casper College.