Distance Learning frequently asked questions

Distance Learning: Frequently Asked Questions

The following are answers to frequently asked questions regarding distance learning in general and KSI’s Distance Learning (DL) specifically. If you have further questions or require further clarification or assistance please feel free to contact us.

What is the tuition cost?
Many distance learning require students to pay more for online courses than for on-site courses because of the administration of the courses. Course tuition for Distance Learning is the same as that of on-site courses plus a distance learning registration fee. Courses cost $315 per credit hour for domestic students and $378 per credit hour for foreign students plus a $150 distance learning fee. For a detailed breakdown of costs please see www.ksi.edu/tuition.html.

How do I begin taking courses
through the Distance Learning?
Getting set up and ready to start taking classes on-line through Distance Learning is easy and can be accomplished by anyone, regardless of his or her level of computer skill or internet savvy. Students first choose the classes they wish to take. This can be done by the student him/herself by perusing KSI’s “Virtual Catalog” (distancelearning.ksi.edu/online_catalog.html) or it can be accomplished with the assistance of the student’s academic advisor if the student is enrolled in the Master Degree Program (MDP) or the Certificate Program (CP). Students then register for the classes or program they will attend each semester before the registration deadline for that semester. (these dates can be obtained on the website). Students may register by phone, fax or through the mail (for more information see distancelearning.ksi.edu/dl_registration.html). Students will then receive a confirmation of their registration by e-mail each semester. For first-time students, this confirmation e-mail will contain the student’s “id” and “username” for login to the system as well as instructions on how to set up his/her DL student account and choose a password. Once you have successfully registered and received orientation materials you will go to the “Orientation” section of Distance Learning Website where you will be prompted for your username and password. You will then be in a private section of KSI’s website available to registered students only. Upon registering you will receive an email from the KSI Administration Office which will provide you with a link to the home page of your course.

How do DL courses work?
Once students have received their username and password via email after registration they may log in to the “Orientation” section of the DL web page (distancelearning.ksi.edu/dl_orientation.html). Lecture material for each class is provided over the internet once a week in the form of a Multimedia Lecture. This unique Multimedia Lecture consists of written material and other teaching aids (such as audio or video clips or other files, sample programs as appropriate) posted on the class website. These lectures will become available to students at the posted time of the class each week and will remain available 24-hours a day seven days a week so that students may attend the lectures according to their own schedule. In addition to lectures, there will be weekly opportunities to speak directly with professors on-line in a chat-room situation or via telephone or email depending on the size of the class. Students will also communicate with professors through e-mail and may always ask questions over e-mail or on the phone using the free phone card provided by KSI when you register. Also provided to each KSI student is 10MB of server space for his or her own website. If a student so chooses, he/she may submit homework and exercises through his or her own website. Other course materials, such as sample programs and visual presentations will be provided over the internet for each class on a weekly basis according to the course syllabus designed by the professor. Quizzes, Homework and Exams will be administered through e-mail according to the specific requirements of each course.

Are KSI's DL courses for credit?
All of the courses offered by Knowledge Systems Institute are for credit. KSI is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (www.ksi.edu/accredit.html). KSI offers a Master’s Degree and a Certificate Program for credit. Students who wish to receive credit for DL courses must submit an application to the KSI office sometime during the first course taken. Students may register over the phone and begin taking courses without submitting an application form and still receive credit as long as they submit an application form (distancelearning.ksi.edu/dl_application_form.html) at some point during the course.

Do I have to be available at a certain time each week?
Students are not required to be available to take courses or experience lectures at any specific time during the course week. Lectures, in a multimedia format, are posted on the web each week and students may experience these lectures at their own convenience. There may be quizzes or exams administered by the professor of each course in real time, but this will be determined by each professor subject to the requirements of each specific course. And because the DL is intended to be structured in part for the ability of the student to learn in a flexible way, professors will try to be as flexible as possible when it comes to real time exam, quiz or homework situations. Part of each course is also a real-time chat room office hours situation each week. But this is not required and students who have questions on a week to week basis may always coordinate with professors by phone or email.

What about questions for the professor?
One of the advantages of studying at KSI either on-site or through the DL is the small class size and the high level of one-to-one teacher to student attention. Our DL is structured to provide the same level of attention as on-site courses. Office hours are provided in a chat room situation and professors are available by email and telephone. Students will be assigned an academic advisor who is also available to answer questions and address student concerns. The specific structure of each course is determined by the professor of that course according the varying requirements of different curricula. Students may also choose to present homework assignments and questions to professors on their website the space for which (10MB) is provided by KSI to all of its students. In addition, KSI’s staff is always available to help students address questions and concerns.

How does grading work?
The process of grading of DL courses is the same as that of KSI’s on-site courses. Homework assignments, quizzes, essays and exams are administered by the professor over the internet in a fashion determined by the professor to maximize the convenience of the student while maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the material and the grading process. Many of the student work will be subject to an honor system, as is the case with any course taken by any student in person or on-line. Professors will need to achieve a level of confidence from each student in the Distance Learning that the work is being accomplished solely by the student registered for each course. This may be accomplished over the telephone through a brief conversation between the professor and student in which the student is informally asked to confirm his or her knowledge of the course material. International DL students are expected to have sufficient command of English to converse with professors in such a situation.

Is it confidential?
Information exchanged between students and professors, including exam responses, homework, etc. is expected to be viewed by only the registered student and the professor. Only registered students have access to the server on which course material is presented and exchanged. KSI’s staff is in charge of protecting the integrity of KSI’s curriculum and personal student information by maintaining the security of the DL servers and information. DL courses are expected to be taken by only one student per registered username. Only one person per registered student will receive credit. The environment of KSI, including that created by the DL, is structured to maximize the contact and attention that each student receives and therefore maximize the quality of each student’s education. This is the main advantage of studying at KSI and makes the environment unsuitable to students intending to take advantage of Distance Learning by, for example, paying only once for a course taken by more than one person.

Do I ever need to visit KSI in person?
KSI students are always welcome to visit the campus in Skokie, Illinois, but it is not necessary for DL students to ever visit KSI in person. Students may complete registration, orientation and take courses entirely online. It is also possible to earn a Master Degree in Computer and Information Sciences entirely online (distancelearning.ksi.edu/grad_study.html).

how are exams and quizzes taken?
The process of administering exams and quizzes is determined independently by the professor of each course according to the needs of that course and in conformity with the on-site requirements of the course. KSI’s professors are experienced in administering exams online in a method that will preserve the integrity and confidentiality of the material while making the process fair to all students. Specific questions about this issue may be directed to the professor of each individual course. Professors may be contacted by visiting KSI's virtual catalog (distancelearning.ksi.edu/online_catalog.html).