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   Fall 2010

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions about eLearning Classes

What follows is a list of questions people who take eLearning Classes often have.   If you don't find your question answered here please email the eLearning Office.  If your question is about your class please email your instructor.  Instructor email address are listed on the Class Schedule (link to the left).

I cannot login to my Angel course.

I registered for a eLearning course, what should I do next? 

What if I have AOL as my Internet Service provider?

My class has online tests and I can't open them.

Are there any special settings for my browser?

What if I use a Mac?

Is Angel safe to use with a wireless Internet connection?

I have a new computer with Windows 7 and IE 8.  Will these work with Angel?

Why are only some courses password protected?

What are the differences between WAOL and GRCC courses?

How much time can I expect to spend on a eLearning course?
 

I've registered for a eLearning course. What should I do next?
Return to the Class Schedule (link to the left), scroll down to your class and determine the website for your course.  You'll find  link to the website in the right column along with a link to login instructions if needed.  Go to the website and follow the instructor's instructions for the class.  Courses which have only a website listed have the instructions for use on the website. 

Courses offered on Angel Learning and WAOL have a separate website for login instructions (linked from the Class Schedule) and you'll need a login ID and password.  After you have read the instructions and determined how to login, go back to the schedule and select the link directing you to the course login page.  Enter your login ID and password and on the screen that appears next, you'll see a box labeled Courses in Angel and in that box a list of the courses you're registered for.  Click on the link for a course and that will take you to the classroom.

If you have any questions you may email the instructor and you will find their email address on the schedule as well.  Remember that classes don't start until the first day of the quarter.  All Green River Angel classes will open at noon on the first day of the quarter.  WAOL classes have a different start date listed on the Class Schedule.

Most telecourse instructors will mail you instructions for their course.  If you do not hear from the instructor by the end of the first week of classes please call or email him/her.  Contact information can be found on the Class Schedule. 

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Browser Settings
Configure your browser according to the directions below.

• Please make sure you have turned off all pop-up blockers.  You can find them in stand alone programs, in antivirus software, in toolbars such as Google's, and in firewall software.  They must be disabled or some features such as online testing will not work.

• Make sure your browser is set to accept cookies.  Angel sets a session cookie and will not allow you to log in if you block cookies.

• You'll need the latest version of Java and you can find it here http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp  

NOTE: If you're using Windows Angel Learning will only work on Internet Explorer 7 and 8 or FireFox 2 or higher. Get IE here and FireFox here.  Macintosh owners should use FireFox  -- Angel will not work on Safari.  Go here to get FireFox for Macintosh.  Scroll down to English (US) and choose the download for Mac OS X.

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Only some courses are password protected.
Generally only the courses offered through Angel and WAOL are password protected.  Courses not using these delivery systems will not require a username and password.  If the link to the course website does not take you to a login screen you will not need a login ID and password.

My tests won't open.

Pop-up adds are created using the same programming language as some of the features in Angel.  If you are running any pop-up blocking software it must be turned off in order for these features to work.  Online testing is one such feature.  You can find pop-up blockers in separate programs, in antivirus software, in toolbars such as Google's, and in firewall software. 

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What are the differences between GRCC online courses and Washington Online (WAOL) courses?

GRCC Courses
GRCC online courses were developed by GRCC faculty. Sometimes GRCC faculty teach the same course both in the classroom and online. Some faculty also teach the same course both for GRCC and WAOL. 

All GRCC Internet courses are run by GRCC faculty and their contact information is on the Class Schedule.

WAOL Courses
 

Washington Online (WAOL) is a cooperative effort by the Washington community college system.  This icon on the Class Schedule identifies your course as a WAOL course.  The Washington Online site will give you directions on how to login to your course.  These courses will require a username and password. 

The faculty who teach the WAOL courses are usually not GRCC faculty and so they will not be available to you on our campus.  You will have to contact them through your course.  WAOL maintains their own help site here. You may also call them at  1-888-580-9011.Students enroll through Green River Community College.   The college registers students for the course, keeps their grades, grants credit when students complete the course, and handles student complaints that cannot be resolved by the course instructor.  WAOL courses generally start earlier than Green River courses.  Please see the current class schedule for the dates.

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How much time can I expect to spend on a eLearning course?
Instructors and students alike say that online courses take as much or more time than regular on-campus classes. For a five credit class, students should expect to spend 10 to 15 hours (and sometimes more) each week on activities related to the course.  Lab classes generally require an additional 5-10 hours per week.

I cannot login to my Angel course.
The most common mistake is using an incorrect login ID or password.  Your Angel user name is the same as the user name in your Green River email address.  For example if your Green River email address is jdoe5@mail.greenriver.edu then your Angel user name would be jdoe5.  If you don't know your Green River email address you can get it here.  Your Angel password is the same as your student ID without the hyphens.  So if your student ID is 840-12-3456 then your Angel password would be 840123456.

What if I have AOL as my Internet Service provider (ISP)?  It is not uncommon to have problems using Angel if AOL is your ISP.  If you do use them to access the Internet, do not use their browser to open Angel.  Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx and download a new copy of IE 8.  Install it on your computer and then when you login to AOL, minimize their browser, open the version of IE you just installed.  Open  Angel from that browser (IE 8).  Students also have had problems sending and receiving email through AOL. 

What if I use a Mac?  Macintosh owners should use FireFox  -- Angel will not work on Safari.  Go here to get FireFox for Macintosh.  Scroll down to English (US) and choose the download for Mac OS X.

Wireless Internet connection.  Wireless Internet connections are unstable by nature.  You can use a wireless connection to read anything in your course but we strongly recommend not using wireless to take tests or quizzes.  Always use a wired connection for these.

Windows 7 and IE 8.  Angel should work on Windows 7 and IE8.  If you're having problems, you can try using Firefox as your browser.  http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/  

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