52%
of Wor-Wic students take some or all of their classes via distance learning each year.
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Distance learning is perfect for students who:
It lets them get the course information they need, even if they can’t be there in person.
Distance learning is a flexible and convenient way to take classes. However, it can also be hard. To do well, you need good self-control. You have to be able to manage your own time and work without a teacher checking on you. You also need to be independent — able to start tasks yourself. And you must ask for help when you get stuck. Since distance learning courses don’t always require you to be on campus, you have to make more of an effort to connect with people. This means:
Fully flexible: While the success rate might differ slightly, online classes give you a path to earn credit when you can’t attend in person due to your schedule or the class location.
Preparation is key: You are more likely to succeed if you are prepared and plan to stick with the course. Full-time students also seem to do better online.
Motivation matters: These courses are designed for students who are balancing big things in life related to work and family. Our focus is on how to help them complete their goals despite those real-life demands.
Try this self-quiz to gauge your online readiness.
You will need a variety of technical skills, but nothing that can’t be learned quickly. You will need to check email on a regular basis. You will also need to be able to communicate with instructors and peers through email, discussion boards or video calls. And you will need to use Blackboard, our learning management system.
You will also need access to the internet and a computer with Windows 7 or greater, Microsoft Office 2003 Word or greater (not Microsoft Works), Chrome version 63+, Firefox version 57+, Edge 42+ or Safari 12+ (recommended for Mac users).
You should know how to operate a word processing program (preferably Microsoft Word), how to type, send an email, attach files, use a discussion board and complete basic downloads. Depending on the course, you might also need to know how to follow instructions for updating your browser, download and install special plugins and/or how to zip and unzip files.
Blackboard is the learning management system (LMS) you will use during your class. You can think of it as a virtual classroom and it is used for online courses, hybrid courses and as a supplement for on-campus courses.
To access Blackboard, start by logging in to myWor-Wic (the college portal) and then Blackboard. Your username is the first part of your Wor-Wic email address (the part before the @ symbol) and your password is your birthday (if you haven’t changed it yet) in the following format: YYYY/MM/DD.
Here are some other helpful links:
Testing activities (quizzes and exams) for distance learning courses can be completed in our on-campus testing center or in an off-campus proctored environment, which could include the use of proctoring software (e.g., Respondus Monitor) and a web camera. Out-of-state or out-of-county students who cannot come to campus should check with the course instructor before registering to see if accommodations can be made.
Distance learning students have access to the same services as our on-campus students — free online resources that include career services, enrollment coaching and academic support. Wor-Wic’s electronic library is available 24/7 to meet your academic, professional and personal information needs. Online tutoring is also available 24/7 through a link to Brainfuse, which exists in Blackboard for every class. Help with writing papers or completing other reading and writing assignments is provided by our reading and writing center and help with math is provided by mathematics laboratory personnel. If you are having problems with your Wi-Fi connection, logging in to Blackboard or other computer-related issues, free technology resources are available 24/7.
Wor-Wic currently offers seven distance learning credit degree programs in:
We are committed to continually improving our online courses. Wor-Wic participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Some of the benefits for students of our institutional participation in SARA include greater access to online programs, better quality of distance education and reduced institutional costs (which keep everyone’s costs lower).
Currently, 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands participate in SARA (California does not participate). The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. For more information on SARA guidelines, you can visit NC-SARA Student Support.