Online Learning
Advance your education on your schedule in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Our online courses let you learn anytime, anywhere, fitting seamlessly into your busy schedule. Perfect for working adults, veterans,
career-changers or advancers, as well as traditional degree-seekers.
If you’re wondering if online learning is for you, you’ve come to the right place!
- Students can access coursework anytime, fitting studies around work, family, and other commitments.
- Assignments have deadlines, but students can choose when to complete them within those time frames.
- Coursework includes written documents, video/audio lectures, and demonstration videos.
- Often combines digital materials with traditional textbooks and printed resources.
- Online learning platforms provide tools like forums, chat rooms, and electronic bulletin boards for discussions and collaboration.
- Email and messaging systems facilitate direct communication with instructors and peers.
- Students manage their own learning, requiring self-discipline and motivation.
- Proficiency with computers and web browsers is essential.
Tips to be a successful online learner:
Get Connected:
Once you have your instructor's contact information, connect right away making it
easier to seek help and support throughout the course.
Send an introductory email to introduce yourself and express your enthusiasm for the
course. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification on assignments and course
material.
Be Proactive:
Familiarize yourself with the online learning platform and tools. Ensure you have
reliable internet access and necessary software.
Create a weekly schedule to allocate specific times for online learning and studying.
Stay Organized:
Keep track of deadlines and assignments using a planner or digital calendar. Set up
a dedicated study space free from distractions.
Manage Your Time: Prioritize tasks and break them into manageable chunks.
Stay Engaged:
Participate actively in discussions, forums, and group activities. Regularly communicate
with instructors and classmates.
Stick to your study schedule and avoid procrastination.
Use Resources:
Take advantage of online resources provided by the course. Seek help from tutors,
online forums, or study groups when needed.
Don't hesitate to ask for help if you're struggling.
Lastly, Maintain a healthy balance between study, work, and personal life. Practice good self-care: eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep.
Minnesota West Community & Technical College has been approved to participate in State
Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) by Minnesota’s SARA State Portal Entity,
allowing us to offer distance education programs to students in other SARA member
states. This opportunity allows Minnesota West to expand our educational offerings
and assures our adherence to quality assurance and student consumer protections.
More information about SARA Policy and NC-SARA is available at www.nc-sara.org
Online Learning FAQs
Courses are set up with assignments from each unit due by a specified date. There are a record of all postings. You may be expected to post your own comments as well as respond to other students' ideas and opinions.
Online learners may spend as much or more time studying compared to on-campus students, including watching lectures, participating in discussions, and completing assignments.
Our instructors use Desire2Learn (D2L) Brightspace, which offers a uniform look to all online courses designed in it. Instructors may use additional software and websites, depending on the course.
It is more important that you visit your class often than it is to stay on for long periods of time. You may want to check daily to see if your instructor has put up a new announcement or if there is anything new in the discussion area.
Review a list of the available online courses and programs.
You may also want to take the free Introduction to Online Learning course before taking an online course. Contact the d2ladmin@mnwest.edu and ask to be enrolled.
Most of our online courses start at the beginning of a semester and finish by the end of that semester. You register for an online course the same way you register for a traditional course: phone, online, or in person. Be sure that you use the correct section number for the online course.
After completing registration, you may want to send an email to the instructor of your online course. Courses are opened the first day of the semester, unless the instructor elects to open the course early. You will want to log in to D2L so that you are prepared for classes. You can access these links from the Minnesota West website.
Yes, email is the primary means of communication between you and your instructor. Minnesota West students are expected to use their free student email account. Instructors require that you use your Minnesota West student email with an online course.
You do not need to have a computer at home in order to take an online course. However, you must have access to your courses. Computers in the college computer labs and libraries have the necessary specifications and software for online courses. It will of course be more convenient for you if you have a computer at home, but it is not required.
You should verify that your computer has the minimum hardware and software requirements. Required software may be downloaded free from the Internet. Additional requirements for a given course may be specified by your instructor.
There are two ways for online students to obtain books. You can directly purchase them from our online bookstore. You should order your books at least two weeks before the class starts to ensure that you have books when the class begins.
Online students have access to the Minnesota West Library & Academic Resource Center (LARC) website.
If you are writing a paper and need to cite your sources, the LARC website offers help with Citation Styles (MLA, APA). Please reach out to a Minnesota West LARC/Library contact or your advisor about accessing online resources.
Questions related to your course should be directed to your instructor. If you are having trouble accessing the Internet, you should contact your Internet Service Provider.
Pursuant to the United States Department of Education’s Program Integrity Rule, institutions providing online education are required to provide all prospective and current students contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state.
We encourage you to seek resolution to any concerns by discussing them informally with a staff member at the College. If a complaint cannot be handled informally, Minnesota West students are encouraged to use our complaint process.
If a complaint cannot be resolved at the College level, you may contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. If you reside in another state, you may contact your state portal entity contacts for further information.
