Getting Started

To get started you will need specific information about your course, such as full course number and title; instructor name and contact information; course location/access (such as ICN sites, Web logins, classrooms, as appropriate); textbooks and related course materials; computer and media requirements (if any); course work (assignments and examinations)

The following list describes how to get started in your Distance Education course.

1. HAWKID and PASSWORD
   
   Know your Hawk ID and password (generated at the time of your enrollment if you do not already have one)
   
   
2. EMAIL
   
   Activate your UI e-mail account.  You may choose to route your UI e-mail account to an alternate email address.
   
   
3. COURSE OVERVIEW PAGES
   
   Course Overview Pages provide additional details on your course and/or information on accessing online components.  If additional course information has been submitted by the instructor (textbooks, course format, exams, etc) it will also appear on these pages.  The Course Overview Pages are updated often, so you should back for updated information closer to the start date of the class.
   It is vital that you know how to access the Course Overview Page for your course.

To find the Course Overview Page for your course.

ISIS > Student Records > Class Schedule

1. Log into ISIS with your HawkID and Password.  Navigate to Student Records > Class Schedule
2. From your Class Schedule, click on the hotlink to the course title.  This will open the course details and description.
3. A link inside the course description will direct you to “additional course details and information on accessing this Distance Education Course“.  This link will open the Course Overview Page.
4. Among other information, the Course Overview Page may direct you to ICON to begin your online course (see below), or give you additional information the instructor would like you to have access to prior to the start of course.

Online Courses

ICON (Iowa Courses Online)                   http://icon.uiowa.edu

All semester-based Guided Independent Study and web courses are available on the World Wide Web.  Other Distance Education courses (face-to-face, ICN) and some Saturday & Evening course may also have online components to the course.  Therefore, if you enroll in a Web version of a course, you must make sure that you have a computer adequate to the task and Internet access before you enroll.

Once you enroll in an online course, you can access such things as the course syllabus and other components by logging in to the ICON course management system (CMS) with your Hawk ID and password.  While most online components of courses through the Center for Credit Programs are delivered via ICON, some courses are utilize an instructor’s website to deliver course content.  In such cases, a link will be provided from the ICON site, or the instructor will contact you directly with the specific web address.

A CMS is a software interface that facilitates the delivery of course material over the Web. The software provides tools—such as discussion boards, chatrooms, calendars, grade books, and digital delivery of course materials—that instructors may choose to include in their courses. The system also includes user authentication so that, once you have enrolled for the course, you will have access to the course material and your personal information can be stored on the site (as, for example, grade book data, personal files, journal entries). With some exceptions, courses allow you to send and receive assignments through e-mail or by way of a digital assignment drop box. Instructions for submitting assignments are provided on each course site.

Print-Based Courses If you enroll in a GIS course and you want hard copies of the online course materials (e.g., print-based study guide, CD-Rom or DVD where relevant) they will be shipped to you for an additional $75 fee.  You will still be required complete your course online; submitting assignments, requesting exams, retrieving assignment grades, etc.

Only students admitted to the BLS or BAS program are able to enroll in GIS courses without any Internet access. If you choose to do so, you submit assignments by conventional mail or fax in most GIS courses.  Only a limited number of GIS courses are available entirely in Print-Only format.

Face-to-Face Courses Some Distance Education courses are provided in off-campus and/or ICN classrooms. These course settings may or may not include online components. Details are provided on the course ICON site or in information provided by the instructor.

Please be sure to;

1. Understand the rules and regulations governing your enrollment:
   Rules and Regulations for session-based courses: http://continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/ccp/de/derules/
   
   
2. Contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible after enrolling if you require special arrangements for course work: Contact SDS directly for more information:

Student Disability Services
3100 Burge Hall
Iowa City IA 52242-1214
Phone: 319.335.1462
Fax: 319.335.3973
E-mail: sds-information@uiowa.edu
Web: http://www.uiowa.edu/~sds/