Duke TIP

FAQs

What if a student has to be away during their eStudies course?

The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the length of the vacation, whether the student will have access to a computer and a reliable Internet connection, and whether they will want to be working on course work during their time away. In general, Duke TIP can accommodate a one-week absence during the term, provided that the student communicates with the instructor in advance of that absence to arrange a schedule for making up essential assignments. Absences of longer than one week, with no Internet access during that time, become increasingly problematic, as the student will miss more and more of the course work and more opportunities to interact with their classmates.

Who has access to an eStudies course Web site?

Once they are enrolled in an eStudies course, students are assigned a username and password, which they use to access their course Web site. At the beginning of the term, parents will receive instructions on guest access to the course, which allows parents or other guests to view certain components of the course. For security reasons, discussion boards, chat areas, and tests or quizzes are only accessible to registered students, the course’s instructional staff, and Duke TIP administrators.

Do students have to be online at a particular time?

Most of the interaction that takes place in an eStudies course is asynchronous, meaning that students (and the instructor) are participating at different times. As long as they meet due dates and deadlines, students can post to the discussion board or take a test at any time that is convenient (such as 7 a.m., 10:30 p.m., etc.). This flexibility is one of the greatest benefits of a distance-learning course.

In some instances, students will be asked to participate in a synchronous chat or conference. In these instances, groups of students and the instructor are online simultaneously, interacting in real time. Although such interaction limits flexibility, many students find this opportunity to connect with their classmates in real time to be one of the most rewarding aspects of an eStudies course.

What if a student has technical problems?

  • If students have difficulty accessing the Sakai website or login page they can:
    1. Email Duke University’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) HelpDesk. A link to an online help request form is available when students visit http://oit.duke.edu/help/, or they can email OIT at help@oit.duke.edu. When requesting help, students should identify themselves as Duke TIP eStudies students.
    2. Call the OIT Service Helpdesk at 919-684-2200. When requesting help, students should identify themselves as Duke TIP eStudies students.
  • If students are able to log in to Sakai, but have questions about how to use the system, they can use the built-in help guide by clicking on the Help Tool, a blue circle icon with a “?” inside, at the bottom left of the Sakai page. This icon is also located throughout their Sakai course site.
  • If students are able to log in to Adobe Connect, but have difficulty using Adobe Connect, they should review the Adobe Connect Quick Start Guide or contact Adobe directly.
  • If students are having difficulty with their hardware or with software unrelated to Sakai or Adobe Connect, they will need to seek technical assistance from the computer or software manufacturer.

Can students take more than one eStudies course in a term?

Some students have been successful in multiple eStudies courses. Before deciding whether to take more than one course, please remember that for each course, students will be expected to spend 10-14 hours per week on course work and consider this time commitment in light of other things that they will want and need to do during the summer term.

Can students participate in an eStudies course while completing a Duke TIP Summer Studies course?

No, if a student is enrolled in a Duke TIP Summer Studies course, they are not allowed to take an eStudies course also. During the three weeks on the summer program site, students will be spending over 35 hours per week in a course, will have limited access to a computer, and will be expected to spend time in important residential and social activities. As a result, students will be having too much fun and will have too little time and intellectual energy to participate in an eStudies course also.