Beyond the traditional class formats, today’s colleges provide an ever-increasing number of distance education options to ensure access to higher education, and Paul D. Camp Community College is no exception.

Simply put, distance education is a formal educational process in which the majority of instruction occurs when students and instructors are not in the same place. In most cases, distance education is a structured learning experience delivered away from an academic institution in an alternate location such as work or home.

Many students choose distance education offerings to accommodate their busy work schedules and family responsibilities.

In addition to Web-enhanced courses that partially rely on the Internet for delivery — and interactive video (compressed video) classes, which are synchronous with student and teacher interaction in real time — PDCCC offers many online courses through its distance education program.

Community college online courses

Online courses rely on the Internet and course management software as the basis for all course delivery, which includes content and materials and interaction between students and instructors. However, some online courses require participation in face-to-face settings (proctored exams, for example).

In either case, students taking an online class for the first time must attend a mandatory Blackboard training session.

Blackboard is the Internet-based course management system used by colleges in the Virginia Community College System. Supporting flexible teaching and learning through tools that facilitate online collaboration and communication between instructors and students, Blackboard allows instructors to post grades and assignments, conduct discussions and virtual chats, and administer online quizzes, tests and exams, in addition to having students submit assignments. (Students can choose online courses from PDCCC or from other community colleges in the VCCS.)

PDCCC online courses for fall semester

More than 40 PDCCC online courses are scheduled for fall semester, including Introduction to Computerized Accounting; Advanced Desktop Publishing; General Biology; Introductory Microbiology; Small Business Management; Communication in Management; Public Speaking; Principles of Macroeconomics; Introduction to Cultural Geography; History of Western Civilization; U.S. History; Introduction to Game Design and Development; Principles of Marketing; Music Appreciation; Meteorology; Aerobic Fitness; Practical Reasoning; Social Ethics; Child Psychology; Survey of the New Testament; Beginning Spanish and more.

Visit www.pdc.edu to check out the full schedule of course offerings for fall semester 2010, which begins Aug. 19.