Online Degrees, Certificates, and Courses

News

Illinois CS announces launch of the Illinois Computer Accelerator for non-specialists (iCan) | 7.20.2020

The Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is excited to announce the launch of a new one-year certificate program focused on broadening participation in computing.

Read the article about the launch of the iCan program.

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Take STAT 200 online this fall | 7.16.2020

In Fall 2020, The Department of Statistics is bringing you a unique learning opportunity in statistical analysis: STAT 200—conducted online, open to all students, and relevant to all disciplines.

Statistics is to data what grammar is to words. And like grammar, it is only interesting if used to understand something interesting. In STAT 200, we use statistics to research a topic we are all interested in—ourselves. We collect data on ourselves through anonymous surveys, with a focus on topical social questions.

Our work is guided by three main goals:

To use a conceptual, intuitive approach to understand a set of complex statistical methods.
To determine whether predictors are also causes.
To learn to use statistical software, both to help us understand how they operate and to employ them in our calculations.

Statistics is a collection of valuable tools. The key is to understand which ones to use, when, and why. In a landscape where large stores of information have become readily available, you can either choose to ignore the information, or you can choose to make sense of it. In STAT 200 Online, you will collect tools to guide you in the latter. You will find empowerment in statistical analysis, and ultimately, in your field.

You can explore the course content from last semester here: http://courses.atlas.illinois.edu/spring2020/STAT200/

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Graduate online offering for AuD and SLP students | 5.18.2020

The College of Applied Health Sciences has announced a new graduate online offering for AuD and SLP students.

SHS 579 is a course that provides students with a working knowledge of professional, ethical, and legal issues in audiology and speech, language pathology, including certification, licensure, quality assurance, evidence-based practice, and health care and reimbursement.

This graduate-level course, offered by the Department of Speech & Hearing Science of the University of Illinois, is available online to current students of an ASHA-CAA accredited graduate program of Audiology or Speech, Language Pathology within the state of Illinois.

The course will run the length of summer session 06/15/20-08/06/20, and is taught by Dr. Noa Hannah, Ph.D. CCC-SLP.

To register for this course, please click on this link: https://ahs.illinois.edu/shs-579.

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U of I's COVID-19 Homepage | 3.5.2020

COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) continues to create uncertainty and concern, globally and in our community. Visit the University of Illinois' central starting point for information and updates about the impact of this virus.

https://covid19.illinois.edu/

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Events

Date	Event
8.24.2020	Fall 2020 Instruction Begins (?)
9.7.2020	Labor Day (?)
10.19.2020	Priority registration time tickets available on Student Self-Service for Spring 2021 (?)
11.2.2020	Priority registration begins for Winter 2020-2021 and Spring 2021 (?)

Online Illinois Calendar

Blogs

A Day in the Life of an (Online) College Student | 5.13.2020

Written by Kendall Job, Marketing & Communications Intern

Hi there! My name is Kendall, and I’d like to give you a look at the day in the life of an online college student. Like many other students, I hadn’t planned on taking courses fully online, but I’ve quickly found that it is totally doable and can be really fun once you get organized and know your responsibilities for each day. Follow along below to see what a day in my life looks like as well as a few tips on taking online courses from my friends!

7:30am - Wake Up
I only have class two days a week, and the other three days I work my internship remotely (here at Illinois Online!). Today is a Tuesday, so I have three classes back to back and need to be awake for classes through Zoom. I wake up around 7:30 am for my 8:00am class, then go right into my 9:30 am and 11:00 am classes.

7:45 am - Breakfast
With online classes, you don’t have the most strict schedule, nor do you spend any time walking (or running) to class like we normally would on campus. Breakfast has become increasingly important for me to get through these first few hours of the day filled with classes. It helps to keep me focused and on task until I can take a brain break after class.

12:30 pm - Plan for the day
After my final class ends, I take a look at what I need to accomplish throughout the remainder of the day. I like to go through my planner in order to see all my assignments written down and in my head so I can stay on track with my coursework. My friend Lauren, who’s studying Nursing, is an avid user of her planner. When it comes to staying organized in online classes, she said, “Creating checklists in my planner has helped me get everything done in an orderly and timely fashion. Crossing things off my checklists not only provides me satisfaction but also keeps me organized in knowing what I have and haven’t completed for the week.” It’s usually around this time that I plan out the specific tasks I want and need to accomplish for my internship the next day, too, so everything is planned out, and I can get right to work the next morning.

1 pm - lunch
Since I’m at home while taking online classes, I take a break for lunch near the middle of my work day. I try to eat lunch with my mom since she works from home, too, and we usually take a break from staring at our computer screens to catch up and spend time together. I have to admit; we do love the Food Channel, so sometimes we have that playing in the background as we cook and eat!

1:30 pm - Homework
I like to start working on my actual assignments for the week after lunch. Since I have class in the morning, I can structure the rest of my day with what I need and want to accomplish. Kelly, who’s an English student here at Illinois, told me her biggest tip for online learning is to create structure in your daily routine. “Since we don’t have the ability to go to a physical class, try your best to make that setting at home. Plan to do assignments at certain times in the day - even planning meals and other activities helps with structure.” I find this advice especially helpful with one of my Gen Ed courses, which is Introduction to Epidemiology. It sounds scary, but it’s actually pretty interesting! There are fewer tasks for this course in particular, but each one is time consuming, so I like to plan out which days I want to accomplish each assignment so it’s ready to be turned in by the deadline.

3 pm - Workout
It’s around this time I usually start to hit a wall with school and need to take a break to focus on something else. Since we’re all at home right now, staying active is super important to me. I’ll grab some weights and a workout mat and find a YouTube workout video to follow for around 30 minutes. Personally, I think it’s important to take time for yourself throughout the day to do other things. My friend Ashley, who studies English and Political Science, gave some great advice. “I think in order for students to succeed online, they need to be understanding with themselves… it is crucial that we as students are not so hard on ourselves and give ourselves credit for trying and adapting.” While online classes are convenient, it can be easy to hole up all day. Find something fun to do to get moving, even if it’s just an at-home workout or a walk around your neighborhood.

4:00 pm - Back to work
After a quick shower, I now have this time to delegate to other things. One of my online classes, Issues in Contemporary Sport, has a film we are required to watch each week. This is a good time for me to watch the film of the week because I get to relax and also check something else off my to do list of classwork for the week. Although I say “relax,” my friend Brendan, who studies Computer Engineering at Illinois, reminds all of us that online classes are no time to slack off on your work. He told me, “Just because you're home… absolutely does not mean that the work and the classes are any less demanding of you. Don’t slack off and remember that the semester is still in session!”

6 pm - Dinner
My mind starts to wind down from school around 6pm, when I usually eat dinner. After this, I’m pretty much done for the day, unless I have a big project to work on or an exam to study for. Again, it’s important to take some time for yourself each day where you’re not doing or thinking about classwork. I like to take the evenings to recharge for the next day and get some sleep before the next day of work!

While school and online classes are a priority, it’s also extremely important to take care of your body and mind, especially now. Whether that be cooking a healthy meal, doing a midday workout, or taking some sort of brain break, school consumes a lot of our life. That being said, online courses are just as demanding as traditional courses, so each individual must learn how they learn best, what schedule works for them, and how to organize their time for the most success!

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Navigating Group Projects In An Online Course | 4.16.2020

Written by Kendall Job, Marketing & Communications Intern

Ah, yes. The dreaded group project. Attempting to make these painless in person is one thing, but making it work in an online course? That can be a recipe for disaster. Luckily, there are some simple ways to make the experience a little more bearable and even enjoyable, especially if you’re still required to make a group project work in the midst of all the recent changes. Communication and accountability are some of the most important aspects of group project success, with just a few modifications made for those that must be completed throughout an online class. Here are a few tips on how to navigate a group project online.

Get to Know Each Other

First and foremost, you’ll want to get to know each other. Even if your group will only ever communicate via email or group message, have everyone share a small introduction about themselves. Explain your strengths and weaknesses so you can divide up group tasks based on what will allow everyone to succeed in their position and lead to ultimate group success.

Plan and Assign

Assign tasks and responsibilities early on so everyone is always on the same page and can be held accountable for their individual and group responsibilities. Setting deadlines is extremely important as well so you never miss a deadline and end up losing points unnecessarily. Consider creating a shared calendar with each assignment, who is completing it and the due date. This way, everyone can see the big picture and what they’re all working toward. In addition, there are countless group collaboration apps that can do all of the task assignment and organization digitally!

Communication is Key

Communication is one of the most important aspects to group project success. There are several options of group contact you have, such as an online forum with instructor access, a group message, Facebook group or group emails where each member is copied. It’s important to keep in regular contact with one another, ask for updates and follow up with members who may not be working up to speed with the rest of the group. If nobody is in contact with one another, the group will suffer in one or more aspects of the overall project.

Talk with Your Instructor

Your instructor is there to teach the material, give feedback and support you and your classmates. Especially in cases where you feel your group may not be doing the best it can, approach your professor and send an email asking for guidance. If you take their advice and there are still no improvements, update them on how things are going. In the case things are going extremely well for your group, let them know about your successes and update them on your progress!

Prepare for Slackers

One thing to prepare for going into a group project is realizing the possibility (and usual inevitability) of slackers. Whether it’s just one person or a few, not everyone is always willing to pull their weight, especially in a group project. There is a decrease in accountability when it comes to group work in online courses since you never really have to interact in-person. Realize this fact of life early on and reach out to encourage these classmates. See if assigning tasks that align with their strengths and interests motivates them to work up to speed with the other members of the group.

Make it Meaningful

Try to establish early what the purpose and meaning of the project is. While every member of the group may not be the most interested or invested in the topic, one thing you all likely have in common is the overarching goal of a good outcome: the grade. This is why it’s important to divide up the tasks fairly, taking into account each group member’s abilities and strengths so each person will succeed in their list of responsibilities. The more meaningful you can all make the project to yourselves, the more likely you will see an increase in motivation and quality work from everyone in the group.

These are a few goals to strive for and some methods to use for online group project participation and success. Ultimately, communication, organization and accountability are what make the world of group projects go around. Seeing the purpose and end goal early on will lead to higher motivation and more quality work being produced. Don’t forget to encourage one another and turn each member’s strengths into group success!

More sources:
http://bit.ly/33hWrdQ
http://bit.ly/2Njjyzr
http://bit.ly/2PLvGux

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Ways to connect with your online classmates during a time of social distancing | 3.22.2020
Now that you are an online student, you may find yourself wondering how to stay connected with your classmates. While it may feel challenging at first, you can make friends just as easily as you did in the traditional classroom.
1. Introduce yourself
2. Use the provided discussion boards
3. Connect on Social Media
4. Have virtual study sessions
5. Remember you aren't alone
Below is a list of additional resources on how to keep learning via alternative online modes of course delivery and ways to stay connected:
- Visit https://status.illinois.edu/ for information on service availability impacts to Illinois customers. Cloud services, including those used by the university, will continue to experience instability as they adjust to record demand. Technology Services will notify customers of issues reported locally, as well as those we can reproduce or suspect may affect the campus.
- Keep Learning: A university resource to help students transition to online learning
- Technology Services information for IT support and resources
- University of Illinois COVID-19 Homepage
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Adapting to Being an Online Student | 3.12.2020
For students who are suddenly entering the world of online learning for the first time, here are some things you should know and advice on how to be successful.

Communicate with your instructor
Given the situation, your instructor will be communicating with you about how your course is set up and how you can connect to the course. Be sure you are clear on how and when the course will be held, what materials are needed, and how to communicate with your professor and classmates.

Know the expectations
Your course will be either synchronous and given at a specific time, requiring you to login with the rest of your classmates. Or, it will be asynchronous, where you are provided the materials and can learn on your own time. Whichever method your course is delivered through, be sure you are clear on the expectations that have been set and hold yourself accountable for the work you need to complete.

Your instructor will still be holding you accountable for the work you do in online discussions and collaborations, just as they would in a face-to-face class. Be sure the expectations are clear and if not, don’t hesitate to reach out to them with questions!

Establish a functional work space
You will want to set up a dedicated learning environment to partake in your online course and study. Determine what space lends yourself to greater productivity and the least distractions. Make sure you have a high-speed internet connection available to use. If you have to go to a public space, have headphones available for listening to lectures or discussions.

"I love taking courses online and feel the class engagement is just as good as an in-person class. We connect through small groups, online forums, and if we know our classmates, through emails and texts. Additionally, I can do my class comfortably from my bed. I've taken all three of my classes online and the online platforms (Blackboard, Zoom, and Moodle) are fairly intuitive to use and there is great tech support. I recommend online classes very highly.” -Samantha Carroll
Utilize your resources
After your instructor has set the expectations for the class, be aware of the resources provided for you. Mark due dates on your calendar and bookmark websites that you’ll use frequently. Just because you won’t physically be with your professor doesn’t mean they aren’t still there to educate you. There will likely be an online discussion board for the class to ask and answer questions, but never hesitate to email your professor or instructor directly (unless you can find the answer in the syllabus!). If you need help, ask for it!

"The first two weeks I decided that I needed to get organized from the very beginning and not let this coursework get ahead of me since I decided to work full time and go to school. Being organized is the best suggestion that I can give to new students. Once you get the hang of it and get in a rhythm of adapting schoolwork into your daily routine, it seems like you are just rolling along. Also, do not be afraid to use resources. Asking my professor, fellow classmates and Tim questions helped me not to feel overwhelmed during times when it was likely that I would have felt that way." ---- from a Recreation, Sport and Tourism Master’s Student
Manage your time wisely
If your course is asynchronous, it may be a new concept not to have to be in class at a specific time. That said, this doesn’t mean you have free range to complete all the work right before the course ends. Be sure you follow your syllabus and are active in discussions so that you don't miss out on any due dates or deadlines. Set aside time to participate in the class and work on your coursework.

Actively participate and leverage your network
At first, it may feel like you are learning on your own, especially since you can't see any of your classmates in person. However, that is not the case. Professors and instructors encourage you to participate actively and work together with classmates to complete assignments and lessons. Engage in the discussion, read your emails, ask questions, and be an active participant in the course.

"Generally from my perspective, online courses can be a really great experience. I’ve loved it. It takes a little getting used to but I do feel like you can get just as much out of an online class as an in-person one. It can be easy to get distracted, so you have to consciously put yourself in the headspace of “this is class, I’m in school, I’m here to learn” because you’re not in that physical space. The chat can be overwhelming because it can move really quickly, but you don’t need to keep up with every message sent. Having friends in class that you can text with (not during class, of course) to discuss assignments, readings, etc. can really help. And, of course, keeping in mind that even though you’re not physically with your classmates, you’re all in the same boat. If you suddenly had to jump into online learning and you’re disoriented, they probably are too! So cut yourself some slack and do your best, it’s okay to not be comfortable right away.” -Miranda Axworthy, iSchool student
For more information and tips on learning online, visit the following websites:
- How to connect with your online classmates: https://online.illinois.edu/articles/online-learning/item/2020/03/04/how-to-connect-with-your-online-classmates
- Staying organized throughout your online course:
  https://online.illinois.edu/articles/online-learning/item/2020/01/08/staying-organized-throughout-your-online-course.
- Roadmap to group project success in online courses:
  https://online.illinois.edu/articles/online-learning/item/2017/07/13/roadmap-to-group-project-success-in-online-classes
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University of Illinois Illinois Online University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Online course for for AuD and SLP students now available

Take STAT 200 Online This Fall

ILLINOIS COMPUTING ACCELERATOR FOR NON-SPECIALISTS (iCAN)

Access free online courses with Coursera for Illinois

An Introduction to Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Online M.S. Health Communication

Online M.A. in Translation & Interpreting

News

Events

Blogs

Communicate with your instructor

Know the expectations

Establish a functional work space

Utilize your resources

Manage your time wisely

Actively participate and leverage your network