GENERAL INFORMATION Welcome to your interactive television learning experience.  As a member of  the Virginia Distance Education Network (VDEN), Danville Community College is able to receive and deliver  college-level courses to one or more of the other 22 community colleges in Virginia and elsewhere.  The technology is two-way video and two-way audio.  Students and faculty can see and hear each other throughout the transmission of the course. We do this in our Interactive Television classroom.  The signal is being sent and received using Internet Protocol (IP) much in the same way you use the Internet from your home.  Because of the variable traffic on the Internet,  a slight delay of the video and audio signal may be experienced.  Most people quickly adapt and find this not to be a problem.   Local Site The local site is the site where the instructor is physically located.  This classroom is also often called the origination or delivery site. Remote Site The remote site receives the instruction.  The instructor is not physically at this site.  This classroom is also referred to as the receive site. When possible, the instructor may teach from the remote site.  This provides students at the remote site the opportunity to meet the instructor in a "live" environment and the local site students to experience participating in the instruction as a receive site.  In some cases, the instructor may allow students to attend class from either location.  Discuss this option with your instructor at the beginning of the semester. Textbooks and Assignments Textbooks may be purchased at the DCC bookstore, by mail, or at the remote site.  Ask your instructor for schedules and the procedures for sending and receiving textbooks, class assignments and other materials.  For textbook availability call (434) 797-8426. Learning Resources The Whittington W. Clement Learning Resources Center (LRC) invites you to use its many resources and services.  Library resources include the Electronic Library, online electronic catalog, online reference books, and online magazines and journals.  Online reference assistance is also available at LRCLive.  Audio-visual equipment is available in the Library.  The LAC provides students with free peer tutoring, computer access, and testing services.  For additional information call the Library at (434) 797-8555 or the LAC at (434) 797-8404.    Student Services DCC maintains a staff of professional counselors and faculty advisors who are committed to helping students with their academic, personal, career and vocational plans.  As a part of this assistance, students are provided appropriate tests, inventories, and occupational/educational information regarding financial assistance or employment.  For information call (434) 797-8460. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES As a student in a distance learning environment, you will find that you have to take more responsibility for your learning.  You must play an active role in the instruction and learning process.  At the remote sites, you must ALWAYS use the student microphone for any voice communication.  The push-to-talk microphones are located on student tables.  These microphones have a button that can  be pressed and locked open  before the student begins speaking.  The microphone will remain open until the button is pushed to release it.  This microphone system does not amplify your voice, but just allows it to be carried across the Internet to other sites.  Students should remain about 6-12 inches from the microphone to keep their voice from being distorted. On the DCC campus, the microphones are mounted in the ceiling and are open at all times. Learn how to use classroom equipment.  Instructions are provided for each piece of equipment in the classroom.  Instructional equipment may include:   Fax machine, Visual presenters (Elmo), TV/VCR's and DVDs, Computers.   You must communicate with the instructor if you cannot see what is being written or shown or if you cannot hear what the instructor or other students are saying. Technical problems which could occur include:   cannot hear or understand  the instructor/fellow students, cannot read what the instructor is writing, cannot read presentation material--too small, background and text coloring doesn't show up, too much text on one slide, cannot see the instructor (camera is not switching enough), material is out of focus, other video/audio problems. It is critical that students communicate questions and concerns related to course content, classroom procedures, and technical problems to the instructor.  The instructor will communicate with the site coordinator as needed to resolve problems and answer questions.  As with any learning experience, you will only get from it what you are willing to put into it.  We encourage you to be an active learner and to participate in the teaching and learning process.  Your primary contact for this course, as with any course, is your instructor.  Please let your instructor know if you have any concerns about the course or problems related to the use of the technology. Danville Community College (434) 797-2222 or 1 (800) 560-4291 Distance Learning Help Desk   (434) 797-8557 Director of Learning Resources and Distance Learning (434) 797-8454 Bookstore (804) 797-8426 Student Services Counseling   (804) 797-8460