About Online Courses

Students register for Online courses courses via Online Student Services. Use the GS suffix to indicate that you are registering for a Guided Study course. Your course will be offered in the University’s Moodle Learning Management System accessed via the myEdison® student portal. Please refer to our myEdison/Course Access page for login information and instructions. Please note that your course(s) will appear in the myEdison® portal on the Friday before the term starts. Until then, your courses will not be visible but you can confirm your upcoming schedule in Online Student Services under “Academic Profile”.

When you register for courses, remember to provide the University with an accurate, preferred email address so that you may receive this important information in time to begin your course work. It is recommended that you verify your student records online at Online Student Services before your course begins. At your first log in, you will obtain your log on ID and password by selecting “I’m new to Online Student Services” and following the prompts. A temporary password will be generated and emailed to you. After initial log in, you will be required to change your password. For most students, your log on ID will be your first name, followed by a period, then your last name (example: frank.smith). Students who have the same first and last names will be assigned a number to provide them with unique log on IDs (example: frank.smith2).

Online courses are recommended for distance learning students who enjoy reading, writing and participating in course discussions in an asynchronous, interactive, online environment. Mentors are available to assist and provide feedback as necessary, but they do not assume a tutoring role. Flexible policies allow students who are unexpectedly challenged by schedule, personal, medical or family constraints to extend the semester when circumstances warrant. To see what courses are offered online, visit www.tesu.edu/academics/courses.

Internet Connection (required):

High-speed connection is recommended. Speeds below 10 Mbps may cause slower loading times for video-heavy courses.

Operating System:

Windows or macOS recommended.

Linux and ChromeOS may have limited functionality for some of our technology and media tools.

Browser:

Firefox or Chrome recommended.

Edge/Internet Explorer and Safari may have limited functionality for some of our technology and media tools.

Other Software:

All students receive a Thomas Edison State University email account that provides free access to G-Suite for Education (Google).

Some course tools may require browser plugins or other software to be installed. More information is provided in those courses.

Peripherals for Video Related Activities:

Webcam and microphone required. This includes those built into devices. Headphones with built-in microphone recommended.

Some courses may require additional hardware. Details on these will be included in those specific courses.

Note: Operating systems, browsers, plugins and other software should be kept up-to-date for security purposes and to ensure proper functionality.

You may preview any online syllabus by going to the University website at www.tesu.edu/academics/courses. Select a course of interest to view the course description and information on the formats in which it is offered. If the course is offered in an online format, you will see a Preview the Online Syllabus link at the bottom of the Web page. A preview provides a view of the syllabus, including the course objectives and assignments—and shows you what books and other course materials are required. Please note that the contents of the actual online course may differ from the preview due to updates or revisions.

Designed to be completed in a 12-week semester, each online course includes a detailed week-by-week assignment schedule (accessible at the online course site) that guides students through reading and writing assignments and other course activities. During the semester students submit assignments to a mentor and participate in asynchronous course discussions. Mentors facilitate student discussions, providing guidance and focus for the class, grade assignments, discussions and examinations, and submit final grades. There is no specific time when one must be logged on for the class discussion; thus, students can maintain the flexibility of independent learning.

However, those who wish may engage in informal discussions with classmates, providing real opportunities to exchange ideas and enhance the informal aspects of learning. Mentors are available for consultation by email or telephone. Most courses require a textbook (and perhaps a published study guide) and may require readings and media components. Self-assessment tests and exercises often are incorporated into the course materials. A few courses have computer disks containing additional information and exercises. Mentors formally assess academic progress through written assignments, participation in course discussions and proctored and non-proctored examinations or some other form of comprehensive assessment.

Most online courses have two exams: a midterm taken in Week 7 and a final taken in Week 12. The midterm exam is usually an online, proctored assessment taken via the Online Proctor Service (OPS) and it typically covers material from the first half of the course. The final is usually an online, proctored assessment taken via the OPS and it typically covers material from the second half of the course. Students register through the OPS to select a test appointment during the official exam weeks. Some courses have a final paper or project in lieu of a final exam.