Why do I have to take the XLN workshop?
The XLN Online Readiness Workshop is a demonstration of readiness for online learning. If you want to take an online class, readiness for online learning may be demonstrated by successfully completing the workshop, or by successfully completing NET100S introduction to the Internet, or by having successfully completed a prior online class at Edison. Students must also place into college-level reading and writing to take online classes.

How much does it cost?
The workshop costs $30.

Do I get a grade?
A score of 70 (out of 100) is required to demonstrate readiness. The scores are recorded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. It does not compute in your grade point average.

How long do I have to complete it? How much time does it take?
Each workshop section begins on a Saturday and ends the following Friday. Students may complete the exercises at their convenience – HOWEVER, there are internal deadlines that must be met. Students are responsible for reviewing and understanding the workshop requirements.

Time on task varies with the student’s familiarity with the online environment, but a good rule of thumb is to expect to spend 4-6 hours on workshop tasks over the course of the week.

The workshop must be successfully completed prior to beginning the online class. To accommodate last-minute registrations, the workshop may be taken during the first week of the online class. However, students who do not successfully demonstrate readiness will be dropped from the online class.

Is there a class, or is it online?
The XLN Online Readiness Workshop is entirely online. There is no class meeting time.

Is there a textbook required?
There is no textbook required. For students who desire extra information, there are a number of “Getting Started” and “Help” tutorials available online.

What software do I need?
A web browser compatible with Blackboard is required. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Apple’s Safari, and Opera all work well. There have been some problems reported with the AOL browser. Current versions are best, and the browser must be configured to accept cookies. Sometimes pop-up blockers may interfere with the testing in Blackboard, especially if the test is set to open in a new window.

In addition, a word processor capable of creating a .doc (Word), .txt (text) or .rtf (Rich Text Format) file is required.

Adobe Acrobat Reader or an application capable of reading .PDF files (such as Apple’s Preview) is also required for the workshop. Acrobat Reader may be downloaded free of charge from www.adobe.com.

Do I have to have a computer at home?
No – but.... Students do need access to a computer where they can open, save and create files. Sometimes students will use their work computers for classes. There are computers available at Edison in the Library and the Internet Café. Students without computers at home should assess whether they have adequate access to be successful in an online class.

Also, broadband (cable or DSL) is highly recommended, but not required.

Do I have to have an email address?
Yes! Currently Edison does not supply email addresses. Email accounts are available from a number of free services, including Hotmail, Yahoo and Google. Students are responsible for acquiring the address and making sure it is updated in both Blackboard and WebAdvisor. The second-biggest cause for unsuccessful workshop experiences is bad email addresses.

What’s the biggest cause for unsuccessful workshop experiences?
The single biggest cause for unsuccessful workshop experiences is failing to take responsibility for the online learning experience. All of the instructions and requirements are posted online. Students should confirm their email addresses when registering for the workshop or for an online course. Delaying getting started because “they told me I could do it any time” and not following instructions are the biggest problems.