FAQ Page

CD-ROM Courses

Professional Development Courses for Educators By Virtual Education Software, inc. (VESi) (Credit)

Q: What is a CD-ROM course like?

A: In a CD-ROM course, all your instructional materials and assessments are delivered on a CD-ROM which you use in your own computer. You can learn from the comfort of your home or office at times that are convenient to you! Your study is more independent and self-paced than in a regular classroom-based course. Course materials may contain readings, presentations, illustrations, animations, audio or video, links to related Web sites, or references to other resources. Assessments are designed right into the CD-ROM and an instructor is available as needed by e-mail or telephone.

Q: Why should I take a computer-based course?

A: We know that most of you lead very busy lives! And access to higher education can be difficult, particularly given time, travel, and weather-related constraints. That's why distance learning exists - to provide convenient access to continuing education. Wouldn't it be nice to "attend" class after work, after the kids go to bed, while away on a business trip, or on the weekend, from the convenience of your own home or office? That's what distance learning is all about!

Q: What courses are offered?

A: We have a wide variety of course offered every term. Check our Distance Learning Catalog to find courses that interest you!

Q: How do I enroll?

A: Registration can be initiated either online or by telephone. Visit our Distance Learning Catalog for course descriptions and registration. Find the course you want and click "Register." When you register online, you will receive a confirmation e-mail letting you know how to make payment, which completes your registration. Then you will receive the CD-ROM course in the mail. Or call 1-800-313-6744 to register by phone.

Q: What kind of reception have these courses received from practicing teachers?

A: Teachers have been very pleased with these courses and often come back to take several more. Please write to let us know about your experience once you've completed a course!

Q: Can I receive college credit?

A: Yes. These CD-ROM courses are offered for CWU "Professional Development Credit" or for Washington state-endorsed "Clock Hours" at your option.

Q: When can I register?

A: Register at any time. We offer these courses throughout the year - winter, spring, summer and fall quarters.

Q: Is there a deadline for completion?

A: Yes. For example, if you register for a spring quarter class, you should try to finish it up by the end of the spring quarter. If you don't finish by that deadline, your instructor will submit a grade of "incomplete," and then you can finish it up during the following quarter.

Q: Will you be offering these courses again next quarter? Next year?

A: Generally, we continue to offer all the courses year-around. Occasionally a brand new course is added to the catalog of offerings, or an old course is updated, so check back periodically.

Q: How long will it take me to complete the course?

A: Allow at least 2 weeks if you are working on a course full-time (as you might be in the summer), but longer if you are teaching and can only devote an hour or two at a time to the course. For example, a class might be listed for 4 credits or 40 clock hours...so you could expect the content to take approximately 40 hours to complete, though naturally times vary widely by individual.

Q: Are these undergraduate or graduate courses?

A: Neither. They are post-baccalaureate, 500-level, professional development courses. Professional Development classes are serious courses of study -- but not quite as rigorous, perhaps, as you might expect a graduate course to be. There are no term papers, as all content and assessments are right on the CD. You study the material at your own pace, and you may contact an instructor if you have any questions or problems.

Professional development credits are not equivalent to graduate credits and do not apply toward masters degrees or endorsements, but do serve most educators perfectly for certificate maintenance and pay scale advancement.

Q: What are clock hours?

A: Clock Hours are recognized by the state when issued by a state-approved clock hour provider, like CWU. Originally a measurement of "seat time" in a traditional in-service setting, the rule of thumb now for clock hours is that a one-credit CWU class equals 10 clock hours.

Q: Does the state of Washington require credits or clock hours?

A: The state accepts both credits and clock hours for certificate maintenance. So it's your choice. Here is a link to OSPI's page of frequently asked questions about the continuing education requirement.

Q: Should I choose credits or clock hours?

A: Your school district may have a preference for pay scale advancement, so check with them before deciding. But as for the state continuing education requirement, it's just personal preference. What are the pro's and cons of each? The clock hours are a little cheaper, but you are responsible for keeping track of your clock hour records. The credits, on the other hand, appear on your official university transcript which you can request at any time. So it all depends on what you prefer.

Q: Will these courses work for my district's pay scale advancement?

A: Yes, though some school districts may require either credits or clock hours for pay scale advancement. So check with yours before deciding.

Q: Why should I take a CD-ROM course instead of a regular course?

A: CD-ROM based courses are very popular with teachers and getting more and more popular as the word spreads. Teachers like the convenience of working on them at their own home or office computer...whenever their schedules permit - after school, on the weekends, summer, whenever is convenient. No travel, bad weather or inconvenient class times to deal with. Many come back to take several courses over the years (or even several in one summer!).

Q: What are the minimum system requirements for the CD-ROM courses?

A: Macintosh Operating Systems
Mac OS 9.x or OS10.x, 256MB of RAM and 5MB of free hard disk space, 15" or larger color monitor with a minimum resolution of 800x600, 4x CD-ROM drive and a printer.

Windows Operating Systems
Windows 2000, XP Home, XP Professional or newer, 256MB of RAM and 5MB of free hard disk space, 15" or larger color monitor with a minimum resolution of 800x600, 4x CD-ROM drive and a printer.

Q: Can I register online?

A: Yes, from the Distance Learning Catalog. Select the course you want and click Register to enroll for either credit or clock hours. At this time online payment is not available, so you will be instructed to call our 800 number to pay by credit card or to send your payment by mail.

Q: Do I need to be admitted as a CWU student before I can register for these classes?

A: No. The Office of Continuing Education works a little differently in order to accommodate non-traditional students. You can go ahead and register for a CD-ROM class. You'll get a message that says you need to call our 800 number to complete your registration. When you call us, you'll make payment by credit card (or mail) and we'll ask you some questions to complete your credit or clock hour enrollment paperwork. If you registered for credit, then we will submit the admissions form for you to be officially admitted as a CWU student. If you registered for clock hours then we will process your clock hour forms.

Q: I only have a few weeks to get the credit I need to maintain my certification. Is this type of course a good way to do this?

A: Yes, this is one of the best avenues for quickly obtaining credit for recertification. Go ahead and register online for the class or classes that that meet your needs - at http://www.cwuce.org/distance-learning. We will mail you the CD-ROM as soon as we get your payment, and you can work as quickly as you want. Upon your successful completion of the class, you print and mail in the certificate of completion as proof of course completion. Our practice is to submit grades into the university's record system within a week of receiving that certificate. You will then be able to request your transcript at any point.

Q: How do I get a copy of my CWU transcript?

Q: How can I get a copy of my grades?

Q: Can I drop a course after I've started it?

Q: Is financial aid available?

A: For answers to these and other questions about registration, records, and access, see the General FAQ Page.