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[gbrown]

I've just given my online students a survey. Here's answers to just a few questions I think you'll enjoy:

QUESTION #1: How do you feel about having two regular due dates a week for online assignments? (There was a variety of answers, but these are the best.)

• 29% said I wish that all of the work was just available right at the start so I can work ahead of time rather than have it parceled out in two work periods per week.
• 29% said Knowing me, I won't start on assignments until right before the due date... which means I'll be online trying to submit it right before the assignment clicks "off." This worries me.

QUESTION #2: If you're using a computer at home or work, what kind of internet access do you have there?

• 15% said broadband
• 71% said cable
• 14% said they don't know

QUESTION #3: What kind of back-up plan(s) do you have in place if you have difficulties with the computer you'll be using for most of your work? (There was a variety of answers, but these are the best.)

• 29% said My computer has never given me problems
• 15% said I don't know how to answer this. I haven't given this any thought.

I'm not surprised, but am a little annoyed by students who want to simply test out of a writing composition class (as evidenced by question #1). And I'm really worried about 14% of my students not knowing how the Internet gets to their computer... so, of course, they can't troubleshoot it. Do they think it's magic? Wow. And last, the idea that 15% have never even thought about what to do if their computer or internet connection won't work is just frightening! And so are the 29% confidently state that they've never had problems with their computer before (can you say ostrich with its head in the ground).

Yikes.

Now I know the reality of the situation I'm facing...

[new_bus_prof]

Well, the easy fix to Q#1 is to post all the assignments and their due dates at the beginning and have the submission accept postings as LATE up to 24 hours later.

If connecting through work, I would expect them not to know. I mean it's not like the IT department says "This is how we connect to the Internet."  I mean do you even know all that's available?
ADSL, VDSL, SDSL, broadband, cable, ISDN, T1, T3, dial-up, frame relay, satellite, wireless --and I'm sure I've missed some.

Send an email that says, please ensure you have some back-up plan for accessing, saving, and submitting assignments on time such as using the public library, visting a campus lab, etc.

[mathprofdk]

I think you might have overestimated the general knowledge of the typical Internet user to begin with.  I don't think the responses here are really that different from a survey of general Internet use, though they're probably higher (meaning your students are more aware of these issues than the typical user).

20 years ago, only the technologically savvy took an online course.  These days, everyone is online and so your knowledge pool is diluted.  (Not sure if that makes sense.  It does in my head.)