Online Learning

With Sandburg Online, learning is exciting, accessible, and convenient. If you have a busy schedule, you "attend" class at times that best fit your schedule.

High quality, instructor-led courses are delivered through any personal computer, via an online course management system. Sandburg Online offers you the convenience of classroom flexibility 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Since online courses have maximum seat capacities of 20-30 students, and often less, you can count on being able to receive personal attention, just as you would in a traditional lecture class. While the courses begin and end within the specific semester dates, you can work at your own pace within the assignment deadlines.

 

Carl Sandburg College Online Classes

Currently, Sandburg offers a completely online option for a few of our degrees and certificates.

Associate in Arts - Sandburg offers the majority of the courses in this degree online. For courses Sandburg doesn't offer online, students can complete their degree by taking online courses through Illinois Community Colleges Online (ILCCO). Students may speak with their academic advisors about this option.

CISCO Network Security

Computer Technician

Search for online classes being offered at Sandburg.  Use "Online" for a location to receive a listing of only online courses. 

What personal skills do I need to succeed in an online course?

  • You must enjoy working independently and be self-motivated. Self-discipline and motivation to succeed are a large part of the online learning success equation. Students who procrastinate have trouble succeeding in online learning.
  • Strong time management and organizational skills are fundamental.
  • Writing is the primary mode of communication. Comfort with written expression is important.
  • You are expected to be able to read, interpret material, and complete coursework with minimal supervision and direction.
  • You must be comfortable with asking questions or expressing difficulties. If not, instructors will assume you are progressing without difficulty.
  • Online instructors DO NOT teach technology skills. Students MUST have moderate computer experience - including and not limited to...   
    • ability to submit and retrieve assignments and other course materials,
    • ability to send and receive an e-mail with or without attachments,
    • ability to download files,
    • ability to work in a Windows environment,
    • ability to create RTF (rich text formatting) and PDF (portable document format) documents
    • ability to effectively navigate the World Wide Web.

How are online courses taught?

All Sandburg online courses are taught through a course management system. Prior to the course start date, all students must complete the learning management system orientation, located in the student “mySANDBURG” portal. Lack of familiarity with the online system will impede learning. Once logged into the learning management system, you have access to the course syllabus which outlines the course expectations. In addition to textbook readings, instructors may also utilize a wide variety of technology tools to supplement learning, such as video recordings of class lectures, informational video clips, web-links, social networking programs, etc.

In regards to technology, what do I need to succeed in an online course?

  • Students need regular and consistent access to a computer and the Internet.

What if I need help with the course content?

  • Students taking online courses will need to request assistance from their instructor or request tutoring services through the Tutoring Center. Contact the Coordinator of Academic Support Services, Jake Runge, for more information about tutoring or to schedule an appointment (phone: 309.341.5262, email: jrunge@sandburg.edu).
  • Students can access Brainfuse, a 24/7 online tutoring service, available free of charge to all Sandburg students. Brainfuse is accessible through a link in mySandburg.

When does my class meet?

Online classes begin on the first day of each semester. You must log in to your online class and complete an attendance assignment by the deadline, which usually falls within the first three days of class. If you fail to complete the attendance assignment by the deadline, you may be withdrawn from the course. Online courses are generally conducted "asynchronously" which means students and instructors take turns discussing class material in a back and forth manner. Most instructors require frequent participation online. You can log in to the system whenever it is convenient for you - any time, day, or night, to complete assignments, retrieve, and/or send course information.

Will I be able to communicate sufficiently with the instructor or other students?

Many people mistakenly assume that they will feel isolated in an online course. To their surprise, most students find that online courses provide a high degree of personal contact. You will not only be in contact with your instructor, but everyone in the class will be involved in many group and individual discussions. The online format facilitates and enhances communication in ways that would be impossible in other situations. If need be, you can schedule a face-to-face or phone appointment with your instructor.

How do I take my exams for the course?

Some courses are completely online. However, some courses will require exams to be proctored at pre-approved test proctoring sites. Proctored exams may be scheduled by contacting the designated test proctor at your local campus. At the Galesburg Campus, contact Mitch Ray (mray@sandburg.edu or 309.341.5323).  At the Carthage campus, contact Mandee Allen (aallen@sandburg.edu or 217.357.3129 ext. 7246. Out-of-district students should contact your local community college testing center to make test proctoring arrangements.

What happens if the Internet is down or if I have computer problems?

Technology is great when it is running smoothly; however, you should plan and prepare for technology glitches. If your computer is not working, try logging off and on again. Rebooting the computer often fixes many problems. You can still access the class by using any computer that is online. The computers at Sandburg and the public library are for your use. If you do not have computer or Internet access at a critical time, contact the instructor via telephone and let him or her know your situation. Never wait until the last minute to complete assignments in order to avoid missing critical deadlines. You can never know when computer problems will occur, although you can be certain that at some point they probably will.

Illinois Community Colleges Online (ILCCO)

Sandburg also belongs to the Illinois Community Colleges Online (ILCCO) consortium. This program allows students to enroll in online courses at other Illinois community colleges while maintaining their Sandburg enrollment status. Students will participate in another college's online course but will receive billing, financial aid, and transcripts from Sandburg. To enroll in an ILCCO course, students need to contact their counselor as early as possible prior to the beginning of a semester as the enrollment process takes time and is not guaranteed.

Franklin University

Through a unique educational alliance with Carl Sandburg College, you have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science degree online from Franklin University. Carl Sandburg College and Franklin work together to provide all the resources you need to reach your educational goals. Franklin details

Hardware Software Requirements

You must have an active broadband (high speed) account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) before starting the program. 

Most personal computers and operating systems are supported, including mobile devices. Standard browsers are supported (i.e.: Edge, Firefox, Safari, Chrome) however Edge is not supported for Moodle courses.

Suggested: Check with course instructors for specific software requirements, particularly for AOP and ICT courses. However, for most courses, the current office products (PC and Mac) will be needed. If you use other "office" type programs, please note that some professors may require you to convert your files to an MS Office compatible format, Rich Text Format (.RTF), or PDF for online submission.

Technical Assistance

Technical staff is available to assist current students who are experiencing technical problems with the Sandburg website, student portal, or online courses. Office hours are between 8 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday during the spring and fall semesters. Hours are between 8 AM and 4 PM when summer school is in session.

You can submit a Tech Help Desk ticket which results in a personal call and /or e-mail from the Tech Help Desk staff about your issue.

To submit a Tech Help Desk ticket:

  • Go to support@sandburg.edu
  • If submitting a ticket, click on “My Sandburg Issues”. Click on “Next”.
  • Fill out all the fields. Include your personal e-mail address. Include a phone number. Describe your question or concern, including any error codes you receive. Click Submit.
  • You can call the Help Desk at (309) 341-5446 if you have difficulty submitting a ticket.
Students can check out laptops and Chromebooks from the library for the entire semester. To reserve a laptop or Chromebook follow the link to the library lending program page.

Pre-Semester Preparations

  • Sign up and attend "New Student Orientation"

Accessing the mySandburg student portal, Sandburg e-mail, and online course links…

  • Click on the mySandburg link in the upper right corner.
  • Login to mySandburg portal on the portal login page.
  • Once logged in, on the left side of the portal under the My Classes heading, click Moodle Home Page, where links to your online courses and Moodle, the course management system, are located.
  • Complete the Moodle system orientation by clicking on the links.
  • Regularly check your Sandburg e-mail, located left-top of the mySandburg portal.

If you experience problems… Submit a Help Desk ticket

Basic skills for online courses

  • Online instructors do not teach technology.
  • Technology skills are a prerequisite for online learning.
  • You must know how to: send e-mails and attachments, search the Internet, insert delivery and read receipts when sending e-mails through Microsoft Outlook, format Microsoft Word documents, and send PDF and RTF files.

Planning and Organizing

  • Online courses are available for access at midnight, the night before the semester officially begins.
  • Sign in and start your coursework on the first day of class, just as if you were attending a lecture course.
  • Read the course syllabus in its entirety. Note assignment, quiz, and test location and times. Some exams may need to be proctored.
  • Create a calendar of important deadlines.
  • Print a copy of the course syllabus and note the instructor’s phone number and e-mail for future reference.
  • Schedule your time. Keeping up with assignments is critical. Procrastination and falling behind on assignments are some of the biggest reasons for failure in an online learning environment.
  • In an online course, plan for 3-4 hours of study time per credit hour, per week. For a 3 credit hour online course – plan for 9-12 hours a week for reading and assignments. Some weeks may require more time depending on the course expectations and tests required during any given week. Plan accordingly.
  • If you are having difficulty, ask for help immediately. Communication is vital to success.

Technology and Assignments

  • Plan for glitches in technology. You never know when tech problems will occur.
  • Avoid missing deadlines by not waiting until the last minute to hand in assignments. Sandburg, as well as public libraries, have computers available for student use.
  • If you have computer problems, contact your instructor immediately.
  • Student assignments have been known to get “lost in cyberspace,” either as a result of student or instructor technology issues. As a precaution, when you get a confirmation message that your work has been submitted, save this message for your records.
  • If using the Sandburg e-mail system through mySANDBURG to send e-mails and assignments, insert delivery and read receipts and save the receipts for your records. This will leave no question as to whether assignments were sent or received.