Frequently Asked Questions

The following represent the most frequently asked questions by students in traditional classroom and Web courses. I think that you will find these to be informative. Please contact me with other questions which you may have as the semester progresses.

• I procrastinate occasionally and do not complete assignments on time. Do you grant extensions?
  Withdraw from the course immediately.
   

• I will be delayed getting the book for this course, what do you suggest?
  The book is critical for our course and you do not need to get behind from the beginning. Students assume responsibility for reading the book and completing assignments on time when enrolling in a course. There is a copy on reserve in the library which you can use in the interim. Additionally, there are many study aides that complement and correlate with the book which you can begin using in the NS Online portion of our course.
   

• Is it easier to take a Web course compared with a traditional classroom course?
  No. In fact, it may be more difficult unless you are proficient at independent learning and have good time-management skills. This is especially true of the economics courses. You have the primary responsibility for completing the work and mastering the concepts. You may always contact me for help.
   

• I work and have family responsibilities in addition to school. How much time should I plan to devote to this course each week?
  The answer will vary depending on the course and the student. Some courses are more challenging, economics for example, and will require more time and effort. Additionally, some students have a propensity for certain subjects and not for others. A "rule of thumb" is that a student should expect to devote at least one hour studying outside of class for each hour in class; therefore, a course that is three credit hours will require at least six hours of effort per week.
   

• Can I proceed at my own pace?
  I encourage you to work ahead of the dates in the semester calendar and all assignments are available on the first day of the semester. You must complete all assignments no later than the due dates. College policy requires that a WF grade (Withdrawn Failing) be submitted to the Records Office when a student has not adhered to the course requirements in the syllabus. A WF grade will be assigned if a student in a Web course misses two assignments or fails to log in to the course for two consecutive weeks. A WF grade will be assigned if a student in an on-campus course misses six classes or two consecutive weeks.
   

• What are the basic requirements in this course?
  Read the book, work through the course materials on the Web, complete the tests and exams, and submit all required assignments. These are the minimum requirements to complete the course. I trust that you will do more to get the full advantage from this course... this is a mark of scholarship! (See the next question)
   

• Am I required to submit any of the review/discussion questions, Internet exercises, cases or homework assignments in the text or on the Web?
  All of these are for you to use as you wish to develop mastery of the subject. You do not have to submit responses to them. If you put forth minimal effort in this course, you can expect minimal results. If you want to get the most from this course, you will need to "get your hands dirty" and do quite a bit of work. Learning requires hard work! (See the previous question)
   

• When can I log in and begin my course?
  The NS Online content, including tests and exams, will be available by the first day of classes. I encourage you to begin reading the textbook assignments before then if possible.
   

• Will I be okay with dial-up access to the Internet?
  Yes, that will work but you may experience a slow response with some of the Internet activities. Broadband (cable and DSL) will provide a much faster experience.
   

• What strategy do you recommend to learn the material?
  This approach has always worked for me: 1) scan the chapter to get a sense of what it is about; 2) read it very thoroughly and patiently for understanding, item by item; and, 3) review the chapter to be certain that I understand everything. Finally, I would work through all available study aides such as: lecture notes, study suggestions, PowerPoint presentations, practice tests, etc. Scholarship requires hard work, diligent effort and patience. Click this link for extensive suggestions from Eric Jensen’s book, Brain-Based Learning.
   

• Can I communicate with other class members?
  Yes. Each course has an NS Online component with an email utility and a discussion area for communications. I have created discussion topics for each of the tests and exams where students can post information, questions and answers for other class members.
   

• What are the tests and exams like?
  You must have a thorough understanding of the theories, concepts, and principles presented in the material and how to apply them. Most questions are application oriented. There may be a few definitions, terms and memory-work questions but not many. The practice tests are a good indicator of what to expect.
   

• Can I begin an online test or exam, leave it and come back to finish it at a later time?
  Do not begin an online test or exam unless you are prepared to complete it at that time. The tests and exams are timed and the electronic timer begins to run when a test or exam is started, continues to run, and is stopped only by: a) submitting the test for grading within the allocated time; or b) the allocated time expires before the test is submitted for grading. You will not be able to submit a test for grading after the allocated time has expired.
   

• Are the practice tests worth my efforts?
  Yes! You should do well on the tests and exams IF you master each practice test question.
   

• What if I do not complete the test or exam by the date published in the semester calendar?
  The dates published in the semester calendar are not the due dates, they are the last opportunity to complete a test or exam. I expect that students will not wait until the last opportunity but some always do and often run into unexpected complications. The usual last-minute difficulties each semester include: computer malfunction, had to work late, illness, car troubles, read the calendar date wrong, etc. Believe me, something will happen if you wait until the last day and I do not approve extensions! Tests and exams will not be available after the date published in the semester calendar. The lowest test grade for the semester will be substituted for the first missed test. Subsequent missed tests will receive a score of zero. Missed exams will receive a score of zero. Clearly, this is to encourage you not to procrastinate until the deadline.
   

• Do I have to go to the Testing Center or an off-campus site for the tests and exams?
  You may take the tests (not exams) online wherever you have Internet access. The Mid-Term and Final Exams are required to be completed either in the Testing Center on campus or at a Nashville State off-campus site. Please click here for more information.
   

• How do I get my test and exam grades when I complete them online?
  The test or exam will be graded electronically and available for you to review immediately after you submit it.
   

• Can I access a completed test or exam for review?
  Yes. Start the Respondus LockDown Browser, log in to our course, click Grades and the submission icon to the right of the test or exam you wish to review.
   

• Why can't I print the completed test/exam for review?
  I had to disable printing and copy/paste for security reasons. I did not like to do that but I was experiencing quite a few security problems. I have attempted to find some middle ground between not making them available at all, as some professors do, and trying to maintain a degree of integrity for the tests and exams. I trust that you will understand. You can print and copy/paste the practice tests.
   

• What if I have a question or wish to discuss an answer for a test question?
  I am available to help with any questions which you may have about questions and answers from any of the tests (required and practice) and exams. Please post your question along with the complete test question and answer (or a specific reference where I can find the question) in the discussion forum related to the particular test or exam. I will explain answers to questions from the required tests/exams in the appropriate forum after the deadline for the test or exam has passed.
   

• What if I earn a low score on one test and have high scores on the others, can I earn extra credit to compensate?
  Yes, you have an opportunity to earn extra credit and improve your grade for the semester. Please see the course syllabus for details.
   

• Can I find out how I am progressing compared with the other class members?
  I will send an email message after each test and exam which will provide the results for the entire class.
   

• Am I required to contact you periodically during the semester?
  I only ask that you contact me when you need assistance with some aspect of the course. Of course, I always like to hear from students!
   

• What is the best way to contact you?
  I am available via the NS Online email program, telephone (615.353.3424), or in my office (C-354E) on campus.  Email is the quickest method for us to get in touch. I check email periodically from early morning to early evening during the week and sporadically during weekends. My campus email address is Quenton.Pulliam@nscc.edu if NS Online is unavailable. Please send a telephone number and a couple of convenient times for me to call if you wish. I am usually in my office on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday mornings during the summer. Please contact me for an appointment if you wish to meet in my office.
   

• Do I need a parking permit when I come to campus?
  Yes, either a temporary or an annual permit is required to park on campus. Parking permits are available from the Security Office and you will need your license plate number. Annual parking permits are recommended if you plan to visit the campus frequently.