Course Experience
Structured Flexibility
eCornell courses combine the structure of a 2-week learning timeframe with the flexibility of scheduling that only online accessibility can offer. Enabling students to work at their own pace supports a cohort-centric model that promotes social interaction and enables communication, collaboration and construction of knowledge.
Students and instructors engage in a variety of learning activities over a 2-week period during which time interactions are happening 24/7 through discussion boards. The structured time period combined with attentive and disciplined instructor guidance ensures that students receive a personalized learning experience and that they are coached to achieve the learning objectives and successfully complete the course.
The Course Experience
1. Registration. Upon registration, students are grouped into sections of 20 to 30 peers, and assigned a dedicated instructor. As most eCornell students are adult learners in pursuit of professional development in addition to leading busy work and personal lives, all courses begin on a Wednesday to allow for two full weekends of study.
Days before the official opening of the course, students receive a welcome email from the instructor. This communication serves to introduce themselves, present the syllabus for the course, set expectations and invite participation.
2. Course Opens. While all courses open on a Wednesday, there is no set time to appear in the course. Students login whenever it is convenient for them, with many choosing to begin their coursework on the weekend.
Learning activities commence with the class moving through the modules of the course. Material is presented in a variety of formats and includes reading, listening to faculty author and Ask-the-Expert lectures, interactive quizzes, simulations and assignments.
Each course has a defined number of required activities which must be submitted and approved by the instructor in order to successfully complete the course. Students post their original ideas in discussion topics in forums including responses to other student ideas, with prompt and regular instructor feedback. Students may chose to receive emails notifying them immediately when discussions have new activity. This dialog-rich interaction community is a hallmark of the eCornell experience.
The instructor tracks student progress to ensure each student is moving through the course in a timely fashion and is meeting all requirements. Email reminders are received by students at milestones during the 2-week period to help keep them on track toward successful completion.
Students who would like to also study offline may purchase optional CourseNotes that are available for most courses. CourseNotes is an ebook version of the course. Downloaded to a computer, it provides convenient direct access to the course content after it has closed.
Throughout their learning experience, students are supported with a robust suite of services including live Help Desk and student support to assist with any technical or scheduling questions, or other needs as they arise.
3. Course Ends. Courses close at the end of the 2-week period, marked with a wrap-up communication from the instructor. While formal instruction ends, access to online course materials continues for 6 weeks. Students may download their official Letter of Completion from Cornell University upon successful completion.
A curriculum progress tool—the Certificate Tracker—is provided for each student in their My eCornell homepage. The tool will update automatically after the course end dates and informs the student of the courses they need to complete to earn a certificate.
4. eCornell Alumni Community. eCornell students can stay connected through the eCornell Alumni Group on LinkedIn, and also receive a monthly newsletter from eCornell.
