Connected Classroom FAQ's
Connected Classroom Learning (CCL) is a new concept to many of our students. As
such, we have compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions about CCL.
Is there a price difference for a CCL class?
Even though our costs to deliver a CCL class are higher than a regular class, we
do not charge a premium for CCL events. If you take a class in a remote classroom,
we incur many additional costs. First you are using two computers instead
of one (we provide a computer in the instructor classroom and in your remote location).
In addition, we must provide the communications links between the two classrooms
(long distance phone lines, a phone conferencing bridge, and high-speed internet
connections). Conferencing software licenses on your lab PC and on the instructor presentation machine also have to be purchased. These are the additional “hard costs”
to a CCL event. On top of that, there are “soft costs” related to coordinating an
event that must link multiple locations. None of these added costs are passed on
to the CCL student.
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Will I be by myself?
Our remote classrooms can typically have one to four students in an event. So there
is a good chance that you will be taking the class with one or more peers, even though the instructor is not physically present in the site. In addition, if the
instructor is teaching at a nearby site, you have the option of switching your registration
to that location.
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What if I have a question?
You simply ask a question as you would in a regular class. Speaker phones and a
phone bridge connect all of the remote classrooms. Sometimes a group in a remote
classroom might like to mute the speaker phone so they can talk among themselves
during the class.
When they need to ask the instructor a question, they simply un-mute
the phone and speak up.
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What happens if I get stuck in a lab?
Just ask for help like in a regular class. The instructor is able to see your screen
and with your permission, can take over your mouse and keyboard to help you, if
necessary.
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Can I take training from my home or office?
Yes, you can take a CCL class from your home or office. (You will need a speaker
phone and a high-speed internet connection.) However, we have classrooms available
at our training centers for your attendance
if you are located nearby. Many clients tell us that they prefer learning in our
in our interruption-free classroom environments.
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Will I need to install software?
If you come to one of our training locations you will not have to install anything.
Everything should be set up for you when you get there. If you take a class at home
or office, a simple 5-minute installation process will get you up and running.
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What if I don’t like the class?
If you don’t like the class, let us know by the break on the morning of the first
day of class. You will be able to leave with no cancellation penalty.
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How is this different from a web seminar?
In a web seminar, you just listen and watch an instructor presentation. You have
no hands-on component. In many web seminars, you can’t ask questions except for
writing chat messages. In a CCL session you have hands-on access to software for
labs and can ask questions freely over the phone.
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How is CCL different from other “live” web-delivered computer classes?
You may have participated in a web-based class where the instructor presents to
a group in a web seminar fashion. Sometimes called “synchronous” training, the “live”
component of the class is when everyone is connected to the instructor presentation.
This live lecture will go on for up to 3 hours with very little “doing” or interaction
on your part. During these sessions, an instructor can present to 30 or 40 students
because it is mostly one-way communication.
Then after the lecture, students schedule lab time where they can access servers
that have the course software loaded. During the lab time students work independently.
They can e-mail the instructor if they have questions or problems during the labs.
In contrast to other blended solutions, our remote students experience a flow of
interaction that is exactly like a regular class. You listen to and watch the instructor.
Then you experiment and practice with the software. If you get stuck on a lab, you
can ask for help—right then by talking; not by sending an email. You don’t have
to schedule time for labs —the labs take place while you are in the class.
Our average class size is small, typically under 10 students. If you are in one
of our classrooms, you’ll be in an interruption-free environment and potentially
with other students. This lessens the risk that you will be pulled away from class
to solve a crisis going on at your office.
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Do people take a second class in this format?
For some people, CCL is a great solution. We’ve worked to put the best conferencing
technology in place so that you will see very little difference between CCL and
a course that has the instructor present in the same classroom.
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Is CCL right for me?
The best candidates for a CCL class are those people with strong mouse and Windows
skills and who have English as their native language.
Contact Us to speak with a representative to find out more.
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