About

Frequently Asked Questions

If you don’t see the answer to your question here, please give us a call at 810.766.4390 or toll-free at 800.796.7064 or contact us online. We’re here to help.

What is online?
Online means courses and programs that are delivered through your computer and use the Internet to link faculty with you and other students. This process can occur between two computers in the same town or between computers on opposite sides of the earth. All online students become actively involved in interactive learning groups.

How does Baker Online work?
First, you enroll in a Baker Online program. Once you are accepted to the program, you sign up, or register, for your courses.
Like all Baker Online students, your first course is a three-week online course that orients you to the Baker Online classroom and explains what is expected and required of Baker Online students. After you complete this course successfully, you’re ready to take additional courses in your online classrooms.

What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is an Internet-based system that enables students to participate in classes in an online format. Through Blackboard, you can send and receive information from your instructor, the classroom, other students or groups of students. There is no software to install to access Blackboard, but you must have access to the Internet.

What is a virtual classroom?
A virtual classroom is the common meeting area for all students assigned to an online course. Each classroom has a unique name, which will be provided to you before the start of each course. To ensure privacy, only the instructor and students taking that particular course have access to that virtual classroom. You can view the virtual classroom at http://ol.baker.edu.

How does your system allow me to attend class any time of the day or night?
Our system is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We use a form of education that the experts call “asynchronous.” This means what you do is neither time nor place dependent. You go online at your convenience to read lectures, participate in discussions, and possibly even complete exams. You may still need to complete many of your required assignments and exercises off-line, using word processing software.

Does asynchronous discussion really work?
While almost everyone who tries this style of learning likes it, we find that it best suits those who have very busy work and personal lives. One of the barriers prohibiting many busy working adults from going to college is the requirement to be in a particular place at a particular time.
Online programs have been specifically designed to take advantage of technology. The online classroom gives you the same results you would get in a traditional, face-to-face environment, but in a more efficient manner. Also remember that in an on-campus classroom, students are often allowed to sit without participating. In the online environment, everyone is required to take part.

It seems to me that not speaking face-to-face with my instructor or fellow students would affect the learning process. Is this true?
No. Difficulties associated with asynchronous communication usually stem from being unaccustomed to the new delivery method. Once students get acquainted with the process, most report that learning is improved.

Think about it this way: everyone in the classroom has a different family situation and different schedules for work, rest and relaxation. It would be difficult and inconvenient to bring everyone together into one classroom without rearranging each person’s life. The same is true for online. Requiring everyone to log on to his or her class at the same time would defeat the purpose of online learning.

When communication is asynchronous, online students can participate any time it’s convenient, whether it’s midnight or noon, at home or away. They choose when and how to review class archives (comments, lectures, and discussions), study concepts and materials, and compose responses. Our students and faculty tell us that asynchronous communication enables them to study in more depth and breadth than “real-time” communication.

What is a typical online class like?
All online courses are broken down into equal parts called seminars. Typically, each course is six weeks in length. On the first day of each week, the online instructor sends introductory information on the week’s topic, reviews the assignments from the course outline, and sends an introductory lecture to begin the study process. To stimulate discussions, the instructor usually includes discussion questions at the end of his/her lecture.

As the week progresses, you work on assignments and participate in classroom discussion just as you would in a traditional classroom setting. However, you participate using your computer — in class discussions, in private discussions with classmates or instructors, to ask questions and receive feedback. When your assignments are due (required work has specific deadlines), you send them online. Instructors grade your papers, provide feedback and comments, and keep you informed of your status weekly.

Is an online course easier than an on-ground course?
The level of difficulty should be about the same. The focus of the work is different, however. Online courses focus on reading and writing. In traditional on-campus classrooms, your participation includes listening. Aural learners may have difficulty in adjusting to the visual nature of the online learning process.

Is it possible to talk to my instructor and fellow classmates in private?
Yes. The Blackboard system is basically a conferencing or e-mail system designed specifically to deliver online courses. You can use your personal e-mail account or your virtual classroom for private communication. Remember, only students enrolled in your course will be able to join the discussion or view course material.

In a regular classroom I can sit in the back of the room and listen. Suppose I don’t want to participate in the online classroom?
An online course is probably not the right method of learning for you. Participating in discussions is a large part of how you learn in online courses. To succeed, everyone must participate. That’s why online classes are much smaller than on-campus classes. A typical online class may have 12-15 students.

What kind of computer equipment do I need?
Baker Online students must have the following hardware and software (some additional equipment and software may be required for some courses):

PC requirements

• Pentium 4 compatible processor or higher
• Windows XP or higher required (Windows XP Professional may be required in some courses. See Course Equipment and Software Requirements for details.)
• 256 MB of RAM; 512 recommended
• CD ROM drive; DVD ROM drive recommended
• 20 GB hard drive or greater
• Internet service provider (ISP); broadband connection recommended
• Microsoft Office 2003 (Professional recommended and may be required in some courses. See Course Equipment and Software Requirements for details.)
• Netscape 7.1, Internet Explorer 6.0, Mozilla Seamonkey 1.1, and/or Firefox 2.0 or higher browser(s). AOL’s browser is not compatible.
• Virus Protection Software
• Java 1.5 or later
• Webcam recommended and may be required in some courses (See Course Equipment and Software Requirements for details.)

Mac requirements

• G4/Intel, Mac OS X-compatible processor or higher
• Mac OS X Version 10.4.X or later
• 256 MB of RAM required; 512 MB recommended
• CD ROM drive required; DVD ROM recommended
• 20 GB hard drive or greater
• Internet service provider (ISP); broadband connection recommended
• Microsoft Office: Mac 2004
• Virtual PC (Power PC) or Parallels (Intel) with Windows XP or greater required (Additional Windows software and/or Windows XP Professional may be required in some courses. (See Course Equipment and * Software Requirements for details.)
• Safari 1.1, Netscape 7.1, Mozilla Seamonkey 1.1, and/or Firefox 2.0 or higher browser(s). AOL’s browser is not compatible.
• Virus Protection Software
• Java 1.5 or later
• Webcam recommended and may be required in some courses (See Course Equipment and Software Requirements for details.)

Do I have access to a library?
As a Baker College student, you:

• Are entitled to use any of the nine campus libraries, and you can access most of them online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Can browse the library collection of not only the Baker libraries, but also many other libraries all over North America.
• Have access to journal articles, which can be downloaded from the online databases.

Our online library provides a variety of services to help you with your research, all of which will be explained to you by your Development Coordinator.

Is Baker College Online accredited?
Baker Online is a division of Baker College, a fully accredited, private, not-for-profit career college system established in 1911.
Baker College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504 (800.621.7440).

In addition to the Higher Learning Commission, the Baker Center for Graduate Studies also carries professional accreditation by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).

Does Baker provide any help in my job search?
As a graduate of Baker College, you are eligible for our Lifetime Employment Services, which include:

• Job searching techniques
• Resume and cover letter assistance
• Job interview questions
• Job postings
• Relocation tips

Terms often used in relation to online courses.

• Asynchronous: In computer programming, asynchronous (from Greek meaning “not at the same time”) describes processes that proceed independently of each other.
• Browser: A browser is an application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the Internet. The word “browser” seems to have originated prior to the Internet as a generic term for user interfaces that let you browse text files online.
• Chat: On the Internet, chat or chatting is talking to other people who are using the Internet at the same time you are. Asynchronous communication is not considered chat.
• Discussion Board: A discussion board is a general term for any online “bulletin board” that allows you to read or leave messages and receive responses. Bulletin board services also allow users to upload or download files. The discussion board is where the online course discussion takes place.
• ISP: ISP is an acronym for Internet Service Provider. An ISP is a company that provides access to the Internet and other related services.
  Microsoft Internet Explorer: Internet Explorer is Microsoft’s Internet browser, which has been included with the Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, and XP operating systems.
• Netscape Navigator: Netscape Navigator is an Internet browser that was developed by Netscape Communications.
• Safari: Safari is an Internet browser that was developed by Apple Inc.
• Thread: A thread is a sequence of responses to an initial message posting. This enables you to join an individual discussion from among the many that may be there. A thread is usually shown graphically as an initial message followed by successive messages.