All Distance and Online Education courses are offered online. They are hosted by an online learning management system where you can logon to the UM web server and access your course website in a secure environment. You can read course materials, chat with your classmates and instructor, submit assignments and check assignment grades, all online.
Access to online courses is at umanitoba.ca/angel.
How our courses work
Online course deliveries vary, but standard features in all courses include interaction options
such as chat, student lounge
and e-mail, and online
assignment submission.
Courses may also feature one or more of the following features:
- PDFs of course materials in the course website
- Synchronous online or telephone audioconferences (required in some courses)
- Tutorials (Fort Garry Campus)
- Audio/video resources
- Links to online library and web resources
Technical requirements
Most computer systems with Internet access will be sufficient for online courses. However there are some recommended minimums.
Hardware
A computer with Internet access is required. We recommend that your computer have a sound card, speakers and a printer. Although it is possible to use a dial-up modem, high speed Internet is recommended. Cable modems or home use DSL lines will work well for online courses.
All Computer Science courses require Windows 2000, XP, or newer. Linux or Mac computers may be used, but are not supported.
Software
The required browser is Firefox 3 or Internet Explorer 8 or higher. Mac users require Firefox 3.5. For most courses, Word 2000 or Wordperfect 11.0 (or higher) are sufficient word processors. Other word processing software can be used, but you may experience some compatibility issues that will require a little extra time to work through.
If you plan to access your course(s) from a computer at work
Many organizations have firewalls blocking the ports used by the UM’s learning management system. So if you plan to access course websites from work, you may have to make special arrangements with your computer administrator since you will need to confirm that you have access to the correct ports before the term begins. Try to access your course website, as early as possible, from all computers you intend to use.
If your course includes audioconferences
For courses that offer synchronous online audioconferences, you will require a headset and microphone.
Check Aurora Student or call Student Services at (204) 474-8012 or toll free 1-888-216-7011 ext 8012 if you need more information about:
- Online course features
- Dates and times of audioconferences
- Tutorial dates, times and locations
Claiming an ID
You must claim a UMnetID (a user ID and password) before you can logon to the course website. If you are a returning student, you may already have a UMnetID. Claim your UMnetID at umanitoba.ca/claimid. Be sure to copy your user ID and password in a safe place as this information gives you access to several computer services on campus, as well as your course websites. If you have problems claiming your UMnetID contact the computer accounts office at (204) 474-9788 or at computer_accounts@umanitoba.ca. Please allow at least one business day after claiming your ID before logging into your course website.
Logging into the course website
Access your course at umanitoba.ca/angel.
Online course sections should be available to students 30 days before the start of term, provided the new course section has been created. You should be able to access your online course about 48-72 hours after registering for your course. If you have problems logging in please contact de_support@umanitoba.ca.
Submitting assignments
You can submit assignments by mail, fax, in-person, email or through the course website. Graded assignments will be returned by mail or email, depending on your instructor’s preferences. Submission instructions are available in the Distance and Online Education Student Handbook and in the course website. You can confirm arrival of your assignments at the UM and check your grades in the course website.
Textbooks
Unless otherwise specified, you are responsible for ordering your textbooks, readings packages, CDs/DVDs, or other required materials from the UM Book Store. For more information about ordering materials from the UM Book Store, please see page 14. Some reading materials and/or CDs/DVDs can be borrowed from Off-Campus Library Services.