Unit 2: Learning Guide

Site: University of the People Printed by: Satyam Kumar

Course: UNIV 0001 New Student Orientation Date: Monday, 28 July 2025, 3:08 AM
Book: Unit 2: Learning Guide
 Description

Your learning journey continues here. Read through each page of this Learning Guide, then proceed to check your understanding
in the Unit 2: Quiz.
 Table of contents

Overview
The Online Classroom and Technology
Introduction to Online Learning
What is Moodle?
Where are My Courses?
Technology Requirements and Resources
 Overview

Unit 2: The Online Classroom and Technology Resources

Topics
Introduction to Online Learning
What is Moodle?
Where are My Courses?
Technology Requirements and Resources

Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:

1. Explain the role of online learning

2. Recall how to navigate to My Courses
3. Interpret the UoPeople Clock
4. Recall how to navigate to Technology Resources
Tasks
Read the Learning Guide
Take the Quiz to check your understanding
Participate in the Practice Discussion
 The Online Classroom and Technology

Introduction

Let's begin!
Be sure to go through the entire Learning Guide.

This unit explores the way in which you will see, take courses, and utilize the right technology to be a successful student at the
University. You will practice navigating from one place to another in Moodle (our online "campus") and will find out how to use
technology to connect with your classmates and instructors.

Technology is best when it brings people together.

— Matt Mullenweg Social Media Entrepreneur
 Introduction to Online Learning

You have decided to investigate online learning as an alternative to a traditional classroom. But what will this really mean for you as a
student? Here we will introduce you to the world of online learning: we will show you how it works, debunk a few common
misconceptions about online learning environments, and explore some differences you will encounter when taking courses online
rather than in a traditional classroom.

Online vs. Traditional Classroom

In an online course, your instruction and materials are delivered over the internet
rather than in-person. Seems obvious enough, right? In fact, think of Moodle (our
Learning Management System or LMS for short) as your virtual campus for all your
courses at the University.

Within Moodle your online course is where your instructor will post all of the course
materials, conduct online discussions and perhaps other activities, as well as receive
your assignments. Additionally, it is where your instructor will expect you to: read all
of the course materials posted, participate in the activities created, and use Moodle to submit your work.

Debunking Myths
Online learning is not new, but it is quickly evolving to become a more powerful tool for teaching and learning. That's why we think it's
important to start our discussion by debunking some of the more common myths about online learning. These misconceptions might
already sound familiar, or they may surprise you. But they have gotten in the way of some students who then found it difficult or
impossible to complete their online courses successfully.

We do not want you to be one of these students. This is why we have provided this introductory content: we want to give you a clear
idea of what you can expect from online learning and provide you with some tips that will help you not only to succeed, but to excel, in
your program of study.
Common Myths
Let's start by addressing the three most common myths about online learning:

Myth #1: It's Easier

Myth #2: Participation is Optional

Myth #3: Technology is not Important

So now that you've been introduced to some of the basics of online learning, let's take the next step in your quest for online success.
The learning guides in this orientation include a variety of instructional aids, activities, and resources that will help to prepare you as a
successful online learner. And the good news is, you've already started!
 What is Moodle?

University of the People uses Moodle, a well regarded online Learning Management System (LMS), to deliver courses entirely online. In
fact, you are in Moodle right now! While it's not necessary to be physically present in a classroom, students at University of the People
are part of a strong and lively online academic environment. Think of Moodle as the host of your online courses. Although your
Courses in Moodle are not open to the public, students should keep in mind that these online spaces are neither private nor
confidential.

NOTE: The University may access and observe communication conducted in the online classroom/LMS for regulatory, accreditation,
research, and other administrative purposes such as enforcing the General Code of Conduct (see the University Catalog for more
information), including investigating allegations of misconduct, suspected misconduct, or other complaints.

Watch: Learn How to Navigate UoPeople's Online Campus

It seems your browser is blocking 3rd party session cookies which are required for the Kaltura application. To resolve
this issue, please update your settings to allow 3rd party cookies.

Tips for Success

The UoPeople learning week runs from Thursday to Wednesday, therefore take a look at your upcoming tasks and plan for the
week accordingly. Remember that you need to set aside at least 15 hours per course, per week, so it’s important to plan ahead.

Knowledge Check
Read the question, then click on the question to reveal the answer.

Which learning management system (LMS) is used at UoPeople?

 Where are My Courses?

Navigating to your courses in Moodle is easy. First, make sure you are logged into Moodle. Then, from the navigation bar, select the My
Courses dropdown. This allows one-click access to your course's home page and Dashboard. The Dashboard is a page where you have
an overview of the courses that you’re enrolled in and any activities which need to be given attention to.

Step 1: Locate My Courses

At the top of the landing page and all pages within Moodle, you can access the navigation bar. Here is where you will find the My
Courses link. See image below denoting the location of My Courses.

Step 2: My Courses Dropdown

When you select My Courses, a dropdown menu will show options for navigating to your course(s). See the image below denoting
the options available from My Courses.

Watch: Learning Guides and Reading Assignments

It seems your browser is blocking 3rd party session cookies which are required for the Kaltura application. To resolve
this issue, please update your settings to allow 3rd party cookies.

Tips for Success

Manage your time just like you create a schedule for your day by creating a study schedule. Schedule things like when you will
study, where you will study, what you will be studying, when you will take a study break, etc. It is better to study in shorter
increments rather than studying all night. Break up your studying throughout the week.
 Technology Requirements and Resources

To study at the University of the People, students will need to have consistent access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection.
If students are working on a computer that is not their personal computer and are unable to save documents, it's important also to
obtain an external drive.

Most of the learning materials that students will be dealing with in their UoPeople
courses are compatible with Adobe PDF or Microsoft Office. Our learning platform,
Moodle, can be accessed by the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome,
Microsoft Edge, and Safari. You can access Moodle through a mobile device, but it is
not always recommended.

Software
There is no need to purchase software to study at University of the People. However, you will need to use the following software:

Moodle, our Learning Management System (LMS).

Office 365, a subscription service offering Microsoft Office suite software or a compatible software such as LibreOffice.
Adobe PDF Reader can be downloaded for free on the Adobe site.
Other specialized software may be required in certain courses. Information will be listed in the relevant course syllabus, however it
will not have an additional cost.

NOTE: All files shared with course Instructors and classmates must be saved in either Microsoft-compatible formats or PDF
format.

Usernames and Passwords

Each student is assigned a designated username and password to log into the University of the People Online Learning Platform
(Moodle) and access their courses.

Students’ usernames and passwords are vital for the security of a student’s work. The responsibility for all activities carried out under a
student’s username rests solely with that student. Please ensure you keep your password secret and do not give it to anyone else.
Computing and Networking Services and Requirements
Although Moodle and Class Forums are not open to public access, students should note that these online spaces are neither private nor
confidential. Don’t assume privacy when communicating in the Moodle or other virtual environments. Neither students nor instructional
personnel should assume privacy when communicating in the Virtual Learning Environment. The University may access and observe
communications conducted in the Virtual Learning Environment for regulatory, accreditation, research, and other administrative
purposes such as enforcing the General Code of Conduct, including investigating allegations of misconduct, suspected misconduct or
other complaints. Additionally, the University of the People may provide limited access to learning resources to individuals other than
students, alumni, instructional personnel, and staff.

Tips for Success

While Moodle works with several browsers, we suggest using Google Chrome or Firefox to avoid potential problems while
accessing course content.

NOTE: For Moodle and course-related technical support, and to report course content errors, typos, or broken links, please contact
[email protected].