Welcome to CTC Distance Education

Central Texas College Distance Education

Online Courses

Central Texas College Distance Education

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, CTC’s state regulatory agency, defines online courses as

"A course which may have mandatory face-to-face sessions totaling no more than 15 percent of the instructional time. Examples of face-to-face sessions include orientation, laboratory, exam review, or an in-person test."

The MAJORITY of CTC's online courses have NO mandatory face-to-face sessions.

That means...

  • NO Driving to class
  • NO Searching for a parking space
  • NO Scheduling proctored exams
Traffic (Source: Pixabay)
No Parking Sign (Source: Pixabay)
Proctored Exam (Source: Pixabay)

Blackboard

CTC uses the Blackboard Learning Management System (https://ctc.blackboard.com) for its online courses. Once you obtain Blackboard access (72 hours before your course starts), you are ready to learn at any time of the day or night. You have access to student and support services and 24/7/365 Blackboard technical support (866-350-4729).

Students can enroll in these free resources inside Blackboard:

  • English Tutoring Center
  • Math Tutoring Center
  • Go to Organizations and Tutoring tab, then click the Tutoring link
Blackboard logo (Source: Blackboard)
Download the Blackboard Mobile App (Source: Blackboard)

Synchronous Virtual Courses

CTC offers Synchronous Virtual courses in which instruction is fully online, but with specified and required class meeting times. Instruction is given in real time with interaction between the instructor and students, as if they were in a physical classroom, but using a communication tool such as Blackboard Collaborate or Zoom.

Online vs. Online Self-Paced with Milestones

CTC online classes are typically scheduled as online lecture (OLL) or online self-paced lecture (OSL). Both have fixed start and end dates, and all coursework must be completed by the last day of class. Some financial aid restrictions may require students to take at least four weeks to complete the coursework.


Online vs. Online Self-Paced Compared with Milestones

Online Lecture (OLL)

Online Self-Paced Lecture (OSL) with Milestones

fixed start and end dates

fixed start and end dates

certain activities must be completed during the first week class to demonstrate participation

certain activities must be completed during the first week class to demonstrate participation

syllabus lists specific deadlines for submitting assignments and assessments

syllabus lists minimal number of due dates in a course (no more than three). Additional recommended deadlines may be included to promote completion

 

students must initiate contact with their instructors during the first week of class, even if they can't start class until later

 

to demonstrate progress in the course and to maximize success, the majority of the coursework must be completed by the last day to withdraw

For more details please see https://www.ctcd.edu/academics/class-schedules/class-formats/self-paced-with-milestones/

CTC Distance Education

Central Texas College Distance Education