San Mateo County Community College District, College of San Mateo to Pilot New Online Courses

The following is a news release from the San Mateo County Community College District:

In response to student desire for increased access to and greater success in higher education, the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) and College of San Mateo (CSM) have created the next generation of online courses, referred to as XLOnline Courses.

Beginning spring 2015, the SMCCCD and CSM will introduce two XLOnline courses–Health Science 100 XLH (General Health Science) and Chemistry 680MA XLH (Survey of Chemistry)–both, general education courses. Specifically designed to increase student access to community college, each XLOnline course will accept up to 100 registered online students, offer registered students free online tutoring to increase opportunities for success, and allow free guest access so visitors can survey a course before taking it, or simply learn about a subject for personal enrichment.

In addition to increasing access to higher education, XLOnline courses greatly reduce the distance between instructor and student by providing regular and effective contact through the use of professionally produced instructor lecture videos/tutorials and free online tutoring from dedicated online course tutors. Students needing extra help with technology will have access to trained campus-based tutors and faculty. “We can support more students this way, without compromising quality,” says Dr. Charlene Frontiera, CSM dean of math/science.

For more information, visit: http://collegeofsanmateo.edu/xlo

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