New River Community and Technical College (New River) course offerings are extended beyond the schedules and locations of traditional classrooms to accommodate students requiring flexible schedules and/or who have geographic constraints preventing them from enrolling in our traditional courses. These "distance learning" courses are offered in a variety of formats which are explained on this page.
When students register for any New River online courses they should receive an introductory letter explaining how to get started.
ITV: Instructional Television is a distance-learning format utilizing broadcast television (meaning that course broadcasts may be viewed live as they are broadcast or taped [at home or at the college] and viewed at a later time). Some class meetings are held at the campus where the class is scheduled. The course instructor and students discuss important ideas and concepts, review the recordings or readings, and give or take exams. Students taking these classes are expected to view the video broadcasts and attend scheduled class meetings. This distance learning format provides fewer class meetings than traditional courses but requires students to exhibit self-discipline to complete assignments between class meetings.
ITVWE: Instructional Television Web Enhanced combines the ITV system with a portion of the course using WebCT. With fewer class meetings than a traditional class, this delivery format requires students to view the video broadcasts and to access the online WebCT information.
IVN: Interactive Video Network is a two-way audio/video system used for teaching and learning in which students are seated in designated electronic classrooms at Beckley, Bluefield, Lewisburg, Summersville, Welch, or Pocahontas County High School. These courses involve scheduled class meetings at the designated classrooms. Each course meets at all scheduled sites simultaneously and attendance is required. This instructional delivery format enables students located at one site to receive instruction from (and interact with) an instructor located at one of the other sites (in real time).
IVNWE: Interactive Video Network Web Enhanced combines the IVN system with a portion of the course using WebCT. This delivery format requires students to attend scheduled class meetings for the IVN portion of the course and to access WebCT for a portion of the course.
TRAD: This code denotes a traditionally taught course with regular class meetings.
WEBCT: WebCT is an online Course Management System (CMS) used to deliver instructional materials via the Internet and is administered by New River. WebCT has a number of features including: (1) robust communication tools such as course-based email, (2) discussion lists, (3) online assessments and grade books, and (4) online course content with assignments and a drop-box for submitting course work to the instructor. This instructional delivery format requires the most student self-discipline since some courses require no in-class meetings at all. Because these courses involve so much computer-based interaction, students should have average (or better) computer skills and a computer with a fast connection to the Internet is highly recommended (each of our branch campuses have computer labs).
WEWCT: Web Enhanced WebCT courses are a combination of traditional teaching methods involving regular class meetings with a portion of the course being delivered online using WebCT. As a result of having a substantial portion of the course online, there may be fewer class meetings than a traditional course.
WEBDL: Web-based Distance Learning refers to courses that New River has brokered through external agencies. Current examples of these brokered relationships include AIB, KYDL, EXCITE, and SAIL. These courses are not taught by New River faculty and do not utilize the New River course management system (WEBCT). Instead, students must initiate contact with the designated point of contact from the brokering agency (AIB, KYDL, EXCITE, or SAIL).
A User Support Help Desk is being created at the Beckley campus to centralize many student support services. Located in the Wilburn building, the Help Desk can be reached via phone (304-929-6725), email (general questions = info@newriver.edu and technical questions = itsupport@newriver.edu), or by walking in if you are in the Beckley area. Issues relating to admissions, enrollment, online courses, and technical assistance can all be addressed.
