How Distance Education Works

What You Need to Do This Program

Equipment

Computer hardware and software required by WebVista (the online course delivery system):

A computer running Windows 98, ME, NT, 4.0, 2000,  XP or Mac OS X

A supported browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer, or Safari—the version may depend on which operating system you have)

Browser plug-ins (Sun Java and Flash Player 8.0 or higher)

Internet connection (56k V.90 modem or better )

Soundcard and speakers and microphone attached to computer

Other software: Word, Adobe Reader 

Phone with long distance capability

Skills

Computer skills needed for distance education:

Proficiency in Word (or other word-processing software that saves in Word format).  When you buy Word, you will get a tutorial you can complete.

Ability to use a web browser to find specific websites and search for information.

Ability to send and receive emails.

Proficiency in WebVista, including ability to: navigate through course content, post to discussions and read posting,  submit assignments attaching a Word document, complete a quiz and review quiz results.  You can do an online tutorial at:  http://umconnect.umn.edu/wv4stuorient .   See Once You Are Admitted for other WebVista resources. 

Personal skills and qualities needed for distance education:

Self-directed

Good time management skills

Tolerance of computer glitches and willingness to try again.

How the Courses Are Delivered

The Health Coaching program is offered in a “blended” format, with the weekly content and assignments done online and the practice and application of the skills learned done in two in-person weekends.

Online Classes

The online classes are delivered using WebVista, which is a learner management tool that delivers online presentations and content and lets you have online discussions with your instructors and other students, do quizzes and  submit journal entries and assignments.

In a typical online class, you would do the following over the course of a week:

Listen to an opening guided imagery

Print out the workplan for the week as a guide to what you need to do.

Watch a presentation (Powerpoint with audio)

Read articles or book chapters and participate in an online discussion about them

Participate in a small group phone call or webmeeting

Post two journal entries for all to read

Post an assignment

For information on how to set up and use WebVista, see Once You Are Admitted

In-Person Weekends

People admitted into the program will be required to attend two weekend sessions in Minneapolis per course.  These weekends start on Thursday at noon and end on Sunday at 1 pm.   The dates will be determined before you need to register for the course.

Weekend sessions will consist of interactive exercises, experiential practices, large and small group discussions, and modeling of health coaching practices.

Once you are admitted into the program

How to Get Textbooks and Other Materials

The textbooks for your class are available to order from the University of Minnesota bookstore, which will ship books to you.  http://www.bookstores.umn.edu/

You can also order most of the books from Amazon.com.

Articles and book chapters will be available as PDFs on the class website.