Resource Page for Distance Learning Students
This page is intended to provide information related to
available resources for “on-line” or “distance learning” students. In this context, “on-line” or “distance
learning” students are students who primarily interact with UTPB using
computer-based facilities. These
facilities might include the World Wide Web, electronic mail, Web CT and
similar technologies.
Currently enrolled students at UTPB receive a computer
account. This account is for the
exclusive use of the student to whom the account is issued and provides access
to a number of services. These services
include dial-up access, proxy server access and electronic mail. Services to assist in managing your UTPB
computer account can be found at:
http://www.utpb.edu/ird/acctmaint/
Participation in on-line distance education requires that
you have access to an appropriately equipped computer. Specific requirements will vary from
application to application. Generally,
you should have a computer system of adequate capacity, reasonably current
software and a basic understanding of how to operate the hardware and software
prior to undertaking an on-line course.
One of the first priorities for an on-line learner should be
the establishment of a reliable connection to the global computer network
called the Internet. This connection
should be of sufficient reliability and speed to provide a responsive
connection to available resources.
Internet access can be achieved through UTPB or through a number of
Internet Service Providers (ISP’s). The
speed of your connection (sometimes called the connection “bandwidth”) is
almost always an issue. Generally, the
higher the connection speed the better.
Unfortunately, higher speeds also have higher associated costs. Most users find a connection speed of 19,200
bits per second (usually written 19.2Kbps or simply 19.2K) to be just barely
fast enough for most basic applications.
More acceptable speeds are 38K and 56K.
The speed you can achieve depends on the capability of your system, on
the communication channel you are using and on your ISP. Typically a device in your computer called a
modem determines the maximum speed available for your connection. Note, however, that when using a dial-up
connection over traditional voice-grade phone lines, the maximum connection
speed is negotiated between the computers based on the particular circuit in
place for the specific call. In other
words, using a 56K modem at each end of the connection doesn’t guarantee that a
56K connection will be achieved on any particular call.
Specific software requirements for your system may vary
depending on the specifics of your situation.
However, a graphical web browser will be a basic requirement for almost
everyone. This piece of software allows
you to “surf” the Internet using the “language” of the Web. Information related to the two most popular
browsers can be found at:
http://home.netscape.com/download/prodinfonfs_1.html
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.htm
Additional information can be found at:
http://www.lib.utsystem.edu/telecampus/serv/tech.html
UTPB provides dial-up Internet
access for all students. In order to
utilize this service a student must “authenticate” to the UTPB Internet access
server. This means that you must provide
the server your UTPB-assigned Username and Password in order to convince the
server that you are a currently enrolled student. Instructions for configuring your system for dialup Internet
access using the UTPB access server are located at:
http://www.utpb.edu/ird/dialup/
This approach for Internet access has the advantage of being relatively low cost and requiring only a single authentication. Unfortunately, the phone call to connect to this service is toll free from a limited geographic area. If you can call the access number from your location without dialing a 1 or the 915 area code, then the call is toll free from your location. Otherwise, you will incur additional long-distance charges for the call and you may want to consider using other Internet access facilities such as an ISP that offers local call access in your area.
Any number of commercial Internet
Service Providers (ISP’s) are available.
These services might be attractive to you if the UTPB dial-up number is
a toll (long distance) call from your location. The commercial ISPs provide a variety of connection options and a
variety of pricing options. Using a
commercial ISP to access UTPB and Telecampus resources is a perfectly valid
approach with some specific advantages.
Large ISPs may offer “local call” access from a large number of
locations. This may be important to you
if you need to access on-line resources from a number of different geographic
locations. Large ISPs may also provide
value-added services in addition to standard Internet connectivity. These service packages such as on-line
shopping, news, chat and other services may have some attractive attributes for
some users. Disadvantages associated with
the use of commercial ISPs include cost and some issues related to licensed resource
access as discussed below. Detailed
instructions for setting up your computer to use a particular ISP will be
provided by the ISP. UTPB does not
endorse or recommend any particular ISP.
Information about some typical ISPs is available at:
| http://www.att.net/ | http://shop.sprint.com/residential/voiceservices/welcome/index.jsp |
| http://public.swbell.net/ | http://www.gte.net/ |
Once a reliable connection scheme with adequate speed has
been achieved, the connection can be used to access a huge collection of
on-line information resources. These
resources generally fall into one of two categories. The resources are either unrestricted and available to anyone or
the resources are restricted to specific users.
Unrestricted resources are available to the general public
and can be accessed through the UTPB dial-up Internet connection or though the
services of a commercial ISP. These
resources generally require no authentication and are equally accessible from
either connection scheme.
Some resources have restricted access. Typically, on-line resources such as
commercial abstract databases, knowledge bases for specific topics, full-text
periodical services and similar resources have restricted access. These restrictions are used to insure that
the provider of the information is appropriately reimbursed for access to the product
and to insure that the resource is available for UTPB students. Restricted resources may utilize a variety
of protection schemes to insure only authorized users achieve access. The most common access control schemes rely
on Username/Password authentication or on a scheme called source IP address
restriction. Resources which rely on
source IP address restriction require some special consideration when being
accessed through an ISP. In particular,
you may be required to use the services of a device called a Proxy Server in
order to access source IP-protected resources when using a connection provided
through an ISP. This is not a
requirement when using the UTPB dial-up connection scheme to access UTPB resources. You may be required to use Proxy Server
services when accessing certain UT Telecampus resources regardless of your
connection method.
For additional information on the UTPB Proxy Server see:
http://www.utpb.edu/ird/proxy/index.htm
http://www.lib.utsystem.edu/telecampus/serv/offcamp.html
The huge amount of information available “on-line” presents a number of challenges for the distance learner. In particular, restricted resources from different providers may utilize different security measures and may require different access methods. Most UTPB students will utilize resources provided through UTPB or through the UT Telecampus.
For additional information about resources available through UTPB see:
http://www.utpb.edu/library/alphabetical_list.html
For additional information about resources available through the UT Telecampus see:
http://www.lib.utsystem.edu/telecampus/help/access.html
http://www.telecampus.utsystem.edu/telecampus/tech_sup.htm
Additional information about these topics can be located at the links listed below:
On-Line Course Frequently Asked Questions
Knowledge Base of Technical Information
Modified
September 27, 2002
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