Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions about the course options offered by TEL partners. Have a question that isn’t answered here? Send us a note through our contact form.
The Course Curriculum
How are TEL courses created?
TEL Learning course materials are designed and developed by TEL’s Curriculum Development team in partnership with qualified subject matter experts. Read more about our course design process and the steps involved to create a TEL course.
What is included in a TEL course?
All courses include the learning materials, such as the readings and videos, as well as all the instruction and access to the technology platform. Students who enroll in a course for college credit ‘$75 a credit hour’ also receive access to the mastery assignments and proctored exams. Students will receive guidance and support from the course instructor, student coaches, and from TEL’s in-platform general and technical assistance.
How much work is required for courses in the associate degree program?
Each program course includes 135-160 contact hours. The bulk of that will be reading the material, watching the instructional videos, and taking the Check Your Knowledge Participation Quizzes. Expect to spend at least 20 hours on the larger mastery assignments and the remainder studying for and taking your midterm and final exams. You have 6 months from registration to complete the course.
What is included in the program courses?
Each program course includes all learning materials, such as the readings and videos, as well as instruction, and course technology. Students also receive access to the mastery assignments and proctored exams. Students will receive guidance and support from the course instructor, student coaches, and from TEL’s in-platform general and technical assistance.
How do I access the course material in my degree program?
We send a welcome email to the student email address provided at registration. This email will have a link to access the course curriculum. Save the email and bookmark the URL for easy access. If you don’t receive this email as expected, check your spam folder.
What is the drop period for courses on demand?
Students have 15 days from the date of purchase to review the course and decide if they want to continue. In order to drop the course, simply email support@tel-education.org and our support team will be in touch. After 15 days, the grade you receive in the course will be the grade reflected on your official transcript. There is no withdrawal window offered for courses on demand.
What are the Weekly Schedules?
TEL courses are self-paced, so students can dictate how quickly they want to go through the course. Each course includes a suggested weekly schedule so students can easily see what they should be working on each week in order to successfully complete the course.
How do I get my transcript?
Once you’ve successfully completed the course, TEL will report your grade to your credit-granting partner. If you are an independent student, please give us at least two weeks after you submit your last assignment to get everything graded and reported. If you are part of a traditional high school, we will report grades to the credit-granting partner approximately one week after the course end date.
You will request your transcript from the credit-granting partner. You can usually find a link on the school’s website, typically on the Registrar’s page. You can also call the Registrar’s office for more information. Expect to pay a small fee, around $20, for each transcript you request.
For more information on transferring college credit, check out our Transfer Toolkit with definitions and questions to ask your admissions counselor.
What is the orientation course material?
Every student who enrolls in a degree program course will also be enrolled in our orientation course material. This short curriculum walks students through the platform so they understand where to find the information they need to be successful in their coursework. The orientation material is not required and you will not be graded on it, but we highly recommend you complete it so you understand how to navigate the platform.
You currently don’t have a credit-granting partner in my state. Will you be adding new partners?
Yes! Our list of credit-granting partners is growing all the time. If you have a specific need, please reach out to us to see if we have something that might work for you. In the meantime, all our partners are regionally accredited, so the credit has the highest probability of transferring to your school of choice.
Platform & Support
How much work will it be?
Each TEL course includes 135-160 contact hours. The bulk of that will be reading the material, watching the instructional videos, and taking the Check Your Knowledge Participation Quizzes. Expect to spend at least 20 hours on the larger mastery assignments and the remainder studying for and taking your midterm and final exams. Students have 6 months from registration to complete the course.
What support will you receive?
Even though the course is asyncronous so you can work through the course on your schedule, TEL’s experienced instructors are active participants in your learning. They will hold regular office hours and make themselves available for any questions on the material. TEL also has Student Coaches who will check in on your progress, organize study groups, and help you set goals so you can be successful in your course.
Age and Identification Requirements
Students must be at least 13 years old to take a course through TEL. To be eligible for transferable college credit for this course, TEL must be able to verify your identity through a government-issued or school-issued photo ID. You will need an ID to complete the proctored mid-term and final examinations, as well as to apply for a transcript. You can begin your studies in this course while obtaining the appropriate identification but you must have the government-issued or school-issued photo ID prior to scheduling the mid-term exam.
How do I view my grade?
You can check your grades at any point during your coursework. To check your grades, view a course and click the “Course Grades” button on the left-hand side of the window. Your gradebook has a Grades Summary section, sections for each assessment type, and rows for each individual assessment. The Grade Summary section will display your progress, what percentage of your grade each section represents, as well as your current and final grades.
How does instruction work in the courses?
Instruction in the courses is provided by college-level instructors who are experienced in teaching online courses. These instructors are required to have a Master’s Degree in the subject area or a Master’s Degree in a related field plus 18 credit graduate hours in the subject area. Many of our instructors also teach at other institutions.
Instructors will moderate discussion boards and hold weekly office hours to help students with content-related questions. Instructors also create notification emails to help students stay on track and are available to meet with students as needed via video conferencing.
In addition, students have access to an on-demand support team that can answer questions about technical and general issues related to a course.
Finally, it’s important to note that the online courses for each program are created using backward design principles, focusing on student outcomes and building the appropriate content around those outcomes. This means that the courses themselves are designed to provide guidance and build learning momentum for students as they work through their materials. You can learn more about our course design process on the Course Design page.
How does proctoring work and how do I start the proctoring process?
The midterm and final examinations are conducted online and are live-proctored by MonitorEDU. To access the link to start your proctoring, you will need to follow the setup instructions provided within the module or lesson. Once you have been set up for proctoring, return to your course, open your exam from within the exam lesson, and enter the password given to you by your proctor.
You will also need to have a government-issued PhotoID and you are allowed to have one 3×5 index card, handwritten on both sides.
Also please keep in mind that there is no specific time or date that the exams need to be taken on. You do not have to schedule ahead of time or make any appointments for it. The exams can be taken through the proctoring at any time, day or night.
If you do not want to be recorded and/or on-camera during the exam, you will be unable to be proctored through MonitorEDU. You cannot receive credit for this course (not just the assignment – the course!) if you do not take your exams proctored.
What if I have an emergency and won’t be able to finish the course?
We understand that life happens. If you have something come up and need additional accommodations or need to drop the course, reach out to TEL through the course or email support@tel-education.org. We’ll work with you and the transcribing partner you selected to see what the best option is for you to be successful with this course and with your overall academic journey.
What are the technical requirements to access and use the TEL curriculum?
This course content is delivered fully online and you will be required to have access to a computer, laptop, or web-capable mobile device – along with consistent access to the internet – to access course material and complete assignments.
Review the information relevant to your operating system to ensure your device meets the minimum requirements necessary to complete the course content for credit:
PC:
Hardware
- Intel Core 2 Duo (or AMD 64×2 Dual-Core) processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 80 GB hard drive
- 1024×768 resolution monitor
- Soundcard with microphone and speakers
- Built-in or external webcam
- Broadband internet connection with speeds of at least 2 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Hot spots are not recommended. Test internet speed at: http://www.speedtest.net
- Browser with pop-up blocker disabled
Software
- Windows 7 or above
Mac
Hardware
- Intel Core 2 Duo (or AMD 64×2 Dual-Core) processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 80 GB hard drive
- 1024×768 resolution monitor
- Soundcard with microphone and speakers
- Built-in or external webcam
- Broadband internet connection with speeds of at least 2 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Hot spots are not recommended. Test internet speed at: http://www.speedtest.net
- Browser with pop-up blocker disabled
Software
- Mac OS 10.6 “Snow Leopard” or above
Tablet or Smartphone
NOTICE: Though you can view and interact with all of the available course content on a tablet or smartphone, you MUST USE A DESKTOP OR LAPTOP computer to complete the proctored midterm and final examinations.
Hardware
- 2 GHz processor or faster
- 1 GB RAM or greater
- 80 GB hard drive
- Microphone and speakers
- Wireless internet connection