Kendall Staff Training
Gale e-Courses Formerly (Learn4life)
9/24/14
Presented by Jasmine Zelaya
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- Offers
a wide range of highly interactive courses that you can take entirely
online.
- Patrons with valid HPL library cards in
good standing are entitled to enroll in courses per calendar year at no
cost.
- Courses
run for six weeks and new sessions begin every month.
- Instructor-Led
Courses
- Professional
development and personal enrichment
What Are Instructor-Led Courses?
Whether you're looking for personal enrichment or
professional development, these six-week online courses are the perfect way to
learn a new skill or enhance your existing ones. You'll spend roughly two to
four hours each week completing two engaging lessons in an enjoyable,
interactive learning environment. Expert instructors develop and lead every
course, and you'll be able to interact with them and with fellow students in
lively online Discussion Areas. New sessions start every month, so you can sign
up anytime. Upon completing a course with a passing score, you'll get
confirmation of completion from your learning institution.
Benefits for Patrons:
• Easy: Signing up with their library accounts, simple enrollment process
• Accessible: Courses can be accessed anywhere, any time, on any
computer with
internet access.
• Engagement: Online discussion areas bring the learner and instructor
together for
feedback and encouragement.
• Flexibility: A 10-day extension period is available if needed.
• Recognition: Patrons receive a "Record of Completion"
certificate after successfully
finishing a course.
• Frequent Course Offerings: Sessions begin monthly
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How to [list steps]:
1.
Log on to the Houston Public Library Homepage at
Houstonlibrary.org, click on the ”Research
Tab” on the top menu bar.
2.
Select “Alphabetical Database Listing.” From the
left side menu.
3.
Click on the letter “G” on the top Alphabetical Database Listing.
4. Select the link for “Gale e- Courses(formerly
Learn4Life)” This will take you to
the Gale e-Course homepage.
5. You can find courses by by
scrolling down through the “Browse
Catalog” tab on the left hand side of the screen. Several Microsoft Office
applications are available as beginner, intermediate and advanced courses.
6. Click “Enroll Now”
next to the course of your choice.
Select your course start date and click “continue.”
7. If you have never taken a
Gale e- Course: enter your email address, and click “Create Account.” Complete the Account and Student information
page and click “Continue to Payment Options.” If you are a returning student: enter
your account email and password and then click “Sign in.”
8. Instructors will provide a
detailed class syllabus. Course Requirements are also listed and include:
Internet Access, Email, Mozilla Firefox, Micr. Internet Expl.,Google Chrome, or
Safari, Adobe. Wait until after
12:00am on the start day of the course
to access the class.
9. Quizzes will follow each
lesson. You can take the quizzes as many
times as you like without affecting your final grade.
10. In order to complete your
instructor-led course, you will need to pass the 36-question final exam on the
first attempt. Successful completion is determined by the minimum passing
score which is 65%. Once the final exam
is successfully complete, you will have immediate access to your online
Certificate of Completion from within your classroom. When the classroom
closes, you can return to the My Classroom page at any time in the future and
access a copy of the certificate. If you
do not pass the final exam on the first attempt, you will not be able to obtain
a Certificate of Completion online.
11. Quizzes and assignments will
follow each lesson. Although assignments are optional, they are helpful and recommended. You can take the quizzes as many times as you
like without affecting your final grade.
FAQ’s
& Important Info:
Unlimited
Number of Classes
There
are no limits on number of classes members can enroll in and try. Students will
be dropped from classes automatically if minimum progress is not made during
the first two weeks.
What
courses are offered?
There
is something for everyone. Courses range from computer applications, technical
certifications, accounting, education, nursing, test preparation, law,
parenting, business, and personal development.
Is
there a cost?
There
are no tuition or course fees for Houston Public Library members. A few courses
do have book requirements. Please check the Requirements tab on the course
description for required materials.
How
long are the courses?
Most
courses last six weeks. Check the detailed description and syllabus of the
courses you are interested in taking online. Each course will list the start
dates for each class. Typically there are two lessons each week and these
lessons may include assignments or quizzes. Many of the courses will also
include a final exam at the end of the course. You will earn a certificate upon
successfully completing the course that you can keep for your records.
How
much time should I set aside to complete each online course?
In
each course description you will find the number of clock hours it typically
takes to complete that class. If you divide the number of hours listed by the
number of weeks the class meets, you will have a good estimate of how much time
you need each week to complete the class. Most classes take 24 hours over a six
week period, which is 4 hour a week commitment.
What
if I get behind?
Students
that do not complete minimum progress during the first two weeks of class will
be automatically dropped from a class. It is possible to request a ten day
extension in order to complete the final exam.
Who
are the instructors?
All of
the courses are taught by instructors who are qualified professionals in each
subject area. Check out the Instructor Bio tab of the course description for
more details about your instructor. Request Extension Form
Can
I use my mobile device?
See
the Requirement tab on the course description for technical details. Many
courses do require a Flash enabled browser such as Firefox or Internet
Explorer. Some mobile devices, such as the Apple iPhone or iPad, do not support
Flash and you will need to use a different device to access some of the course
content.
What
if I have questions or need help?
Each
class has a discussion area where you can contact your instructor or get
technical assistance from Student Support.
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Practice/Assignment (due in two weeks):
1. Is there a fee for taking a gale e-Course?
2. How long does a gale- course run?
3. How many Gale e- Courses are you allowed to take?