Platt College is Becoming Part of Concordia University, St. Paul

Online learning is a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction (interaction between students and faculty and among students) in a course occurs when students and faculty are not in the same place. Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous. Online learning may employ correspondence study, audio, video, and/or computer technologies.

• Online Learning Course Using Internet (eCourse) is a fully distance education course that is offered over the Internet using asynchronous and/or synchronous pedagogies.  In this type of class, there is no face-to-face meeting between instructor and students. 

• Blended Course (eCombination) is a course in which some traditional face-to-face "seat time" has been replaced by online learning activities.  A blended (hybrid) course is designed to integrate face-to-face and online activities so that they reinforce, complement, and elaborate one another.

• Web-Enhanced Course (eCompanion) is a Web-enhanced (traditional (face-to-face) class that uses a course management platform to accompany the class.  The eCompanion can function in a variety of ways, depending on the goals of the course and the desire of the faculty member to enrich his or her course.  Assigned activities will vary, depending on the faculty member and the discipline. The time spent using the eCompanion does not replace any of the face-to-face teaching-learning process, but serves to augment it.

• Evaluation (eComment) is an electronic version of Platt College’s student evaluation of faculty and of classes, clinical experiences, and/or lab classes.  Additionally eComment includes a section that measures students’ comfort and experience with technology, and a section that measures the mechanics of course delivery (i.e., was the system frequently down, was the system easy to use, etc.)

Online Learning Statement of Mission:

The primary purpose of online learning at Platt College is to maximize student access to courses through the use of web-based delivery systems. 

Online learning at Platt College integrates the assets of the college to provide a teaching and learning environment for distance learners comparable to that provided to on-campus (face-to-face) students. Support services are available to both distance learners and faculty that help to provide quality education that is conveniently accessible.

Online learning at Platt College is consistent with and supports the college's strategic plan and mission of offering quality undergraduate education while providing graduates with competencies, skills and levels of education for employment and continued success in higher education.

Goals of Online Learning at Platt College

• Enhance student accessibility and participation in online learning initiatives
• Create an environment which facilitates the development of online learning instruction in response to student and community needs
• Encourage faculty participation in online learning initiatives and provide assistance and support in the development of courses, course materials, and use of instructional technology
• Help support faculty to use alternate means of instruction that are suited for online learning
• Promote the availability and utilization of online learning courses as a viable option for pursuing education goals and for promoting life-long learning
• Ensure quality instruction in all online learning classes through continuous assessment
• Embrace diversity in cultural backgrounds and personal characteristics;  recognizes the free expression of ideas, opinions, and differences in people, and respects the rights of students, faculty, and staff
• Foster a strong work ethic and place fairness, objectivity, honesty, and accountability at the forefront of its policies and procedures in all aspects of the college

Delivery Media

Platt College’s online courses run on a quarter system schedule, the same as the on ground courses.  Students are able to log into courses on a regular basis, at their convenience.  Students are assigned a home page to access courses, find lecturers and assignments, and participate in class discussions and real-time course chat rooms. 

Each course is developed to offer everything students would expect from Platt College on ground.  Faculty members deliver course content and lectures through technology, such as streaming audio, video and multimedia slide shows.  Faculty members offer weekly assignments to help ensure students are on track with the materials being taught and that attendance is being taken.  Quizzes and tests can be timed to help affirm student mastery of the material.  In addition, assignments may be uploaded to the site, which is much like creating an attachment in email. 

Platt College uses My Platt College, a comprehensive academic management system. From first contact with a prospective student through graduation and alumni relations, My Platt College efficiently manages the full student lifecycle by combining activities into one electronic solution.

Platt College SMS is the student management system that facilitates all daily functions of the College operations. Platt College LMS is the learning management system that serves as the Internet based course management system for delivery of eCombination and eCompanion classes.

The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges approved Platt College to utilize online learning on November 9, 2011. Approval for expansion of online learning was granted by the Commission on December 18, 2012. 

Computer Software/Hardware Requirements

Platt College requires students to have laptop computers upon enrolling into the BSN program.  Platt College has established minimum standards for student laptops.  We recognize that many students begin their academic programs with very serviceable laptops and/or desk computers.  If students wish to purchase a laptop prior to coming to Platt College, or use their existing laptop computer, it should at least meet the following requirements that are outlined on the following webpages:

• Student Lap Top Standards, Computer Hardware, and Software Minimal Requirements for a PC
• Student Lap Top Standards, Computer Hardware, and Software Minimal Requirements for a Mac

The following courses are implemented into the curriculum as eCombination courses. 

Blended Course (eCombination) is a course, accessible through the My Platt College course management platform, in which some traditional face-to-face "seat time" has been replaced by online learning activities. A blended (hybrid) course is designed to integrate face-to-face (60%) and online activities (40%) so that they reinforce, complement, and elaborate one another.

• NSG 151 Introduction to Nursing Informatics
• ENG 121 Reading and Writing in College I

The following courses are implemented into the curriculum as eCourse courses. 

Online Learning Course Using Internet (eCourse) is a fully distance education course that is offered over the Internet using asynchronous and/or synchronous pedagogies.  In this type of class, there is no face-to-face meeting between instructor and students. 

• NSG 233 Nursing Care of the Aging Adult
• NSG 249 Legal and Ethical Concerns Impacting Nursing Practice
• NSG 348 Critical Thinking and the Nursing Process
• BIOL 112 Nutrition in Health and Illness
• PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
• PSY 151 Human Growth and Development
• PHIL 112 Critical Thinking
• SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
• HUM 101 Arts and Culture: An Introduction to Humanities
• HS 150 U.S. History and Government

Please note: classes that are taught online are varied to ensure safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.