Frequently Asked Questions
The following Frequently Asked Questions are designed to provide you quick answers to common questions about the Course360 program. If you have an additional question not addressed below, please contact your Cengage Learning Sales Representative.
Q: Which Course360 courses are available now?
A: A growing list of available courses can be found under Courses & Programs to the right.
Q: What types of content is included in Course360 courses?
A: Animations, interactive content (for example, games), simulations, audio, video and text readings, discussions, quizzes, exams and other assignments.
Q: How is content organized in Course360?
A: Courses are built in a 6 unit format, and each unit is roughly equal to a week’s worth of instruction and assignments.
Q: Can I customize Course360?
A: Yes. There are many options for customizing Course360:
- For a nominal customization fee, Cengage Learning will add your institution logo, modify the color scheme, rearrange content into a different unit format, delete content, exchange readings for other texts or a new edition, and/or create a cartridge for another LMS system. Course360 is designed to be personalized and meet your specific needs.
- Course development services are available if you wish to design courses and content from the ground up to your specifications.
- Instructors can edit our courses or add their own content.
Q: What kind of course methodology does Course360 support?
A: Course360 is built to be used in a completely online environment. If you would like to teach a hybrid course with a mix of instruction online and on ground, it is very easy to customize Course360 to meet your needs. Each course design document identifies all course outcomes and maps all content and assessments to outcomes, so a user can easily pull apart the course for hybrid delivery.
Q: Does Course360 replace the instructor?
A: No, an instructor is required to facilitate the course, primarily by mentoring students and grading assessments.
Q: Can Course360 be used in any Learning Management System?
A: Course360 can be used with the majority of major Learning Management Systems including Blackboard, WebCT, Angel, and eCollege. We can support Course360 on an open source LMS if we can work with the customer to protect our content.
Q: How long does it take to customize?
A: Traditional customization takes 6-8 weeks. Full course development takes 16-24 weeks.
Q: I like Course360, but I teach a course/program that is not in your library. Can you build it for me? How much will this cost and how long will it take?
A: Yes, certainly. Depending on course content and the available assets in our library, new course construction can take 16-24 weeks. Pricing will be linked to your enrollments. Our Course Development Services Manager can prepare a proposal for you.
Q: Will the Cengage Learning brand be visible in Course360 courses?
A: No, we can personalize courses so they are branded for your institution.
Q: How has Course360 content been designed to be relevant and engaging?
A: Cengage Learning has designed over 100 online courses for customers and, through their feedback and further customer research, we designed Course360. Course360 features are grounded in best practices of online education and the approaches customers like most. Discussion questions solicit personal experience, opinions and perspectives. Assessments are constructivist, and lessons map course content in a narrative way.
Q: How much does Course360 cost?
A: Course360 pricing is tied to your enrollments and the number of courses you adopt. If you provide your Cengage Learning representative with estimated yearly enrollment and the number of courses, they can provide you with a per student price.
Q: Is the content of the Course360 course pulled directly from a textbook?
A: No, most of the content (approximately 85%) in Course360 courses is delivered through interaction with media. Text content is integrated in the form of reading assignments.
Q: How is Course360 delivered?
A: Institutions receive a course cartridge to install on their LMS. Students (or institutions) receive access codes for student access to courses.
Q: How many hours of instruction does a Course360 course cover?
A: 120 hours.
Q: Are students required to purchase a particular textbook with a Course360 course?
A: It is your choice. Reading assignments are tied to a particular text and embedded in the course in PDF format. If you choose to purchase a print text in conjunction with Course360, package discounts are available.
Q: Are Course360 courses pre-accredited?
A: No, but the course design document has been written to support the accreditation process. The design document outlines the outcomes that will be taught and the assessment strategy that will be used to measure learning. All course content and assessments are mapped to outcomes.
Q: Can Course360 be hosted on the servers at my school?
A: Yes.
Q: What if I don’t have an LMS?
A: Cengage Learning can host Course360 on our Cengage Learning Management System powered by Angel.
Q: Does Course360 include an eBook? What kind? Does it require an eBook reader? Can my students print the readings?
A: The assigned readings from the text are included. Readings are in PDF format and can be printed by the student.
Q: Are discussion assignments synchronous or asynchronous?
A: Asynchronous.
Q: Can Course360 be packaged with other Cengage Learning technology products?
A: Yes. Please contact your Cengage Learning representative to find a package that suits your needs.
Q: Can I integrate Course360 and a Cengage Learning homework tool (Aplia, CNOW, etc.) so there is only one student access code?
A: Each opportunity is unique and we will work with you to make this type of integration a reality - whenever possible and feasible. The integration will be done as part of the customization process.
Q: What do I do if my book goes into a new edition? Will Cengage Learning update the course for me?
A: Yes, this service is included in our customization fee. The only updating needed would be to swap out new reading assignments.
Q: What if my faculty have never taught online? Is training available?
A: Yes, through our CourseCare program, we can provide support to prepare your faculty. For more information visit www.cengage.com/coursecare/
