The latest free version of Flash will play course videos.
Harvard Extension School 51 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA (617) 495-4024
© 2012–13 President and Fellows of Harvard College
The latest free version of Flash will play course videos.
There are many ways to test your ability to watch course videos on your computer. In addition to trying the sample videos available on this site, you can test a video on our Flash Video Tests page. Users with a technical background can test system performance using a network test tool available from the Internet2 website.
Audio is controlled by 2 sources: the application displaying the lecture video and your computer’s controls. To adjust the volume of a lecture, first use the volume control on the application. If there is no noticeable difference, adjust the volume level in your system’s control panel. Be sure that your system is not set to “mute” and that you adjust any volume controls on headphones.
Some firewall administrators block all video streaming into their site. More commonly, problems related to firewalls are the result of configuration errors, either of the browser or the firewall itself. To determine if Flash videos are being blocked by a firewall, please go to our Flash Video Tests page and try test 9.
If you are looking for information that isn’t available on this website or individual course websites, call (617) 495-4024 or e-mail dce-distance-ed@harvard.edu.
Most problems are the result of an out-of-date version of the Flash Player or difficulty with a proxy/firewall. First download a new copy of the latest version of the Flash Player and ensure it installs properly. Go to Adobe’s version test page to ensure Flash is properly installed. To determine if Flash videos are being blocked by a firewall, please go to our Flash Video Tests page and go to test 9.
Network congestion can cause poor or stopped playback. While this is a greater problem for slow connections, such as 56k modems, it can happen at any speed connection. If you are experiencing network congestion select the audio-only option on the Video Preference page.
With a 56K modem you should choose the audio-only option on the Video Preference page. You will hear but not see the instructor. The course slides will appear as well.
You must log in to password-protected videos using your Harvard University ID number and Harvard University PIN. See ID Numbers and PINs for more information.
Not every course is available online. See the list of distance education courses.
Much of the communication between teaching staff and students takes place via e-mail and the course website. The format of each course varies, but most courses have a bulletin board or chat room to foster dialogue among students and teaching staff. You can look at the course website to get a sense of how the course is run, or contact the instructor via e-mail with more specific questions.
No. Online courses are on a semester schedule. You follow the schedule for assignments and exams posted on individual course syllabi on course websites. The lag time between actual lectures and the availability of the online video is taken into account when determining these dates.
In courses that are offered on campus and online, students may attend lectures in person or watch them online, and many enjoy the benefits of doing both. Some courses, however, are available only online.
Some courses have online exams and others have classroom exams. If your course has a classroom exam and your primary residence is outside the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), you need to make arrangements through Academic Services to have the exam proctored at a local school or testing center. If you reside in the New England area, you must take any in-class exam on campus as scheduled by the instructor. Any questions regarding this procedure can be referred to Academic Services at distance_exams@dcemail.harvard.edu.
They are available about 24 hours after the lecture takes place on campus. Once the link is posted on your course website, you can view the lecture video at any time. Lecture videos remain online for the duration of the semester. Some classes have a live streaming option. See How Distance Education Works for more information.
You may use credits earned via distance education to complete some requirements for Extension School degree programs. See Applying Online Credits to a Degree.
Acceptance of transfer credit is determined by the receiving school, so you should check there to see if the credit is acceptable before taking Extension School courses.
Students taking courses via distance education choose a credit status, earn academic credit, and are graded in the same way as students attending on-campus. Information on which credit status is available for a course is in the individual course descriptions.
The transcript does not specify if a course is completed via distance education or not.
© 2012–13 President and Fellows of Harvard College