News Updates

Online Learning & FAQ

About the Online Platform

Gnomon’s online courses are being delivered via live, virtual classes that are designed to closely parallel the learning environment of our on-campus, physical courses.

For over a decade, Gnomon has delivered an online learning experience to students all over the world, utilizing an easy-to-use interface that provides access to courses, homework, forums, and more. Through live, interactive instruction, students are able to ask questions and receive critiques in real-time – just as if you were sitting in a classroom.

The School believes this interactive learning experience closely mirrors that of a physical classroom environment, providing the highest quality education, instruction, and comprehensive educational experience possible.

Are online courses right for me?

Gnomon is committed to delivering the highest level of instruction possible, both online and in the classroom. To ensure that you are equipped for success in our online learning environment, we have prepared a quick Student Online Class Preparedness Survey that, if answered honestly, will quickly assess your readiness for online learning success.

System Requirements

Students taking Gnomon’s online classes must meet the minimum system requirements as well as any additional system specifications required by the software used in the course.

Minimum Internet Speed Requirements

You will need a high-speed internet connection to view the online lectures. A minimum 1.5 Mbps connection is required.

For PC-based students:

Microsoft Edge v77, Firefox v52, Google Chrome v57 (JavaScript and Java enabled), or the latest version of each web browser

  • Windows 7 - 10
  • Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection (1.5 Mbps bandwidth recommended)
  • Dual-core 2.4GHz CPU or faster with 4GB or more of RAM (recommended)
  • Webcam
  • Speakers or headphones

For Mac-based students:

Safari v10, Firefox v52, Google Chrome v57 (JavaScript and Java enabled), or the latest version of each web browser

  • Mac OS X 10.9 – Mavericks or newer
  • Intel processor (4GB of RAM or better recommended)
  • Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection (1.5 Mbps bandwidth recommended)
  • Webcam
  • Speakers or headphones

Frequently Asked Questions

General

One of the benefits of Gnomon is networking. How will we be able to do that online?

Gnomon’s online classes are taught in a live, 3-hour format the same way that on-campus courses are taught. Instructors and students can see each other's cameras and can communicate via voice, text, and screen sharing.

Does Gnomon provide a platform for students to connect throughout the week between classes?

Every class has a built-in message board that allows students and the instructor to communicate with one another, share ideas, and ask and answer questions. Many students and teachers already use a variety of social platforms such as Discord and Slack, forming study groups that mimic working in a lab together.

What does an online drawing class look like?

With the exception of courses that utilize live models, Gnomon’s traditional drawing instruction is shown via a projector in a classroom. The online system will be virtually identical to viewing a lesson on campus via projector or similar.

What if I need help with coursework outside of the 3-hour class time?

For academic support or guidance outside of class, students are encouraged to utilize the Academic Mentoring Center (AMC), which is populated by multiple faculty members.

Are Academic Mentors or peer tutors available remotely during the week?

Yes, all Academic Mentors will be available Monday-Friday by appointment only. To set an appointment with an Academic Mentor, please email amc@gnomon.edu or the appropriate AMC member directly.

Courses

What happens if a class is cancelled or rescheduled?

As with any live, on-campus course, a class may need to be cancelled or rescheduled. If an instructor needs to postpone a class, the administrative staff will simply extend the class one week or set up an appropriate date for a make-up session. A notification will be sent to the class with information pertinent to the re-schedule.

What happens if I miss a class?

If you are unable to attend a class session, simply notify your instructor. As you will be missing out on valuable information, you may want to use the forums to see if other students in the class can share their notes or fill you in on what was missed that week.

How long are the courses?

Online courses will follow Gnomon’s standard 10-week schedule, meeting once per week on the same day and time. Please check the course schedule for course schedule information.

How long is each class session?

Each class session is scheduled within a 3-hour block. A class will typically consist of homework review, a short Q&A session, and lecture.

Do I receive feedback?

Yes. Depending on the amount of information in a given week’s lecture, homework reviews may be limited to only a select number of students each week. Homework critiques will be performed in the live classroom session. Some weeks, the instructor may perform in-depth critiques of everyone’s work. If you require help or review on a specific assignment, please let the instructor know at the beginning of class or post your work to the course discussion forum for peer feedback.

Technical

Where can I go to test my internet speed?

You can test your internet speed at SpeedTest.net

Can I use a WiFi connection?

Some wireless connections have a higher occurrence of dropped signals than others. Some issues are simply caused by interference, and others can be attributed to the wireless router. If you are experiencing an issue with dropped or faulty connectivity, it is recommended that you swap over to a hard-wired internet connection.

Do I need a webcam?

Students enrolled in an online course are encouraged to have a working webcam for each class session. Webcams allow students to communicate directly with the instructor of the class without the distractions of using the chat module in the application. This helps to facilitate a more interactive experience for both the student and instructor.

Will there be a setup for remote rendering for my large files?

While remote rendering on Gnomon’s network will not be possible, we have partnered with RebusFarm, Chaos Cloud, and GridMarkets - online render services that support a variety of software – to support program enrolled students.

For individual course takers looking for rendering options, there are a number of render farm providers around the world, including the ones listed above.

A list of render farms that support V-Ray can be found here.

Most of them provide a multitude of render options through a variety of renderers (not just V-Ray). Costs can range dramatically from farm to farm but are generally a lot less than people sometimes assume. Cost is primarily driven by the renderer the client (you) choose but can be managed by ensuring projects are optimized prior to job submission. It is also a good idea to perform spot or wedge render jobs (one render every 30 frames – or more) to ensure there are no errors. Please also note that custom plugins and scripts may not be supported – check with the provider prior to signing up if you are using custom plugins that may not be supported on their farm.

Will the lectures be provided as a video lecture to watch later?

Not at this time. Lectures are delivered live and in real-time. The interactive experience is, in our opinion, the most effective way to learn. It is therefore the responsibility of the student to take notes and ask questions during the class.

What if I have questions or need technical assistance?

You will find most answers to your questions by clicking “Help” in the main menu bar of your student dashboard. Frequently asked questions and helpful links will be posted here along with direct email links to our support specialists. Each page on the system will also host a feedback link for students to report any issues they are having. These issues will be monitored by our support specialist and development team who will quickly respond to any issues you may have. If you need technical assistance at any time you may contact a support specialist through Gnomon’s Knowledge Base and Support Site. This email will be directed to our support specialist to have your issue resolved.

For questions specific to your class, please post these to your class discussion forum. These questions will be addressed, in most cases, by your peers in your class or by your instructor.