Appalachian Technical College

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Appalachian Technical College

• Online Student Orientation

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Contents

• How To Get Started
• How To Use Blackboard
• Technical Requirements
• Technical Guidelines
• Technology Competency Requirements
• Browser Recommendations
• Drop Deadlines
• Format For Assignments
• Requirements For Chat Room and Email
• Instructor Response Time
• Troubleshooting Advice

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How To Get Started

• To participate in an online course you need to
  meet the technical equipment requirements and
  technology competency requirements listed in this
  orientation.
• Access to an online course requires a Username
  and Password on the Blackboard system. Your
  instructor will assign these to you. Direct your
  browser to http//gvtc6.blackboard.com , and
  login using the Username and Password your
  instructor provided.
• Course navigation is explained in this
  orientation in "How to Use Blackboard".
  Additional online student resources, like the
  Appalachian Technical College student handbook
  and work ethics information, can be located by
  clicking the Online Courses button on the college
  website.

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How To Use Blackboard

• The navigational buttons are on the left in
  Blackboard. This is a general summary of buttons,
  although all buttons may not be needed in each
  class.
• Announcements - Postings important to everyone in
  the class.
• Syllabus A syllabus posted for printing.
• Course Information - A syllabus file and online
  student resource course links.
• Staff Information - Instructor's contact
  information.
• Course Documents - Course content includes items
  like chapter outlines.
• Assignments - Follow directions carefully and
  submit work as requested by the instructor.
• Books - Required and suggested course textbook(s)
  are listed here.
• Communication Several methods to communicate
  with instructor and other students.
• Discussion Board Work ethic activities, general
  discussion forum, and course work discussion
  forums.

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Technical Requirements

• You will need access to a computer with the
  following minimum hardware requirements
• Operating System - Microsoft Windows 98 or better
• Processor - Pentium 200 MHz or greater
• RAM - 16 MB or more
• Internet Connection - 56 Kbps or higher
• Sound - sound card and speakers
• Browser - Internet 5.0 or better or, Netscape
  4.7 or better
• Internet Service ProviderAn ISP is a company
  that can provide you with the software necessary
  for getting onto the Internet. Contact your local
  ISP to set up your personal account. Without an
  ISP, it is impossible to take GVTC Online
  Courses. Students have reported numerous problems
  when using AOL to access online courses. If you
  use AOL, you must be able to access Netscape or
  Internet Explorer to use as a browser after
  connecting to the Internet. Do not use the AOL
  browser!
• Email AccountSince it is our primary form of
  communication, you must have an email address
  prior to applying or registering. Generally, your
  ISP will give you an email account. Please
  contact your ISP if you are unsure of your email
  address. Email accounts are readily available on
  the Internet. You may register for email at
  several alternative sites like Hotmail, Yahoo,
  Juno, or Excite.
• Java Compliant Web BrowserYou will need a
  Java compliant Browser. For the Java capable
  browser we recommend Microsoft Internet Explorer
  4.0 (or higher) or Netscape Communicator 4.0 (or
  higher). To test which browser you are currently
  running, click here. If your browser is older
  than IE 4.0 or Netscape 4.0, you may download a
  current version for free by clicking on the icons
  below.

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Technical Guidelines

• Supplemental Software Some online classes
  require or recommend software packages. Some
  common software packages and their online
  websites are posted here for your benefit.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download) lets you
  view and print Adobe Portable Document Format
  (PDF) files.
• Adobe Acrobat 5.0 software lets you save
  virtually any document from a simple Microsoft
  Word file to a CAD drawing to a graphically rich
  brochure in compact Adobe Portable Document
  Format (PDF). Also lets you protect your
  documents from unauthorized access or
  alterations.
• Macromedia Authorware Web Player (free download)
  you can experience online learning applications
  on the Web.
• Macromedia Flash Player (free download) client
  for rich web experiences across multiple
  platforms. With Macromedia Flash Player, view and
  interact with content developed in Macromedia
  Flash MX.
• MacroMedia Shockwave Player (free download) you
  can enjoy multimedia games, learning
  applications, and product demonstrations on the
  Web, using exciting new 3D technology.
• WS FTP the market leader in Windows-based FTP
  (file transfer protocol) client software. It
  enables users and organizations to move files
  between local and remote systems while enjoying
  the utmost in security, ease of use, reliability,
  and efficiency.
• WinZip makes it easy for Windows users to work
  with archives. Features an intuitive
  point-and-click drag-and-drop interface for
  viewing, running, extracting, adding, deleting,
  and testing files in archives with a standard
  Windows interface. Zip files are "archives" for
  distributing and storing files. Zip files contain
  one or more files. Usually the files "archived"
  in a Zip are compressed to save space. Makes it
  easy to group, transport, and copy files faster.

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Technology Competency Guidelines

• Student Technology Skills The following computer
  skills are needed prior to taking online
  Appalachian Technical College courses. Students
  are responsible for assessing their own skill
  levels. If you do not possess these skills, check
  into the computer literacy courses offered at
  your local Technical College. Your instructor
  will not be teaching these skills as part of the
  course.
• Basic Skills1. Familiar with the operating
  system of the computer being used to access the
  Internet course.
• 2. Understand terms like mouse, drag,
  open, select, file, choose, double-click,
  download, upload, send, etc. 3. Save, copy and
  find files/folders on floppy and hard drives 4.
  Navigate between two or more applications without
  closing and re-opening (multitasking) 5.
  Minimize/maximize Windows
• Email Skills1. Send, open, reply to, and
  forward a message 2. Enter a message subject 3.
  Send an attachment 4. Open and/or save an
  attachment 5. Web Browser Skills
• Go to a specific URL1. Print a page 2. Follow
  a hypertext link 3. Conduct a basic search using
  a search engine 4. Download and install plug-ins
  5. Word Processor Skills
• Open a new file1. Open an existing file 2.
  Save a file 3. Rename a file (Save As) 4. Cut,
  paste, format text 5. Print a document

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Browser Recommendation

• Java Compliant Web BrowserAppalachian
  Technical College online courses require a Java
  compliant Browser. For the Java capable browser
  we recommend Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (or
  higher) or Netscape Communicator 4.0 (or
  higher). If your browser is older than IE 4.0 or
  Netscape 4.0, you may download a current version
  for free by clicking on the icons below.

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Drop Deadlines

• Important dates are listed on the Appalachian
  Technical College academic calendar at
  http//www.appalachiantech.edu/academics/calendar.
  htm

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Format For Assignments

• In your Blackboard course environment, look under
  Syllabus or in Course Information for the course
  syllabus. Additional instructions may be located
  under Assignments. General assignment formatting
  instructions will be related to you in these
  areas. If specific assignments need special
  formatting, this will be related to you as part
  of the assignment.

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Requirements For Chat Room Email

• Within the Blackboard 5 environment, students are
  encouraged to communicate with fellow classmates
  and instructors from the course website. The
  Communication Center allows users to send email,
  access course discussion boards, participate in
  the virtual classroom, send messages, and access
  student group pages. Look in "Course Information"
  for the course syllabus. Any chat room and email
  requirements will be listed in the syllabus.

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Instructor Response Time

• Instructors respond to emails as quickly as
  possible since this is the predominant method
  through which instructors and students
  communicate. Instructors will respond to emails
  within 24 hours excluding weekends and holidays.

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Troubleshooting Advice

• Contact your instructor first if you need
  technical support. Questions concerning the
  course or navigating in the course should be
  directed to your instructor. If the Blackboard
  server goes down please be patient. If you send
  email for technical support to the GVTC
  Coordinator, please be sure to type your name,
  class name, and 'Technical Difficulty' in the
  subject area. For example John Doe, ACC100,
  Technical Difficulty.
• AOL users experience compatibility issues when
  taking exams. When an AOL user takes an exam in
  Blackboard, AOL assumes you are no longer working
  and times out. The only suggested fix for this
  issue is to download Realplayer and tune into a
  radio station for listening to music or news. AOL
  will think you are working and will not time out.
  Other than this suggestion, AOL is not
  technically supported.

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Enrollment

• Current Appalachian Technical College students
  enroll in online courses by contacting your
  advisor.
• Transient students enroll in online courses at
  www.gvtc.org.