Robeson Community College

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Robeson Community College

• Distance Learning Orientation

ONLINE CLASSES BEGIN AUGUST 17!
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Welcome to Robeson Community Colleges Online
Environment!

• RCCs courses are offered through the Blackboard
  Learning Platform which allows you to interact
  with your classmates in discussion forums, post
  assignments to a Digital Drop Box, and read
  supplemental lectures and presentations from your
  instructor.
• Additionally, the campus offers Campus Cruiser,
  a web-based community which allows you to
  communicate with your instructors (face-to-face
  and online) through e-mail and to access
  classroom material, such as PowerPoint
  presentations and lectures, in your face-to-face
  classes.
• We are happy that you have selected our college
  to continue your studies and look forward to
  learning more about you in our online environment.

ONLINE CLASSES BEGIN AUGUST 17!
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General Requirements

• Access to a computer at home or work Pentium or
  Power Macintosh
• 28.8 or faster modem 56k recommended
• Internet access with a current e-mail address
• A web browser (Internet Explorer 4 or higher,
  Netscape 4 or higher)

• Up-to-date virus protection software
• Access to the required software for your course
• Basic computer skills
• Sending e-mail with attachments
• Accessing an Internet source
• A minimum of 8 hours a week to work on your
  course work

ONLINE CLASSES BEGIN AUGUST 17!
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Caution to AOL Users!

• If you are an AOL customer, you may have
  difficulty accessing Blackboard or using specific
  course components such as tests.
• It is highly recommended that you use Internet
  Explorer to connect to your Blackboard course.
  Check the version of your Internet Explorer to
  ensure that it meets the recommended equipment
  requirements noted earlier in the presentation.

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Getting Started

• Single Sign-On via CampusCruiser you will not
  have to log in to Blackboard!!!!!
• Access and log in to the CampusCruiser website at
  http//prod.campuscruiser.com/rcc
• Click the Academics tab
• Click the Bb tab
• (Blackboard opens in a new window!)

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Click the name of the course.
Welcome! This screen provides a listing of the
distance learning courses for which you have
enrolled, announcements posted by instructors,
and any calendar events.
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You have now accessed the announcements page for
a specific course. Notice the navigational
buttons located on the left side of the screen.
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Select the Staff Information button to retrieve
contact information for your instructor.
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Select the Course Information button to view the
syllabus and any other pertinent
information relating to the course. Remember
text that is underlined can be selected, opening
another screen.
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The discussion board allows classmates and the
instructor to interact with one another.
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(No Transcript)
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Select the Thread button to begin a new message.
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Select the Tools button to view features such as
My Grades.
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Select My Grades to view an explanation of your
graded assignments. You are able to view the
total points possible for a graded item, your
grade/points, the average score, and the weight
of that item.
You should carefully examine the icons. If
you complete a test for example, a lock may
appear, instead of a grade an error has
occurred. You should contact your instructor
immediately.
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Sending Documents to the Instructor

• Assignments will often need to be submitted to
  the Digital Drop Box, found within Tools.
• Save your work as a Microsoft Word document or
  other specified application by your instructor.
  Instructors cannot open documents created in
  Works or WordPerfect.
• If you are using Office 2007, you must save the
  assignment as a 97-2003 Compatible File.
• Click Tools on the left side of you screen.
• Click Digital Drop Box.
• Then, select Send file.
• Browse to the where file is saved (your computer
  or on a floppy disk).
• Then, click Submit.
• Once the file has been sent, a prompt will
  confirm the submission.
• After you click OK, a picture of a disk will
  appear showing the document as being sent, to
  whom it was sent, and the time it was sent.

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Your instructor may also ask you to submit an
assignment via an assignment link. You will see
an exclamation mark ! In the Grade Center until
the Instructor grades the assignment.
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Taking Online Tests

• Your instructor will indicate where tests can be
  accessed Course Documents, Modules, for
  example.
• Do not open a test until you are ready to take
  it! You will not be allowed to open the test a
  second time.
• Often tests are to be completed within a
  specified time frame.
• Often you will be able to view only one question
  at a time.
• Generally, you will be able to view your grade
  after completing the test. However, short answer
  and essay questions must be graded by the
  instructor.
• Examine the legend or key when checking your
  grade to ensure that your assessment was
  submitted successfully.
• You can find your grade under Tools button on
  the left side of the screen.
• Contact your instructor if you encounter problems
  taking a test.

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The most important feature of Tools is the User
Manual. Should you have any questions about
how to complete an act in Blackboard, it can
generally be found within this manual.
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In addition to the User Manual, you can access
the help feature at the top of the Blackboard
screen.
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Attendance

• Maintaining attendance in your online course is
  important.
• Be sure to print the course syllabus which will
  indicate how attendance may be taken (weekly
  assignments, discussion board submissions,
  journals, weekly quizzes, etc.).

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Withdrawing From Your Course

• Please contact your instructor prior to
  withdrawing from your online class. Through the
  first ten weeks of the semester the student who
  withdraws or is dropped receives a grade of "W".
  For the remainder of the semester the student who
  withdraws or is dropped will receive a "WF".
• The last day to Withdraw from a class with a
  grade of W is October 23, 2009.

ONLINE CLASSES BEGIN AUGUST 17!
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Characteristics of Successful Online Students

• Mature
• Independent/Self Motivated
• Focused
• Disciplined
• Able to study independently
• Read and write well
• Turn in assignments when due
• Proficient in Windows, particularly word
  processing, email and web browser functions
• Committed/Goal-Oriented

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Getting the Help you Need

• Contact the instructor for specific questions
  about course content.
• Fellow students are a source of help.
• In the Tools area of your course click on
  Manual where you will find more detailed
  information about Blackboard.
• There is also a help section located in each
  course at the top of the screen between the
  home and log out icons

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Sending E-mail

• You will be assigned an RCC e-mail address.
• Your online e-mail account can be accessed
  through Campus Cruiser, a web-based community
  which allows you to communicate with both your
  online instructors as well as instructors
  teaching traditional face-to-face classes.
• You are strongly encouraged to use this e-mail
  account for any communication with your RCC
  online instructor.
• E-mail cannot be sent through Blackboard.

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Tips for Success

• Acquire or improve your technical skills.
• Do your homework early complete assignments on
  time.
• Communicate weekly with your instructor whether
  an assignment is due or not.
• Communicate with fellow students help each
  other.
• Take responsibility for your own learning.
• Pay attention to due dates.
• Do your own workplagiarism or cheating are
  serious offenses.
• READ, READ, READ.

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• Blackboard 24/7 Support
• Robeson Community College now has a 24-hour
  technical support site for all Blackboard
  problems. The telephone number is 1-866-834-8921.
  You can also access the website by clicking on
  the link below. Please use this link any time you
  have problems with Blackboard. This link should
  be posted throughout the Blackboard site so you
  can access it at any time.
• http//supportcenteronline.com/ics/support/defaul
  t.asp?deptID4308

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• Your online course will begin August 17. You will
  have five days to complete the first weeks
  assignment in order to confirm your enrollment
  otherwise, you may be dropped from the course.
  If you encounter technical problems, you should
  contact the 24/7 help desk referenced in the
  previous slide or one of the individuals listed
  below.
• If you still have questions regarding Blackboard,
  you are welcome to attend the face-to-face
  orientation held Saturday, August 15, 2009
  beginning at 900 am in the A.D. Lewis
  Auditorium. Breakout sessions with faculty will
  be scheduled from 945 1115 in Building 14.
  Additional orientation sessions for new and
  returning students will also be scheduled the
  week of August 17 21, 2009. Please check
  CampusCruiser for an updated list.

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• Contact Information
• Melissa Oxendine, Distance Learning Coordinator
• moxendine_at_robeson.edu
• 910-272-3441
• Office Building 8, 804F
• Cyd Burgwyn, Blackboard Administrator
• cburgwyn_at_robeson.edu
• 910-272-3561
• Office Building 13, 1307
• Good luck and enjoy your distance learning course!