SPRING 2007
Are You Ready for an Online Class?
Courses Offered
To see a complete listing of Distance Learning course offerings and costs, please visit the Distance Learning website and click on the "Course Descriptions and Costs" link.
Computer Requirements
To participate in an online class, you should have the following technology:
- Internet Access: An Internet account, a Web browser (Netscape version 4.0 or higher), and an e-mail account capable of sending and receiving messages.
- Hardware: IBM PC compatible 486 or better (or Macintosh computer); Modem capable of connecting to the Internet at a speed of at least 28.8 Kbps; 2 MB available storage on hard drive.
- Software: Windows 95 or newer for PCs; system 7.0 or newer for Macintosh; Office 2000 for many computer science and business technology courses.
- Other: Some courses may require additional specialized software; your course instructor will provide details.
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Skills Needed
To be successful in an online course, you should have the following:
- College level reading, writing and math scores
- Basic keyboarding skills
- Ability to use Microsoft Word or WordPad to create, edit and save documents (please don't use Microsoft Works)
- Ability to manage folders, files and directories on your computer
- Ability to use e-mail and send attachments to your e-mail
- Good Internet research skills
- Self-discipline to study without external reminders
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Placement Testing
We strongly recommend that you take a college placement test before you enroll in online courses. If you can't come to the college testing center to take a placement test, call (503) 657-6958, Ext. 2269 and arrange for a proctored test in a location that's convenient for you.
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Registration
If you haven't already registered and can't come to our campus to do so, you have the following options:
- Telephone Registration: Call (503) 656-6626. To register by telephone, you must be currently enrolled and not owe money from a previous term.
- Mail/Fax Registration: Download the registration form at http://www.clackamas.cc.or.us/forms, complete the form and fax it to (503) 722-5864 or mail it to Clackamas Community College Registrar, 19600 S. Molalla Avenue, Oregon City, Oregon 97045.
- Online Registration: Go to CCC Enrollment Services and click on Cougar Trax (online registration). To use this option, you must be currently enrolled or admitted and not owe money from a previous term.
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Textbooks
You are responsible for getting your textbooks, workbooks, videos, software and other required course materials before the beginning of the term. A list of materials is usually given in your course syllabus. If you have any questions about course materials, contact your instructor.
If you are enrolled in a course Clackamas is providing, you can buy your textbooks from the Clackamas Bookstore, which is located at our Oregon City campus. Textbooks can also be ordered online from the CCC Bookstore.
If you are taking a course that Clackamas is hosting from another college, you will need to purchase your textbook from that college's bookstore. The Clackamas bookstore does not stock textbooks for hosted courses. Bookstore telephone numbers are given in the Bookstore Directory at the end of this tutorial.
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Class Participation
Online courses require your frequent participation. The time of day during which you can participate is flexible and so is the day itself. However, your instructor will have deadlines that are not flexible! You will be required to complete your assignments on time, so be sure to look at your course materials for assignment due dates.
Here are some activities you might participate in for your online course:
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Log on to your course and read the announcements for the day
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Read lecture notes
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Send e-mail to your instructor and fellow classmates
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Check assignments and due dates for your class work
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Read and post messages to discussion boards
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Enter a virtual classroom and participate in live chat
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Use the Blackboard Student Dropbox to submit assignments
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Complete quizzes and exams
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Check your grade
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Create and maintain a home page
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Communication
As an online student, your fellow students and your instructor will not be in the same room. You might live in Prineville, your instructor might live in Oregon City, and your classmates could live all over the world. How can you communicate with one another?
Instructors at Clackamas use Blackboard's communication tools (a Discussion Board, Chat Room, student and group web pages, the Student Dropbox and e-mail features) to bring everyone together. In each online course, interaction methods are used to meet the needs of that particular course, using technologies that are generally available to everyone in the class.
Your course instructor's name, telephone number and e-mail address are included in the "Course Descriptions and Costs" area on the Distance Learning website.
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Course Orientation Sessions
Online instructors conduct orientations to explain specific information about the class. These orientations are usually given online, but occasionally they will take place in a face-to-face meeting on campus. If a face-to-face orientation is scheduled for your online class and you can't attend, contact the instructor.
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Hosted Courses
In addition to the online courses that Clackamas provides, which are taught by Clackamas instructors, we host online courses from other community colleges in Oregon. Clackamas students register for a hosted course at Clackamas and earn Clackamas credit, but the course is taught by an instructor from another college.
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Getting Started in Class
After registering, you may begin accessing your class on Monday of the first week of class and should do so no later than the end of the first week. You must also e-mail your instructor by Wednesday of the first week, even if you have not yet accessed your course materials. Take the following steps to get started:
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Go to the CCC Distance Learning website
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Click on the "Go to Class" link
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Scroll the course list, find the course for which you're registered, and
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Click on the course name. This link takes you to the gateway page for the class.
If, when you click on the class name, you are taken to a Blackboard page, you need to create a Blackboard Account. Here's how to do it:
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Go to the Blackboard login page
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Click on the "Create Account" link
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Fill out the form
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Click the "Submit" link
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Find your class on the course list and click on it
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At the far left side of your screen, at the bottom of the row of navigation buttons, click on the "Enroll in This Course" button
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Enter your password
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Click the "Login" link
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© 2007 Bill Symes, Clackamas Community College
Revised 04/03/2007