Characteristics of a Successful Distance Learning Student

• Has a computer at home and a reliable Internet connection
• Knows how to work independently and keeps up with assignments
• Has the necessary skills such as a college reading level
• Has completed any necessary prerequisites for the course
• Participates in orientation when applicable
• Begins course activities within the first week of the course
• Sets aside an adequate amount of time on a routine basis for study
• Contacts the instructor promptly with questions about any aspect of the course
• Has the required computer hardware and necessary software
• Knows basic word processing
• Familiar with sending and receiving e-mail

Please review the Specific Technical Requirements on the bottom of this page.

Prior to registering for an online course, you should take this Self-Assessment.

1. Before the semester starts you should e-mail your instructor (or the department head) and tell them you have registered for their course. You can access the instructor or department head e-mail address at:
http://www.alamancecc.edu/distance ed/curriculum courses programs/onlinecourses.php

2. The first day of classes you should set up your ACCess e-mail account. This is the e-mail account that your instructor will use to communicate with you throughout your Blackboard course.

• Go to https://my.alamancecc.edu/#setupaccount
• Fill out the form and submit.
• Log-in to "My ACCess” https://my.alamancecc.edu/ (remember your ACCess userID and password)
• Log-in to "ACCess Email" http://access.alamancecc.edu/
  

3. Log-in to Blackboard (you will not be able to log-in to Blackboard until the first day of classes).

· Go to www.alamancecc.edu

· Click on the Distance Education Tab

· Go to Blackboard Log-In

· Click User Log-In

· Type in Username and Password (use the formula above).

4. If your home computer does not have Firefox 2 as an Internet browser, install it at:
http://www.alamancecc.edu/distance_ed/dl_firefox.html (it is a free download). Please do not download Firefox version 3 or Internet Explorer as there are compatibility issues with Blackboard. While ACC does recommend that you use Firefox, we cannot accept any responsibility for any problems you may encounter with installing or using Firefox or any other software you may acquire for use with Blackboard and your online class.

The following courses require additional software:

Accounting:

Microsoft Office including Excel and PowerPoint

Chemistry:

Adobe Acrobat Reader

English:

Word Processing software and ability to save files in rich text

Mathematics:

MAT 115 – On-campus testing requirements

MAT 060, 070, 080, MAT 151 – Administrative rights to install My Math Lab plug-ins on the computer. Need speakers on computer.

Office systems:

OST 131 – PC with Pentium II or higher; Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2000 or XP; 32 MB RAM for Windows NT, ME and 2000 or 128 MB RAM for Windows XP; 210 MB of free space on hard drive; MS Word 2000 or higher.

OST 136 – CD Rom and MS Word 2003

OST 141 – Sound recording capacity on computer

Psychology and Sociology:

Writing intensive, and you will need PowerPoint (or reader) and the ability to save files in rich text.

Computer Information Systems:
CIS 110 -- Have required text book - MS Office 2007, Volume 1, 2nd Ed. by Grauer... Prentice Hall. Have consistent access to MS-Office 2007 with Access database. Have consistent access to Windows-XP. Have strong reading skills, commitment to keeping pace with online course, and weekly access to the online class.
CIS 110-01E and 02E (Fall 2009)-- TELL THE BOOKSTORE PERSONNEL THAT YOU NEED THE MYITLAB VERSION FOR SECTION 01E. The text is bundled with a student CD and the MyITLab online assessment and training license. This bundle is only
available through the bookstore on campus. If you purchase the book elsewhere you will still need to purchase the MyITLab license from the bookstore.