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1. Getting Started - Welcome

Welcome to Brunswick Community College!!!! The purpose of this orientation is to make sure you have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in your coursework. The orientation is divided into sections that concentrate on specific areas and will be always be available as a reference guide. Check back occasionally...especially in the technology tips section...for new information.

To move between pages, click on the page title in the left column or use the left and right arrows located on the right side of the screen.

To print this as a PDF file, look in the left column for the ADMINISTRATION block.  To print the entire document, click on Print book.  To print only the current topic, click Print this chapter.


Thank you. Contact information for the Distance Learning department is in the "Privacy and Obtaining Assistance" section of the orientation.

2. Finding Your Username/UserID

Why do we have usernames?

• ·Student usernames create a uniform and simple login for all campus resources
• ·You will be able to use the username and a password to access Moodle, your student email account, campus computers, Self-Service, the wireless network, and other resources as they become available.
• ·NOTE:  Campus-issued usernames/passwords are not automatically used for 3^rd party websites such as MyMathLab, SAM, or Aplia.

What is my username?

For most students, usernames are formed by combining

• ·the first four letters of your first name (all lowercase)

• ·the last five digits of your student ID

What if my name has less than four letters?

• Students whose first names have less than four letters  should use all letters of their first name and the last five  digits from their student ID. 
• For example: Lee Jones's student ID is #0365588 making his username lee65588. 

I am a returning student, what do I need to know?

• Usernames for students who have been away from BCC for more than two years will need to be reactivated. 
• Please check with the Distance Learning/Student Technologies department for assistance.

• Contact Student Services to initiate a name change.  Only those with the old format username (from before May 2016) will have a new username created as part of the name change process. 
  

 Need Assistance?

• For more information, contact the Distance Learning/ Student Technologies department at brunsdl@brunswickcc.edu or stop by room A-212 (second floor, building A).

3. Passwords

BCC has implemented a single-password system for all BCC technologies.  See the BCC Student Portal/Landing Page for the most current password information and access to the password management tool. 

Students are expected to use the password tool to create and reset/change their password.   Full directions for setting and resetting passwords may be found on the Student Portal page.

IMPORTANT: Passwords must be changed every 90 days and cannot be repeated for at least one year.

What does the password have to include?

A minimum 8 characters of which:

At least one is a capital letter

At least one is a lowercase letter

At least one is a number

At least one of the following four special characters:

• Slash (/)
• Dash (-)
• Underscore (_)
• Exclamation mark (!)

Cannot include any other special character.

Where do I use this password?

• ·Moodle
• ·Logging onto campus computers and the student wireless network
• ·Student email
• ·Self-Service

Contact Distance Learning via email at brunsdl@brunswickcc.edu or come by the office in Building A, room A-212 for assistance with your username and password.

4. Troubleshooting Login Problems

I’ve tried, but I still cannot log into Moodle or my email.

Common username issues:

• Are you using the correct combination of letters and numbers for your username?
• Have you recently married or changed your name? 
• Are you returning after an absence from BCC of two years or more?

What about your password?

• Have you created a password using the correct format?
  
• Has it been more than 90 days since you reset your password?

• Contact Distance Learning for assistance with your username and password. See the Help Chapter for contact information.

5. Privacy and Obtaining Assistance

Privacy:
Safeguarding your login information is the law. To conform with FERPA privacy laws, passwords will not be given over the phone or via email.

Password changes or resets must be made using the password tool.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause; however, this is done to protect you.

Also, please do not include birthday, social security number, or other personal information when sending email.

Obtaining Assistance:
The Distance Learning/Student Technologies staff is available to assist with login and password issues. Our office is located in Building A, room 212 (within the Library). Normal office hours are between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.; however, these hours may change based on staffing and College hours of operation.

If you are making a special trip to the campus, please check with the office via email (brunsdl@brunswickcc.edu) to ensure that the office will be open at the time you plan to visit. Appointments may be made at other times by request.

6. Moodle, Email, and other Websites

All links open in a new browser window. See information on Popup Windows and Java on the Internet Browser page in this book for more info.

Moodle - Course management system used for all curriculum courses

Student Email

NOTE:  enter your full email address (username@brunswickcc.edu) when logging in

24-hour Help Desk (Moodle only): 1-866-517-3537

BCC Distance Learning Email Address:

brunsdl@brunswickcc.edu (This is not a link)
(NOTE: BRUNSDL - short for Brunswick Distance Learning)

BCC Bookstore

BCC Main Page

Links used on this page:

7. Internet Browser Settings

The following minimum Internet Browser versions are recommended:

• Recent Firefox     
• MS Internet Explorer 11 
• Recent Google Chrome
• Safari 8

For Moodle to work correctly, please check the following settings in your Internet Browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) Click on each item below to find how to change the setting.

Enable Java

Enable Cookies

Allow pop-up Windows from specific sites (Internet Explorer)

Allow pop-up Windows from specific sites (Firefox)

Allow pop-up Windows from specific sites (Chrome)

8. Other Useful Downloads

Some of the following software items may be required in your courses. Installation of these and all software packages are done at your own risk. While these packages are standard, stable releases, BCC does not assume responsibility for problems arising from their installation or use. Unless necessary for a course, you are not required to install these programs. These downloads are not hosted on BCC servers, and BCC cannot guarantee their availability. If you find a broken link, please report it to brunsdl@brunswickcc.edu. Thank you.

Many of these may also be found in the Free Downloads dropdown menu at the top of the Moodle page.

• Adobe Flash Player
• Adobe Shockwave Player
• Adobe Reader
• Audacity
• Plugins for Audacity (convert Audacity files to MP3)
• Irfanview      (Be sure to download both the program and the plugins also)
• Microsoft Word Viewer      (allows reading MS-Word documents, but no editing)
• MS-PowerPoint Viewer      (allows reading PowerPoint files, again with no editing)
• OpenOffice      (A free suite of office products including a word processor, spreadsheet, slide presentation, drawing software and a database manager. NOTE: This software will not be suitable for computer/software classes such as CIS 110, Spreadsheets, and Database.)
• PrimoPDF   - Create PDF files. Please pay attention to make sure you are downloading the free version, not the trial version.
• Quicktime
• RealPlayer

9. Do I have the technical skills I need?

Extensive technical skills are not necessary to be successful in an online class. It is more important that you have determination and are self-directed. Be sure to review the materials in the Personal Skills chapter before you finish this book.

Technical Skills:
You should be able to:

• Send and receive email
• Attach and open a document in email
• Go to a web URL or search for a website
• Use a word processor (usually Microsoft Word)

If you can do the above, you have the skills and the ability to learn the technologies you will need in your online class. There are tip sheets in another section of this orientation that will help you.

10. Personal Skills You Need

Personal Skills:

There are many good online sites describing what makes a good student. These
sites open in new windows, so be sure popup windows are permitted in your
browser.

The site from the University of Illinois describes the skills necessary
to be successful:

Self-Evaluation

The University of Illinois also has a Self-Evaluation for Potential Online Students.

11. Daily Routine

Success comes from regular, timely, and thoughtful time spent completing your coursework. Starting an online or hybrid course requires that a student develops a system that works - utilizing the BEST time in your schedule, not any time left over in your schedule.

Some tips are:

• Schedule time for your course just as if you were going to class.
• Look at the demands on your time - work, family, other courses - and find the "best time" for you to work on your coursework.
• Don't procrastinate.
• Ask questions. If you don't ask, your instructor will assume you understand the material.
• Don't let others tempt you. Let them know you are "in class" - but don't tell them it is an online class. There will be time to go to the beach, shopping, ball field, etc. when you finish your coursework.

The Distance Learning Virtual Campus of Oglala Lakota College urges developing a new daily routine. The routine suggested on that website (adapted for BCC) is:

Every day:

• Check your student email
• Download and read course materials that may be in your email
• Log into Moodle and check assignments
• Check Latest News and Messages
• Submit homework in Moodle
• Read and respond to Discussion Forums
• Check to see if the instructor has made any changes or added materials
• Make sure you know what assignment is due next and start/continue working on it.
• Read your textbook or other materials assigned by the instructor
• Post questions if you don't understand the material

At least twice weekly:

• Check your progress and make sure you are still "on schedule" with assignment due dates
• Schedule uninterrupted time to take any upcoming tests or quizzes (if applicable.

12. Getting Help

Moodle 24-hour Help Desk

A 24-hour help desk is available to assist students with problems related to Moodle.  The help desk provides assistance via phone.  

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Passwords, email, and textbook supplemental sites such as My___Lab are not supported by this site.  The help desk is made possible by funds from the North Carolina Community College System.

Phone:  1-866-517-3537

Email Support:  brunsdl@brunswickcc.edu

Drop-in Support:  Students are welcome to come by the Distance Learning Office.  The office is located in building A, room 216 (inside the Library).  Normal operating hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until at least 6 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. until College closing.  Hours vary during College breaks