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Tri-County Community College
21 Campus Circle
Murphy, NC 28906
828-837-6810 |
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General Information for Online Students
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Information for Online Students
Welcome to your online class. We hope you have an enjoyable and educational experience in the online community you are about to enter. This page is to provide you with a summary of the information you will need in order to get started in your class.
General Information
We are currently in the process of phasing out Blackboard, the course delivery system that has been in use here for quite some time, in favor of Moodle. We began using Moodle in the Summer 2010 semester on a limited basis. Our early feedback has been very positive, from both students and faculty. One of the major differences between Moodle and Blackboard is that Moodle does not have the button and folder structure that Blackboard has. Instead, the information and assignments for each week or topic are simply there for you to see, no searching required. The info and assignments are presented as links. To begin an assignment, click the link at the top of the list, review or complete the information on that page, then click on the next link in the list. Once you have completed the last item in the list, you are ready to move on to the next set of assignments.
A list of courses offered on Moodle for the Fall 2010 Semester can be found here.
If your class is on Moodle, you can access it HERE.
If you have a problem with, or a question about Blackboard or Moodle, we offer 24/7 tech support. You can access support online HERE or by phone toll free at (866)829-9680.
From time to time, Blackboard and/or Moodle must be taken offline for maintenance and backup. This usually occurs between the hours of 7:00 and 9:00 AM. If you attempt to login during this time and cannot, please try again a little later. If you are still unable to login, contact Wes Chastain at (828)835-4265 or at wchastain@tricountycc.edu My office is located in Room 147 in the McSwain Building. Feel free to drop by any time.
Your username for either Blackboard or Moodle will be the first 4 letters of your last name followed by the last 4 digits of your student ID number. Your ID number can be found on your schedule printout or at the top of your student ID card. (Note:If your last name contains less than 4 letters, your username will be your complete last name followed by the last 4 digits of your student ID number) Your password will be changeme. You should change this password in Blackboard during your first login by going to Tools, then Personal Information. Click on the Change Password link. Moodle requires you to change your password, and will provide a form for you to do so upon your first login.
Blackboard now has a service called Messages. Your instructor may ask you to use this feature to communicate with them. To use Messages, click the Messages button in the menu on the left of your course. You can then check your new messages by clicking the Inbox folder, send a message by clicking the New Message link above the Inbox folder, and review your sent messages in the Sent folder.
You will be also be provided with an email account. You may use this account for as long as you are a student at TCCC. Your instructor may ask you to use this email account to communicate with them concerning your online class. Your email address will be your Blackboard username followed by @webmail.tricountycc.edu and your password will be changeme. You should change this password when you login the first time. This email is web-based. This means that you do not need to install or configure anything on your computer. To access your email, go to http://webmail.tricountycc.edu. This email functions much the same as a Yahoo or Hotmail account. If you experience problems with your email account, contact our IT department at 835-4258 or 835-4276.
Your instructor’s contact information, including office location and hours, is included in the “Contacts” section of Blackboard. Please contact them with any questions you may have about your course.
If, for any reason, you begin to fall behind in your class work, contact your instructor immediately. It is possible that they can make arrangements with you to help you get caught up.
There is a common misconception that online classes are, in some way, easier than traditional classes. This is not the case. Although they are not more difficult, they do require a greater degree of self-discipline and dedication than traditional classes. The information normally presented as lecture in a traditional class becomes your responsibility to gain in the online environment.
Note Concerning Computer Access:
Tri-County Community College can not provide support for issues relating to your computer hardware or software. If you have problems with your personal computer that prevent you from being able to access Blackboard, it is your responsibility to acquire alternate access. Here are some possibilities for alternative computer access: open computer lab time on campus; public access computers in the TCCC Library, student lounge, public libraries; or the Telecenters (located on the Murphy and Graham campuses, and at the public library in Hayesville).
For more information or to ask a question, contact
Wes Chastain
(828) 835-4265
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