1. Student Orientation Part 2
Distance Education and Blackboard

2. Accessing your Blackboard Account
Welcome to part two of the student orientation. Here we will look at the Blackboard system, where you will find your courses. Go to Students can access Blackboard up to 72 hours before the first day of class.

3. Accessing your Blackboard Course
When you first log in to Blackboard, you will see a list of classes you are enrolled in at CTC. This will include, even the lecture classes you will be sitting in a classroom to take.

4. Accessing your Blackboard Course
You might not use Blackboard in those classes with the LEC labeled on them, but then again, you might. This is up to your instructor, so you want to be prepared for whatever instructions your instructor gives you on how to use Blackboard in those lecture classes.

5. Orientation Goals You will learn: How to navigate the Course Menu
Definition of plagiarism
How to select a tutor to meet your educational goals
How to identify Blackboard technical assistance when you need it
How to identify yourself using BioSig
Your role as a student
In this portion of the student orientation, you will learn how to navigate the Course Menu. You will define plagiarism. You will be able to select a tutor to meet your educational goals. You will be able to access Blackboard technical assistance when you need it. You will learn how to identify yourself using BioSig, and you will recognize your role as a student.

6. Blackboard Course Menu
Now let's open the link to your online class and take a tour.
The first thing you will see in your class is that you have a course menu on the left side of your screen. This menu will be your means of navigating through your class. We are going to pick it apart and see what each link holds for you.

7. Start Here!
The Start Here! page offers you the opportunity to see what is in each component of your course menu. There is information found on this page that will help you as you begin your course. Remember, you must log in and complete at least one activity the first week of class. If you cannot do this, contact your instructor immediately.

8. Course Announcements
Next on our list, you will see the Announcements. Funny thing about announcements, every time you open your class, you will open directly into the announcement page. This way, if the instructor has something to tell you for your immediate attention, there it is.

9. Instructor Infomation
Instructor Info is where you will find out who your instructor is and how you can contact him or her.

10. Course Messages
Message is internal to Blackboard and is external to Blackboard. You can contact your instructor and your classmates using either method. Messages can be found on the course menu, and can be found under the Tools menu of your course.

11. BioSig-IDTM
The BioSig-ID Enrollment link is where you will enroll in BioSig for your course. BioSig is a biometric signature used to verify the identity of students. Most courses will use this link for enrolling in BioSig; however, some courses may have the initial BioSig Enrollment within the Start Here section of your course. So, check there for a BioSig enrollment if the link is not present in your left-hand menu. You should complete the BioSig Enrollment in every course so that your instructor can see that you have enrolled.

12. Course Syllabus page 1
The syllabus is, basically, a map of your course. The first page of the syllabus will give you some basic information about the course. While this information is important to you, it tends to be general.

13. Course Syllabus Page 2
The second page of the syllabus is more specific to your course, with this instructor covering what materials and due dates you must know about for this course. There are some components of this page of the syllabus you should pay special attention to and even print out to go with your personal calendar.

14. Lessons
Lessons are where you will find the meat of the course. There are typically eight lessons in CTC Blackboard courses, but that varies by type of class and who created the class. So don't be surprised if there are only four lessons, or maybe twelve lessons. Concentrate on completing each lesson in order. Skipping around will get you into trouble most of the time, so as a general rule, don't.

15. Papers/Projects
The Papers/Projects section of your course is a place where you can find major papers and projects for your course. Different sections similar to this, such as Journals or Research Paper, could be in your course depending on the content in the course.

16. Discussion Board
The Discussion Board could have specific, assigned discussions, or it might have just postings from your classmates discussing where good restaurants are in the area. You want to make sure you know what type of discussion you have in your class and what is required.

17. Exams
The Exams section of your course is typically where you will find major exams in your course.

18. Study Guides and Lecture Notes
The study guides included in the course are designed to help you prepare for each exam and lesson quiz. And the Lecture Notes may include audio or video files or other subject matter materials to help you to understand the course content.

19. My Grades
My Grades link gives you a report of your current grades for this course.

20. Student Center
The Student Center has some great tools for you to take advantage of. You will find study hints and tips; you will get Tech Tips, including links to free resources; you will find the Discussion Board where you can get your own questions answered, and see what others are asking. The questions your fellow students ask could be of benefit to you. And you will find free mini-courses, in both recorded and live sessions. Come on in and join Professor Deets.

21. Math Tutoring and Writing Lab
Now that we've looked over our class, let's look at getting tutoring when you need it. There are Math and Writing tutoring available to you. Please get help from tutoring before you are desperate. Send your request for assistance in plenty of time before your work is due. Tutoring is available even if you are not enrolled in a Math or English class. Tutoring is available to all CTC students, not just online students.

22. Scholastic Honesty
Central Texas College takes scholastic honesty seriously. All students are required and expected to maintain the highest standards of scholastic honesty in the preparation of all coursework and during examinations. Go to the Scholastic Honesty on your Course Menu and read the statement on what the repercussions are for violating this policy.

23. Evaluations
Please take the Evaluation when your class is over. This is where you get to praise your instructor and let the college know how well, or how poorly, this class was carried off. CTC really does value your opinion. Please let us know how we are doing.

24. Secret of Being Successful – Knowing Where to Go
Student Center - not sure where to go
One of the challenges of being a student is questions. Who do you ask when you don't even know what to ask? A good starting point for the unasked question might be the Student Center. Here is where Professor Deets hangs out, and he will answer your questions, point you in the right direction, and get you off on the right foot.

25. Secret of Being Successful – Knowing Where to Go
Student Center - not sure where to go
Your Instructor - for all course related questions
Your instructor is available in your class to answer your questions that relate to your class. Don't assume he or she can help you if your computer crashes though, other than to potentially give you an extension.

26. Secret of Being Successful – Knowing Where to Go
Student Center - not sure where to go
Your Instructor - for all course related questions
Eagles on Call Center - student services
Having problems in class and your instructor won't respond? You gave it every chance to get resolved? You're having enrollment issues? Need help with almost any issue and you have tried to find the answers on your own, but can't? Now would be the time to call or the Eagles on Calls center.

27. Secret of Being Successful – Knowing Where to Go
Student Center - not sure where to go
Your Instructor - for all course related questions
Eagles on Call Center - student services
Eagle Mail problem
students/student- /
Having problems? Visit our CTC website, Student page contains information you need to log in to your account as well as how to reset your password.

28. Secret of Being Successful – Knowing Where to Go
Student Center - not sure where to go
Your Instructor - for all course related questions
Eagles on Call Center - student services
Eagle Mail problem
students/student- /
Tech Support - Blackboard or BioSig not working right
24/7/365 Blackboard Support: 
If you have technical problems with Blackboard though, call Technical Support through Blackboard. You will find contact information on the “Tech Support” tab in Blackboard. You might be able to find your answer through watching a video on how to do something. You might find you have to speak with a person, 24/7 support is available for this.

29. Secret of Being Successful – Knowing Where to Go
CTC Distance Education Website -
Professor Deets at responds to questions or redirects them to the appropriate offices.
CTC website -
You can view the CTC Distance Education website for more information about online learning. If you have questions or concerns please send them to Professor DEETs. For more information about CTC view the CTC website.