Student TIPS

Face-to-Face

Instruction is delivered in-person at a specific location and time.  Face to Face courses will NOT have any display changes on the course schedule.

Blended

Instruction is delivered both in-person and remotely at a specific location and time.  Blended courses will be designated as "Blended Delivery" on the course schedule with a TBA time, and will also retain time and location on a second line. Faculty will communicate directly with students about the specific physical and remote attendance expectations for these courses.

Remote

Instruction is delivered remotely at a specific time. No physical presence on campus required, so students can attend REMOTE courses at any location. Remote courses have the room location removed from the schedule, which is replaced with MOVED TO REMOTE on the schedule.

Online

Instruction is delivered online-only at any time. Online courses will NOT have any display changes on the course schedule.

Hybrid

Instruction is delivered in-person or remotely at a specific time, and online at any time. Online component remains unchanged, and the originally scheduled in-person meetings will remain and will follow social distancing guidelines OR will be designated as REMOTE (see definition above).

Remote instruction courses are different than the College's online course offerings. The College's face-to-face courses will be transitioned to remote instruction.  These courses will vary in the amount of content and engagement that occurs through our LMS (Blackboard), and other modalities may be used as the primary delivery of instruction. 

On the schedule, these courses will have specific meeting days, times and places listed. Even though these courses will not be meeting on-campus, you should plan to be available during listed class times.  Many instructors will be conducting activities during those times through various communication platforms.  

The physical location, however, is no longer relevant, so you can take classes listed at any BC3 location with no worries about commuting distances/time.

BC3's online courses have been designed and approved to be offered only over the Internet, using the College's learning management system (Blackboard), and with no on-site meeting requirements.  On the BC3 Credit Course Schedule, online courses have no on-campus meeting time or place identified. These courses will continue to be conducted in the same way they always have at BC3, with no modifications due to the transition to remote instruction.  Online students are required to complete the MyBC3 Technology Orientation.  

How a faculty member delivers instruction remotely is ultimately up to them. In most cases, Blackboard will be used as the primary platform. All faculty and students have easy access to Blackboard through MyBC3. Faculty may also utilize other College-supported technologies such as email, GoToMeeting, Respondus, NBC Learn, publisher supplemental websites, or other third-party technologies as they deem appropriate.

Students should check their MyBC3 email account frequently for emails with information and instructions from their instructors.

Students should have access to an up-to-date computer (a Windows or Macintosh desktop or laptop) and a reliable broadband Internet connection. 

Instructors may require synchronous online meetings and/or proctored exams that will require you to have a webcam and microphone.  Many computers now have these features built-in. 

NOTE:

• If available for your device, Google Chrome is the recommended browser for accessing BC3 technologies.

If you do not have Internet access at home, you may be able to use your smartphone as a hotspot. Check with your cellular provider for more information and instructions. If this is not an option, please contact your instructor immediately to notify them and to discuss other options.

Faculty will notify students of their plan for how their course(s) will run remotely, and their expectations of students for the duration of the remote instruction period.

Students should check their MyBC3 email account frequently for emails with information and instructions from their instructors.

Students are asked to use their MyBC3 EMAIL ACCOUNT ONLY for email correspondence with faculty and College staff to ensure communications are received promptly.

Students have the ability to access the BC3 network Windows 10 and CAD desktops remotely via Citrix to access network files, specialized applications or instructor folders.

Connections via Citrix should be limited only to those who need access to specialized BC3 software and files. Anything that can be accomplished through a regular Internet connection and web-browser, such as Office 365, email, MyBC3, Blackboard Ultra, GoTo, Cengage, Pearson, TestOut, etc. should be done on your personal devices without signing into the Citrix network.

Instructions for students wishing to use Citrix to connect to the BC3 network can be found in MyBC3, under the Citrix Gateway section.

For the best experience, it is recommended students download and install the Citrix Receiver on their personal device. Once the Citrix Receiver is installed, all subsequent logins can be done quickly and easily by launching the Receiver, signing in, and then launching the preferred virtual desktop.

NOTE:  If you had the Citrix Receiver/Workspace previously installed and you are having an issue getting a desktop; please uninstall the old version and reinstall the latest version. The latest version can be found in MyBC3, under the Citrix Gateway section.

It is quite possible your instructor will utilize Blackboard Ultra, the Respondus LockDown Browser with or without Monitor, or other secure testing applications to deliver tests or quizzes remotely.  If Respondus LockDown Browser with Monitor is required, you must have a webcam and microphone on your computer and a steady broadband Internet connection. Please notify your instructor if you do not have access to both of these devices prior to the date of your assessment.

Respondus LockDown Browser uses a standard Windows or Macintosh installer that can be installed when you open the first exam that requires it.  Please visit this webpage for more information.

NOTE:

• The Respondus LockDown Browser may not be accessible from mobile devices. Please have a backup device available for any exams/quizzes that require the use of the LockDown Browser/Monitor.

WELCOME DAY
All new students will receive basic technology training via the online Welcome Day activities.

MyBC3 TECHNOLOGY ORIENTATION 
The MyBC3 Technology Orientation is a free, self-paced and fully-online course that introduces students to the instructional technologies used and resources available to students at BC3.  The estimated time to complete the MyBC3 Technology Orientation is:  2 hours

• Students do not need to register for this course.  Once enrolled in any credit course at BC3, the student will see the MyBC3 Technology Orientation appear in the “ Courses” area in Blackboard Ultra.  Students will periodically receive email notifications alerting them to upcoming session start dates and reminding them to complete the MyBC3 Technology Orientation.

• Please note:  Completion of the MyBC3 Technology Orientation in Blackboard is required for all students taking online or hybrid classes at BC3.  Students enrolled in a face-to-face or iTV course may also be asked or required to complete this orientation by their instructor.  It is highly suggested that ALL students complete this orientation prior to the start of their first semester at BC3.

• Completion of the MyBC3 Technology Orientation will be noted and you will not be asked to complete this orientation again while studying at BC3.  There is no tuition or fees associated with this course, it holds no credit value, and does not count towards the calculation of GPA.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
FAQs and other helpful information can be found on the College's website.

We fully expect students to have a lot of questions. Faculty will be available for communication with students during their regularly scheduled class time and office hours (full-time faculty).

The Library, Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, and the BC3 Technology Help Desk are available for student help and support. Contact information for these areas is listed below.

The BC3 Technology Help Desk is the support center for Students, Faculty and Staff for all questions and/or problems with BC3 authorized educational technology products and software, BC3 campus computers and/or phone related issues, and more.

LOCAL PHONE: 724‐287‐8711 ext. 8441 
TOLL‐FREE PHONE: 888‐826‐2829 ext.8441 
FASTFORM: Submit a ticket.  
DROP IN: BC3 Main Campus – Heaton Family Learning Commons (Upper Level) 

The Technology Help Desk is open Monday through Friday. Hours may vary. Please visit the Technology Help Desk website for current hours of operation. 

Technology issues may be submitted after hours and on weekends via Fast Form. It will be answered the next business day or sooner if possible.

The Technology Help Desk is closed on College-designated holidays and any days the college may close for unexpected circumstances.

• All library databases, indexes, eBooks, etc. are available online through the BC3 Library website.
• Reference questions can be addressed through the "Chat" or "Ask a Librarian" features of the website.
• Library orientation sessions can be scheduled through the Reference and Instruction Librarian (Jean Shumway).
• EBSCOHost/ILL articles can be requested through the EBSCOHost databases.
• Print resources are available.

Student Affairs and Enrollment Management staff will continue to be accessible via phone or email during this time.  Staff in each of our Student Success Center Offices and at each of our Off Campus Locations are working diligently to develop plans to assist throughout this remote instruction period.

Services available via MyBC3 will remain during the remote instruction period.

Websites and email addresses for key offices are listed below.

• Academic Advising, Career and Transfer Resources
  Email: student.planning@bc3.edu
  
  
• Records and Registration
  Email: registration@bc3.edu
  
  
• Financial Aid
  Email: financialaid@bc3.edu
  
  
• Access and Disability Resources
  Email: accommodations@bc3.edu
  
  
• Tutoring
  Tutors will conduct tutoring sessions via GoTo or in person.
  
• To request tutoring services, please complete the Tutoring Application online.

To access MyBC3:

• Go to MyBC3 Login.
• Username:  b + student ID number.
• New Students are sent their password in their Acceptance letter. You will be required to change your password after logging in for the first time.
• Set up you Microsoft Authenticator by following the instructions as you login.
• Complete the login.

To access Blackboard:

• Sign in to MyBC3 (Be sure to use the sign-in credentials listed above.)
• Click on "Blackboard Learn Ultra"

To access a GoTo session:

• The instructor will provide you with a link to the GoTo session(s) via email or as a link in your Blackboard Ultra course.
• Click on the link you are provided to open GoTo.
  • You may be asked to download/install the GoTo app on your device. It is safe to do so.
• Once in the session, you will be asked how you will connect your audio.
  • Choose "Phone" if you plan to dial in using your home phone or cellphone. A number will be provided for you.
  • Choose "computer" if you have a headset microphone, a build-in microphone on your device, or a webcam/microphone that plugs in to your PC.
• NOTE:
  • You cannot have more than one audio device connected to the Meeting at the same time. If using the phone dial-in option, please disable or disconnect your microphone from the device.
  • Please mute your microphone using the on-screen controls in GoTo anytime that you are not speaking to the instructor or class. This will minimize any distractions (dogs barking, children playing, etc.)
  • You may choose to show your webcam feed if you have a webcam. This allows the instructor and your fellow students to see you. Students not enrolled in an online or hybrid course section are not required to have a webcam or microphone.