Survivial Tips for a New Semester as an Online Learner

If this is your first semester as an online learner, below are some tips to help you stay on top of things in your courses:

• Sign up for the Orientation Webinar for Distance Learners. You can find the webinar schedule on the main ELI homepage. The schedule will display a list of dates and times to register. This webinar offers a lot of valuable tips and skills for becoming an online learner and resources that will be useful to you as you progress through your online classes.

• Create more free time for yourself during the first week of class. Spend some time reviewing the syllabus and list of assignments. Begin recording assignments for the first week (or month) in a planner so that you are prepared for upcoming deadlines and long term assignments.

• Familiarize yourself with the writing format and style that is required in the syllabus. With this in mind, you will be a step ahead be remembering to revise your written assignments to accommodate the appropriate writing style. For example, if your essays need to be written using APA format, you will need to have an APA style guide on hand.

• Seek support from your peers, either via a list of your classmates’ e-mail addresses or seek out peer groups that can be found on our Virtual Student Union site. Use these resources as a way to connect and network; since much of your time will be spent at the computer, finding ways to network online is especially important; your peers may have online success tips to share. In addition, communicating with your classmates may help clarify course concepts in a new way.  By explaining them to each other in the form of study groups, you reinforce your learning and understanding of the material.

For assistance with academic resources or study strategies to include free online tutoring for ELI Students, please contact your ELI Success Coach at ELISuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

For more information on this topic, visit this link.

Course Syllabus: A Guide to Course Empowerment and Success

Do you read your course syllabus from beginning to end?  How many times has your professor communicated, ‘it’s in the syllabus’?  It may not read like a novel; however, thoroughly reading your syllabus and addressing questions at the beginning of the semester, will empower you from the first to the last day of class!  

Your course syllabus serves as a contract between you and your instructor. This is such an important document that to reinforce it, some professors may require you to, sign, acknowledging that you have read the syllabus. Others may even give a quiz or organize group discussions.

If you have a concerns or questions about assignments, check your syllabus and you may find the answer.  It will tell you how to get an A.  It will help you manage your time by enabling you to map out and plan your projects, assignments and quiz/test dates.  In addition to providing your professor’s contact information and office hours, it might even provide resources to help you study and learn more about the discipline.

Empower yourself and take responsibility by reading your syllabus.  If you have questions about your syllabus or if you would benefit from additional help, ELI Success Coaches are available to assist you. For more information, please email us at ELISuccess@nvcc.edu.

SmarterMeasure: An assessment tool for measuring if your learning style is one that is compatible with online learning.

Online learning is different in from traditional face-to-face learning in many respects.  Some individuals feel more comfortable learning in an online environment than others.  Are you a good fit for distance learning?  Find out by completing the SmarterMeasure assessment.  It will take you about 35 minutes from start to finish but you may log out and complete it later if necessary.  After you login, you will receive an email from SmarterMeasure with a PIN number that will allow you to log back in later or view your results again.

SmarterMeasure is meant to be an interesting experience by which you may learn more about yourself, distance learning, and how to succeed!  Your SmarterMeasure score will not prevent you from registering for online classes.  Take your time to rate yourself honestly.  It is a tool that will help you assess your strengths and opportunities for growth related to distance learning in 6 areas. 

      1. Life Factors

      2. Individual Attributes   
 3. Learning Styles – what is your predominant learning style?

      4. Technical Competency, Skills, and Knowledge

      5. Reading Rate and Recall

      6. Typing Speed and Accuracy

You will receive a full color report immediately following the completion of all areas of SmarterMeasure.  You may email this report, print it, or download and save for future reference.  It also provides some remedial tools related to each area.

To obtain the log-in information for SmarterMeasure, email ELICounselors@nvcc.edu from your VCCS email account.

Attendance and Participation Aren't Just Important, They Are Required!

As your summer semester courses begin, it is important to keep in mind attendance and participation in your ELI courses are very important. In fact your attendance and participation are not just important, they are required. Students who have not attended and completed their first assignments by the Census Date will be administratively withdrawn from the course by their instructor. (To locate your course census date click on Summer 2013 PDF or WORD link.) This has several consequences including:

Reduction in class load and possible change from full time to part time status (both potentially affecting financial aid)

Loss of tuition (yes, an administrative withdrawal will cause you to lose the money paid as tuition for this course)

No record of the class or letter grade on your transcript

As soon as classes begin, log into Blackboard and explore. Use this opportunity to locate and review the course syllabus. This will give you a chance to see what you will be responsible for throughout the semester. In addition, this will also allow you sufficient time to plan your time appropriately, making certain you will be able to complete your readings, assignments, projects and tests in time for their specified due dates. Again, it is crucial to ensure you have completed and submitted your first assignment prior to the Census Date to avoid being administratively withdrawn from your course.

Logging into Blackboard as soon as the semester begins will also give you the opportunity to identify any unexpected issues and provide ample time to ask any questions you might have. ELI has a comprehensive array of student services to support our distance learners.

If you have any questions and aren’t sure where to start, you can always contact the Success Coaching Team at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or by calling 703-764-5076. They are more than happy to answer your questions, as well as refer you to useful resources and services that will support your online learning experience.

ELI Orientation Webinars – Getting Your Semester off to a Good Start!

Welcome to the Summer Semester! If you have not participated in an ELI Orientation Webinar, we encourage you to sign up now!  Whether you are a new or seasoned ELI Student, Orientation will help promote your academic success as an online student.  

The ELI Orientation webinar is a live, one hour online instruction session that focuses on getting started in your courses, navigating your Blackboard course site, and identifying tips for success and student support services. During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to ask questions, by typing them into the question box and submitting.   You can participate in a webinar from any computer with Internet access.    

Participation in all webinars offered through ELI is free, but registration is required.  To register, please click here.  Next, click on the session date that fits your schedule, enter the requested information and submit (please be sure to enter your complete NOVA email address).  Once you have registered for the Orientation webinar, you will receive an email with more information about how to join the webinar live.   

For additional information to help get your semester off to a good start, please click here. If you have additional questions, the ELI Success Coaching Team is here to assist you.  We are here to partner with you and provide assistance and resources to promote your academic success.  ELI offers resources and tips through our NovaElife social media channels.  For links to our informational blogs, academic resources, Facebook and Twitter, please click here.  We invite you to contact us throughout the semester at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or 703.764.0120.
   

ELI’s Summer Semester Begins Monday, May 20, 2013

ELI’s summer semester will begin this Monday. If you have not signed up for your classes it is not too late.  If your schedule does not permit a start date of Monday, we have a variety of other course start dates/sessions to fit your schedule:

• 2^nd 8 week session: Monday, June 3, 2013 through Sunday, July 28, 2013
• 3^rd 8 week session: Monday, June 17, 2013 through Sunday, August 11, 2013
• 2^nd 6 week session:Monday, July 1, 2013 through Sunday, August 11, 2013

It is important to understand your course length/dates when you are taking an ELI class.  Online courses may be 16 weeks, 12 weeks, 10 weeks, 8 weeks, 6 weeks, or 4 weeks in length; each course has specific start, refund, first assignment due date, withdrawal, and end dates that you should be aware of when you select a particular course. Click here to view ELI course dates/descriptions. 

For a comprehensive listing of our summer courses, please click here.  If you need assistance with your course selection, our counselors will be happy to assist: elicounselors@nvcc.edu.

As an ELI Student, you will have access to an ELI Success Coach. The basic role of your coach is to partner with you to promote your academic success.  Your coach can answer questions or concerns, provide helpful academic resources, referrals and services that will support your online learning experience. For a sample of the many resources available to ELI students, links to our informational blogs, Facebook and Twitter, please click here.  

Fun and Free Apps to Explore

With thousands of apps available, it can be challenging to uncover an app that fits your needs.  If you are a fan of apps or new to them, consider exploring these free apps:

Blackboard (Bb) Mobile Learn: Provides organized, on-the-go access to the latest course announcements, quick access to the discussion board and instant access to your journal posts, upcoming assignments and more.  If you have classes in Bb this app is a must see!

Screenchomp:  Share course concepts and thoughts with friends or classmates. To begin, tap the record button; draw on the whiteboard with the app pen or markers and record a running narrative. ScreenChomp will record the user’s voice and drawings and uploads the creation to ScreenChomp. The user will be provided with a link which can be shared via e-mail, Twitter, or on the clipboard.

Flowboard:  Storytelling and presentation app that enables the user to create side-scrolling publications with images, text, videos, links, and photo galleries. Flowboard allows you to create & present from your iPad, or share to any device. This app could also be used to maintain accomplishments and share in an interview or incorporate into an online resume.

Flipboard:  Stay on top of information in your field with Flipboard!  Flipboard is your personal magazine. Users can catch up on the news that they enjoy, explore information and articles from around the world, and stay connected to the people closest to them. Save and collect information into your own personal magazines such as articles focused on coursework, personal interests and more.

Explore these apps and promote your academic and career success or just have fun!