Bb Tip: Submit Assignments

One of the features that has changed in Blackboard 9 is the way to submit your assignments. In Blackboard 8 you would click on the View/Complete Assignment link:

That link is no longer available in Bb9. Instead, you simply click on the title of the Assignment when you see the clipboard icon:

Next, you will end up in the the very familiar screen to Browse and Submit your work. Easy, eh?

Charity Fashion Show at Annandale

On April 21 a charity fashion show took place at NOVA's Annandale campus to raise funds for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. "NOVA News Now" provides a neat E! style presentation of the show on NOVAaccess at YouTube. Check out the dedicated efforts of fellow NOVA students.

Bb Tip: Blog and Journal Tools

There are a couple of new tools in Blackboard 9 which your instructors may be using this summer. One is the blog and the other is the journal. The blog provides you an individual opportunity to record your ongoing ideas for the entire class. There is also the option for a whole class blog. The blogs are not private so you will have to be careful about what you write in a blog. The journal is private between you and the instructor. In a journal you might keep your reflections on what you have learned throughout the course. Both the blog and journal are located under Tools (or My Tools) in the navigation bar:

 

Notice that there are several other tools that you recognize from Bb8. Remember, not all instructors use all of the tools available so check your course site and directions when you are able to log in on May 17.

Transfer Tip #9: Attend orientation

Here's ELIfe's weekly transfer tip from Dr. Glenn DuBois:

Attend orientation. You might think that you do not need this because you already are a college student. But navigating the university is different. Take advantage of the opportunities that the universities have created for transfer students. These orientations will help ease the transfer process. (Source)

The purpose of orientation is to integrate you into the campus community - both academically and socially. Whether you transfer to an online or on-campus program, orientation gives you an opportunity to learn about services, understand the process of credit evaluations, meet with advisers from your intended major or field of study, obtain an ID card and parking permit, learn how to use the student information systems and schedule classes.

If you choose not to attend Transfer Orientation it will be your responsibility to contact your respective academic departments for times and dates that academic advisers are available and take care of other campus business on your own. Attending orientation helps you ensure a positive start at your new college and university with confidence in your new surroundings with other people in the same boat as you. This way, when classes start, you can truly focus on your course work.

Bb Tip: TAC Tutorials

A reminder about the Blackboard conversion from NOVA's Technology Applications Center (TAC):

On May 15 the college will be upgrading from Blackboard 8 to Blackboard 9.  The new version of BB will look different from the old version, and it will also have some new features like blogs and journals. To prepare you for this transition, TAC has linked two sets of student tutorials to the Blackboard Updates blog. Please see the "Student Print Guide to BB 9" and "USC BB 9 Student Videos," both of which are described in blog postings.

Celebrate Arbor Day with NOVA at Annandale

Mark your calendar for Fairfax County’s annual Earth Day-Arbor Day Celebration.  The 2010 festival is scheduled to take place once again at NOVA's Annandale Campus, on Saturday, April 24, 2010, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Festivities will be held in the C1 Parking Lot and the Upper CG Plaza.

Here are just some of the fun-filled, family-oriented, free events to look forward to:

• Document shredding from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• The Scrap Exchange: The Ultimate Recycling
• Facepainting
• Climbing wall
• Petting Zoo
• Geocaching
• Master Gardeners
• Reptiles Alive!
• Demonstrations and exhibitions
• Games, Food, and More

Free Parking, Free Admission! For more information, contact Jennifer Cole at (703) 324-5471 or Cheryl Robinette at crobinette@nvcc.edu.

Bb Tip: Personalize Your Portal

Happy Monday morning ELIfers! Here are some more previews of Blackboard 9 and tips about personalizing the portal page from ELI's Instructional Design team:

You will log into Bb9 the same way that you log into Bb8, using the same user name and password. When you arrive at the portal page you will see two sub tabs:

1. The NOVA tab lists your Blackboard Courses and any Organizations that you are enrolled in.
2. The Notifications Dashboard is a handy summary of what’s new in your courses, including Needs Attention, Alerts, What’s New, and To Do.

You can change what’s on either the NOVA tab or the Notifications Dashboard tab by using the Add Module button:

By placing a check mark or removing a check mark from the box next to each possibility you can rearrange the content on your portal page.

You can also personalize the color scheme by using the Personalize button:

This is your portal page so organize it the way that works for you and make it as efficient as possible. One warning:  Don’t remove the My Blackboard Courses module or you won’t be able to get into your courses!

Transfer Tip #8: Make them show you the money

Here's ELIfe's weekly transfer tip from Dr. Glenn DuBois:

Make them show you the money. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you have not done so already. Call the university admissions office to see if it has scholarships set aside for transfer students—many institutions do. Make sure that you meet all of the deadlines for financial aid. Otherwise, you might miss out on assistance that is available to you. (Source)

One of the biggest considerations involved in choosing a transfer school is cost. Here are some helpful resources for arranging financial aid:

• First, if you are a Virginia resident you may be eligible for Virginia's Two Year College Transfer Grant. Learn more about eligibility and awards here from VAWizard. 
• Also, the Federal Student Aid website or Student Aid on the Web provides excellent guides to walk you through the financial aid process (see especially Understanding Grants and Loans). For text based instructions on completing your FAFSA, go here. If you're more of an audio/visual learner, go here. 
• Finally, try the scholarship search and financial aid calendar and find more articles about paying for college at Collegeboard.com.

And here's a tip to share with your friends (from Student Aid on the Web): 

The official FAFSA is at www.fafsa.gov - not at a .com Web site. If you go to a .com site, you will probably be asked to pay to submit the FAFSA. Remember, the first F in "FAFSA" stands for "Free" - so use the official government site to submit your application.

Don't forget to check with your transfer school's admissions office for more scholarship opportunities.

Testing Center Tips for Final Exams

The College Testing Centers and ELI want to do everything possible to help you be successful in the completion of your spring 2010 ELI courses. With that in mind, here are some “tips” to be aware of as the semester comes to an end. These are meant to help you plan better and insure your success. Check your Quick Start Syllabus for the end date or the last day you can take exams for your class. Not all students begin or end at the same time. It depends on your registration date.

• Sunday, May 9 is the end date for most ELI students. Please note that test centers are not open on Sundays.
• Do not wait till the last minute to test, especially if your test is on-line. Frequently, there is a waiting list for a computer on the last day. Sometimes, but not often, there are Internet issues. It is strongly recommended that you arrive a minimum of 2 hours prior to closing to allow for test setup and student lines. You cannot be guaranteed admittance.
• Avoid taking multiple exams on the same day. Just because you are inside the Testing Center, you will not be guaranteed a computer or a seat. And you will have to go to the end of the line for each exam.
• Your test pass must be completely filled out before you arrive, or you will lose your place in line.
• Check the website for current hours and remember that you must be checked in 90 minutes prior to closing to receive a test. Hours are posted here.

Plan ahead with priority registration

Get your ducks in a row for FA'10. Priority NOVAConnect registration for continuing students is underway. 

About priority registration: Because of high demand, registration is conducted by assigned day during the first week of Fall 2010 Priority Registration for continuing students: April 13 - 16. This priority registration period allows you to coordinate your summer and fall schedules to make sure you are on track to achieve their goals.

Note: Priority registration is reserved for continuing students only. If you have taken classes at any time during the last three years you are considered a continuing student and your priority registration date is assigned based on how many credits you have completed. If you are a new student to NOVA or have not taken classes during the past three years you will be able to register when fall open enrollment begins on June 8.

For more information and to find out your assigned priority registration date in NOVAConnect, follow instructions here.

The Writing Irregulars on iTunes U

Have you used iTunes U? You might be surprised at some of the informative and entertaining podcast available. The Writing Irregulars is a podcast produced by three writing professors at NOVA who riff about writing woes and how to solve them. Meet the Writing Irregulars and learn more about their "podcasts for misfit academics" here.

New UMUC Transfer Agreement

NOVA and The University of Maryland University College have recently signed an alliance agreement. UMUC will accept several of NOVA’s degrees such as the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Science in Business Administration, and the Associate of Applied Science in Accounting, Administration of Justice, Business Management and their specializations. You can read about the agreement on NOVA’s transfer page. You can also visit UMUC’s transfer website to get more information on applying to the university.

It's International Week at NOVA!

Celebrate your culture and learn about the culture of others this week at NOVA. Check the NOVA events calendar for fun, cultural events during International Week at a campus near you. Bring your friends, bring your kids!

Here's what's happening at Annandale this week:
International Wall of Recognition (M-Th): Kick-off International Week by placing a pin in the international city of your origin in the International Wall of Recognition.
Tutoring at the Reading/Writing Center (M-Th): The Reading/Writing Center offers free one-on-one tutoring in reading and writing for all students. Visit one of the Center's tutors to learn how to write successful American-style essays.

Tuesday, April 13:
Polynesion Music & Dance 
East Indian Music & Dance (Free Lunch! 12-1pm)
West African Dance & Drum 

Wednesday, April 14:
Afro. Brazilian Music, Dance & Capoeira
International Comedy Festival 
International Fashion Show
Chinese Lion Dance

Thursday, April 15:
Irish Step Dance
Carribean Calypso Trio
Panamanian Folk Dance

Article: Online learning and self-discipline

An article from the Clarion Online highlights the self-discipline required with online learning. As an online learner yourself, does this article ring true for you?

Obama's visit to NOVA

Did you hear about Pres. Obama's recent visit to NOVA? That's right! On March 30, Obama signed the historic Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 at NOVA's own Alexandria campus. If you missed it, you can watch the full signing ceremony here and you can read more about this historic bill at NOVA's home page, under "In the Spotlight."

Bb Tip: The carrot symbol

Starting Monday, May 17, all colleges in the Virginia Community College system will be using Blackboard 9 for their learning management system. If you are enrolled in a course on Friday, May 14 you can use Bb8 on Friday. Note: Blackboard will not be available on Saturday, May 15 or Sunday, May 16.

The new Blackboard looks a little different, but works mostly the same way. The first course screen looks like this:

 

The carrot symbol (<) that the red arrow is pointing to allows you to change the screen appearance by hiding the navigation buttons. To change it back, just click on the carrot (>) again. 

This is the first in a series of tips for using Blackboard 9. Keep tuning in for additional tips.

A sneak peek at Blackboard 9

VCCS upgrade to Blackboard 9 is right around the corner. Get a sneak peek and preview all the exciting new features.

• iTunes Format
• Windows Media Player Format
• Quicktime Format

Transfer Tip #7: Get admitted

Happy Friday! Here's ELife's weekly transfer tip from Dr. Glenn DuBois:

Get admitted. Make sure that you apply to both the institution as well as the program that you want to attend at that institution. If you get admitted to the university, it often does not mean that you are admitted to the specific program that you want to study, like engineering or nursing. Make sure you complete those application materials, too. The deadlines for the university admissions materials and the program admissions materials might be different. Do your research! (Source)

Keep in mind that some bachelor degree programs will not require a separate application.  Be sure to confirm whether or not any additional forms or documents are required for admission into your program of interest. See Transfer Admissions Info for popular institutions that have transfer resources available online.

Also, remember to apply in a timely manner. Some institutions will accept applications on a rolling admissions schedule but to be considered for certain programs with limited space you must follow admissions deadlines. To help you plan a timely, successful transfer see this guide from NOVA's Transfer web site. Also, check out this Transfer Timeline from Collegeboard.com.

Below are upcoming Transfer Events for the month of April. See the full calendar of Transfer Events here.

Monday, April 12
Art Institute of Washington
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
2nd Floor Atrium, Seefeldt Building, Woodbridge Campus

Tuesday, April 13
Marymount University - Onsite admissions review
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (*by appointment only)
Transfer Resource Center, CM 327, Annandale Campus

University of Virginia Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Room 315, Howsman Hall, Manassas Campus

Wednesday, April 14
Park University
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
2nd Floor Atrium, Seefeldt Building, Woodbridge Campus

Tuesday, April 20
University of Virginia Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Individual afternoon & evening appointments made by email to bblack@virginia.edu.

Wednesday, April 21
Old Dominion University
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
2nd Floor Atrium, Seefeldt Building, Woodbridge Campus

Tuesday, April 27
University of Virginia Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Provost's Small Conference Room, CG 202A, Annandale Campus

Thursday, April 29
Art Institute of Washington
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Cafeteria, Seefeldt Building, Woodbridge Campus

Update: NOVA has just signed a new agreement with UMUC. More details soon!

Are you following a transfer plan? We want to hear from you. Share your tips, tools and questions by posting a comment.

Upcoming Webinars

Just in time for Advising Week, check out ELI webinars being offered this week:

"Getting Ready for Your Next Semester": This 30 minute webinar for NOVA students will focus on answering key questions students have about what courses to enroll in for their next semester. Topics covered will include program identification, college resources, degree progress reports, and course selection.
- Tues. (April 6) 12:15 pm – 12:45 p.m.
- Wed. (April 7) 4:00 pm – 4:30 p.m.

"Basics of Transferring": This 30 minute webinar will focus on answering key questions students have about transferring to another institution. Topics covered include understanding transfer credit, articulation agreements, and the transfer process.
- Thurs. (April 8) 12:15 pm - 12:45 p.m.

See the full spring ELI webinar schedule and register here.

It's Academic Advising Week!

Before planning your summer or fall vacation, get things lined up for SU and FA semesters at NOVA. Virtual Advising is available this week, Sun.–Thur. from 6-8pm. ELI Counselors are also here to assist you with your graduation and degree progress questions. Did you know we now have a counselor on duty until 7pm Thursday evenings? If you take mostly distance learning courses, or can't get to campus, contact us to arrange a virtual appointment.

Free E-waste Recycling

In commemoration of Earth Day, Cox is hosting its second “Electronic Waste Recycling Event” on Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Lot K at the George Mason University. This event is free and open to the public throughout Fairfax County. Accepted e-waste include old, unused or broken electronic devices such as computers, televisions, cell phones and other household or office devices powered by plug or battery. The E-waste Recycling Event is an initiative of Cox Conserves in partnership with the George Mason University and Synergy Recycling. Visit http://www.blogger.com/www.synergyrecycling.com to learn more about the e-waste recycling process.

Transfer Tip #6: Choose a major

Here's ELife's weekly transfer tip from Dr. Glenn DuBois

Choose a major. Pick your major early, and seek advice about the best courses to take to meet requirements. By choosing your major early, you can take the prerequisites that you need for that program at the university. Well-planned course taking will help you finish your transfer program more efficiently, saving you time and money in the long run. (Source)

NOVA’s Career Services website allows you to research majors and guides you to resources that will help you decide the best path. You can explore career fields and find out the education needed for specific jobs. Also, take a look at the Explore a Career Cluster feature on Virginia Career View.

And remember, the Virginia Wizard is a great one-stop resource. This tool can help you choose a career, get the information you need to pursue your career, find the college that is right for you, pay for college, transfer from a community college to a university, and get answers to your questions about your future. Check it out: https://www.vawizard.org/vccs/Main.action.

Note: Applied degree programs (AAA and AAS) are not designed to transfer, although in special cases graduates of applied programs may be able to transfer.