Student Success Coaching

In the end, you will manage your time, or it will manage you. Here are some easy strategies that can make a big difference.

First, you will need to identify how much time your BC3 schoolwork will take. There’s a simple formula: For every one hour of class time per week, you should spend two hours studying outside of class!  

That means in a regular 14 week semester course in the fall or spring, each credit is equal to one hour of in class time per week. So you can multiply your fall credit schedule by two.  Taking 15 credits?  You should plan to study 30 hours per week outside class.

What will you do in that time? Homework for sure, but that’s not all.

• Weekly reading before class – don’t just read it, take notes, highlight important content, and write down questions to ask in class.
• Review your notes – read over the notes you took in class, fill in any missing parts, and identify any questions that you need to ask. 
• Work on papers and projects – waiting until the last minute causes lots of stress; start early for better grades. 
• Study every week – this will ensure that you are well prepared for exams and help you avoid unproductive all-nighters.

Try following these guidelines to make a weekly schedule:The first step is to decide what you will record your schedule on, a paper planner or an electronic calendar. Next, schedule the set parts of your day. Your classes fit into this category. Other set parts of the day may include a job, taking care of children, etc.

Next schedule necessary, but flexible commitments, like the 2 hours of study* for each credit you are taking. For example, if you are taking 12 credits, you should schedule 24 hours each week of study time. Part of that might be time right before class to review your notes so that you are ready for class. You will need to include other items such as commuting, grooming, sleeping, and eating.

Finally, once you have these set, make sure to include some things that will feed your soul: time with family and friends, relaxation, exercise, a movie or book!

The human brain can only stay focused for so long. Try to limit studying to roughly two-hour periods rather than long stretches of time.

Every instructor will give you a course outline that will tell you a great deal about the class, including:

• What you should learn in the class
• What you need to do in terms of readings and assignments
• Exam dates
• How to contact the instructor
• How the instructor will determine your final grade for the course

Thinking about your course outline and your weekly schedule, we strongly recommend that you note the dates of your assignments and tests on one calendar. Realizing Sunday that you have two papers, an exam and a lab assignment due that week is a shock you probably don’t want to have!

There is no shame in asking for help if you are struggling or confused, in fact, it’s a sign of intelligence and grit! Psychologists have long identified that “help-seeking behavior” (asking for help!) is correlated to success in many aspects of life.

BC3 has so many resources to assist you – tutoring, advising, instructors, library services, and accommodations for students with disabilities among many more – but they can’t help you if you don’t use them.  

Think of it this way, by paying tuition, you’ve already paid to use these resources, so you should definitely use them.

Tutoring @ BC3 is:

• Free to students enrolled in credit courses.  
• Offered at all BC3 campuses.
• Available for many, but not all credit courses.  
• Scheduled when the student submits a tutoring application.
• Available as face-to-face or remote tutoring.

Tutoring will help you:

• Study effectively.
• Understand course material.  
• Conquer test anxiety.
• Create organized, helpful class notes.
• Efficiently manage your time.
• Enhance your confidence.
• Draft strong essays and research papers.
• Succeed at BC3!

Tutoring Works! You can apply for tutoring anytime during the semester, but applying sooner rather than later is best!

Each BC3 campus location has one or more computer labs available for student use. It is recommended that you bring your own headset (with microphone if needed). 

If you will not be on-campus and will be working on your coursework from a remote location, you will want to be sure to have access to:

• Up-To-Date Desktop or Laptop Computer (Windows or Macintosh)
• Smartphones, Tablets (iPad, Galaxy Tab, etc.), and Chromebooks are NOT recommended as your primary computing device. Not all software and applications are compatible with these devices.
• Broadband Internet Connection (Cable, Satellite, or DSL)
• A wireless (Wi-Fi) connection is NOT recommended when taking quizzes or exams. A wired LAN connection is preferred, if possible.
• A Webcam and Microphone 
• Google Chrome is the recommended browser for accessing most BC3 technologies.

If you are not able to access an on-campus computer lab and do not have access to one or more of the above-mentioned technologies, please contact: Ms. Patty Colosimo, Secretary to the Vice President of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at patty.colosimo@bc3.edu

GENL 001 – ET Orientation

This course is required for any student taking an online or hybrid course at BC3. However, all students are welcome to register and complete this free, no-credit, self-paced course to help them learn to use Blackboard and other BC3 technologies.

Students Taking Hybrid or Online Courses

If you are registered for any hybrid or fully-online courses, you have already been or will be provided this information (and more) when you complete the required GENL 001 – ET Orientation. 

All Students

In either case, if at any time you need additional tutorials and support, these resources may also be of help to you:

• •  BC3 Technology Help Desk
  • Student Resources located under My Courses in Blackboard

All courses at BC3 have a corresponding course in Blackboard.  It is up to your instructor for how they use or do not use Blackboard for your class.

To access Blackboard: Login to MyBC3 >> Click on Blackboard. Your courses will be listed under the My Courses section after 12:01 am on the first day of class.

The following tutorials may be helpful to you when learning to use Blackboard:

• Navigating a Blackboard Course
• Ally for Students in Blackboard
• Blackboard Assignment Submission
• Using the Discussion board
• Check Grades

GoToMeeting and GoToTraining are BC3’s online meeting, desktop-sharing, and web-conferencing applications that enable you to meet with your instructor, attend live lectures, or watch recorded lectures and demonstrations provided by your instructor.

• Your instructor will provide you with a link to connect to your GoToMeeting or GoToTraining session from your computer or mobile device.  
• You do not need to have an account for either application to attend a meeting or to view a recording.
• You can join sessions online using the desktop app or on your mobile device using the GoToMeeting Web App.

The GoToMeeting Web App is a browser-based version of GoToMeeting that can be run entirely online!

Unlike when hosting or joining sessions with the desktop app, the Web App does not require any downloads because it stays contained within your web browser. This can be especially beneficial for users who are having trouble installing the desktop app or are in locked-down environments that can't download software.

Note: The method that you use to join a session and the features that are available to you (such as screen and webcam sharing) will depend on your operating system and web browser (Google Chrome is recommended).

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

The BC3 Technology Help Desk is located in the  Heaton Family Learning Commons, Upper Level (Main Campus)

• Visit the Help Desk webpage
• Call the Help Desk
• Use the Help Desk FastForm