Faculty TIPS

 

COURSE FORMAT OPTIONS

Face-to-Face

Instruction is delivered in-person at a specific location and time. In-person meetings will follow social distancing guidelines. 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. In-person meetings will follow social distancing guidelines. 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). Hybrid courses will only have display changes on the course schedule if listed Face to Face sessions are moved to remote.

 

HOW WILL MY COURSE BE DELIVERED "REMOTELY"?

How you deliver your instruction remotely is ultimately up to you. We highly recommend using Blackboard as your primary platform. All faculty and students have easy access to Blackboard through MyBC3.  A course shell is already in place for every course currently on the BC3 Spring semester schedule, and students enrolled in your course(s) have access to your Blackboard shell(s).

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.

Faculty should review the BC3 REMOTE INSTRUCTION COURSE DEVELOPMENT GUIDE for guidelines and current best practices in teaching and learning that will support you in your instructional planning and course development.

  • NOTE: 
    To maintain confidentiality (FERPA), student grades or graded work cannot be emailed. Blackboard is the only source to be used for posting student grades.

 

WHERE CAN I FIND TRAINING AND HELP DOCUMENTATION?

The Division of Educational Technology is providing web-based training and support to help guide you in transitioning your face-to-face instruction to remote instruction using technology.



LIVE TRAINING (VIA GOTOMEETING)
A schedule of live training sessions (via GoToMeeting) for faculty and the session connection information can be found in the MyBC3, under 'Support Links', and in the INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES course in Blackboard. 

 

ON-DEMAND RESOURCES

You will find an abundance of relevant articles, help documentation, tutorials, and recorded training sessions in the INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES course in Blackboard.  

To access the INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES course:

  • Log in to MyBC3
  • Click on "Blackboard"
  • Click on "Instructor Resources" in the "My Courses" area

NOTE:  This course is and will be updated frequently with new information and training resources.

 

SELF-PACED WORKSHOPS
The Division of Educational Technology also offers self-paced, BC3-facilitated courses.  To enroll in any of the following courses, please contact Gloria Sabatelli, Coordinator of Educational Technology:

  • Basic Blackboard
  • Blackboard Basics (for Online Instructors)
  • Blackboard GradeCenter
  • Universal Design for Learning

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (TECHNOLOGY-RELATED)
FAQs and other helpful information can be found on the BC3 Technology Help Desk website.

 

REQUEST FOR TRAINING
If you would like to request training for yourself or your staff on specific BC3 technologies, please complete the Faculty Request for Training FastForm on the BC3 Technology Help Desk webpage.

 

HOW DO I ACCESS THE BC3 NETWORK AND/OR MY OFFICE PC FILES REMOTELY?

The IT Department has made it possible for faculty, staff and students to access the BC3 network Windows 10 and CAD desktops remotely via Citrix. This will allow you to access your network files, specialized applications or instructor folders. Staff and faculty can also remote directly to their office computer (only if absolutely necessary) to retrieve files stored locally on their office computer.

Connections via Citrix should be limited only to those who must have network access and/or the files on their office computers. Anything that can be accomplished through a regular Internet connection and web-browser, such as Office 365, email, MyBC3, Blackboard, GoToMeeting, Cengage, Pearson, TestOut, etc. should be done on your personal devices without signing into the Citrix network.

Instructions for employees wishing to use Citrix to connect to the BC3 network can be found in MyBC3, under the Remote Access section.

For the best experience, it is recommended that you download and install the Citrix Receiver on your 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.

 

WILL LIBRARY SERVICES BE AVAILABLE?

The following services will be provided by the Library during the remote instruction period:

  • All library databases, indexes, ebooks, etc. are available online through the 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 will not be available during the remote instruction period.
  • Books currently in circulation:
    Students, faculty and staff will be asked to return books when the remote instruction period concludes. No overdue fines will be collected for these books

  

HOW DO I CONTACT TECHNOLOGY HELP DESK?

https://bc3.edu/services/technology

Technology Help Desk Hours of Operation:

  • Monday through Thursday (8:30am-6pm)
  • Friday (8:30am - 3:30pm)
  • Saturday (10am - 2pm) Phone and FastForm Only

How to contact the Technology Help Desk:
FastForm is preferred; Voicemail will be checked periodically.

Physical Location:
Heaton Family Learning Commons, Upper Level, Main Campus

Walk-up service is available during College business hours.

 

WHERE CAN I FIND BEST PRACTICES AND OTHER RESOURCES RELATED TO ONLINE LEARNING AND REMOTE INSTRUCTION?

The Division of Educational Technology is connected to a variety of higher education resources and will continue to update the INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES course in Blackboard with training, help documents, best practices, and links to other remote instruction resources.  We are very grateful that many faculty, institutions, organizations, technology vendors, and publishers across the globe are openly sharing ideas, resources, and best practices.  

 

INFORMATION REGARDING STUDENTS

 

HOW/WHEN SHOULD I COMMUNICATE WITH MY STUDENTS?

Please notify your students of your plan for how your course will run remotely, and your expectations of students for the duration of the remote instruction period. 

In most cases, email will be the primary source of communication between students and faculty.  You may want to consider using the email feature within Blackboard for quick and easy communication to all students at once.  

Please remember, you MUST USE YOUR BC3 EMAIL ACCOUNT or the email feature within Blackboard that is connected to your BC3 email account. Students MUST USE THEIR BC3 EMAIL ACCOUNT for email correspondence with faculty and College staff.

Students are expected to have a lot of questions. Please be available for communication with students during your regularly scheduled class time and office hours (full-time faculty). Please respond to student inquiries promptly.

 

DO STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE A COMPUTER AND INTERNET?

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 students 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.

Internet is essential.  If a student does not have Internet access at home, they may be able to use their smartphone as a hotspot. Students have been directed to check with their cellular provider for more information and instructions. If this is not an option, students are to contact their instructor immediately to notify them and to discuss other options.  You as the instructor should bring a student's inability to complete your course requirements due to the lack of technology or Internet to the attention of your Academic Dean.

 

WHAT TECHNOLOGY TRAINING WILL BE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS?

WELCOME DAY

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

 
STUDENT TIPS

Students will receive guidance to review the Student TIPS webpage for more information on the College's transition to remote instruction.

MyBC3 TECHNOLOGY ORIENTATION (NEW FOR FALL 2021)
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 “My Courses” area in Blackboard.  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 on the student’s academic record, and they 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.
 
STUDENT RESOURCES (IN BLACKBOARD)

The Division of Educational Technology provides tutorials and help resources in the Student Resources course in Blackboard to help ease your transition to remote instruction using technology. Short video tutorials and quick-start instructions have been made available for the common instructional technologies that are used in BC3 courses.

 
ON-DEMAND RESOURCES

Short video tutorials and quick-start instructions have been made available to all students in the STUDENT RESOURCES course in Blackboard.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs and other helpful information can be found on the BC3 Technology Help Desk website.

 

CAN STUDENTS TAKE TESTS AND QUIZZES ONLINE?

You are free to utilize Blackboard, the Respondus LockDown Browser with or without Monitor, or other secure testing applications to deliver tests or quizzes remotely.

NOTE:

  • The Respondus LockDown Browser may not be accessible from mobile devices. Students will need to have a backup device available for any exams/quizzes that require the use of the LockDown Browser/Monitor.
  • If Respondus LockDown Browser with Monitor is required, students must have a webcam and microphone on their computer.
  • Students have been instructed to notify their instructor if they do not have access to both of these devices prior to the date of your assessment.

 

 

WHAT OTHER SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS DURING THE REMOTE INSTRUCTION PERIOD?

We fully expect students to have a lot of questions. Faculty should 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 will also be available for student help and support during this time. Contact information for these areas is listed below.

The Student Affairs and Enrollment Management staff will continue to be accessible via phone or email during this time. Staff in each of the Student Success Center Offices and at each of the 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
https://bc3.edu/services/advising.html
Email: student.planning@bc3.edu

Records and Registration
https://bc3.edu/current-students/records/
Email: registration@bc3.edu

Financial Aid
https://bc3.edu/paying/financial-aid
Email: financialaid@bc3.edu

Access and Disability Resources
https://bc3.edu/services/disability
Email: accommodations@bc3.edu

Tutoring
https://bc3.edu/services/tutoring

 

BC3 TECHNOLOGY HELP DESK

https://bc3.edu/services/technology

Technology Help Desk Hours of Operation:

  • Monday through Thursday (8:30am-6pm)
  • Friday (8:30am - 3:30pm)
  • How to contact the Technology Help Desk:
    FastForm is preferred; Walk-in service will be available in the Heaton Family Learning Commons during College business hours.

FastForm:
https://bc3.edu/services/technology/support-ticket

Hotline Voicemail:
724-287-8711 x8441

Physical Location:
Heaton Family Learning Commons, Upper Level, Main Campus