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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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  • Is there a difference between Blackboard Vista and Blackboard Learn?

    Blackboard Vista is the Learning Management System (LMS) our college has been using for the past few years.  We are currently transitioning to Blackboard Learn. 

    Some of your courses may be on Learn in Fall 2011, and some may still be in Vista.  As of Spring 2012, all courses will be live in Blackboard Learn.

    To learn more about the Blackboard Learn system, please view the video tutorials Blackboard has provided for students, at their On-Demand Center.

  • I've never taken an online class. What do I do?

    You'll want to start by perusing our website (www.onlinegwc.org). This is where you can find information, tutorials and assistance with online classes, and this is where you will log into your online class and complete your coursework.

    We've created a Step-By-Step Guide for students new to our online classes, and you can find it under the Getting Started section of our website. I highly recommend referring to it for specific details, but here are the basics:

    1. If you're not yet a GWC student, apply online by visiting www.goldenwestcollege.edu and clicking the orange "GWC Online Application" button.
    2. Once you have your registration appointment, log ino MyGWC.com to enroll in courses.
    3. Visit the bookstore on campus, or check www.gwc.bkstr.com to purchase textbooks required for your class.
    4. Please read through the Tutorials, located in the Getting Started section of our website.
    5. When the start date of your class arrives, log into your MyGWC Portal (www.mygwc.com) to access your classes.

  • How do I petition an online course?

    To petition an online course once the course has started, you can email the instructor at their Golden West College email address and ask for an ACC code (Add Authorization Code).

    Waitlist instructions for all classes can be found at http://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/admissions/waitlist.html

  • Why can't I access my online course?

    In most cases, you are not able to access your online course because it has not yet officially begun, or it has already officially ended.

    Online courses (with a few exceptions) do not become available until the morning of the official start date of the class. Similarly, the online courses will close and become no longer available on the official end date of the course.

    If your course has begun and not yet ended, and you do not have access, please call 714-895-8389 for assistance.

  • What does "Hrs/Wk arr" mean?

    Because online classes must be comparable to on-campus classes, you are given a number of hours which must be spent online, within the course each week. These hours can be logged at any time, day or night, and do not have to adhere to a predetermined schedule. You will have due dates (for your assignments, exams, etc.), and you will need to complete the work before the due date/time, but you won't be required to log in at a specific time of day.

    Please keep in mind that for every one hour of required online-classroom time, you should allow an additional two hours of homework/study time. If your class requires 3 hours arranged, you should also allow yourself 6 hours for homework, outside assignments, and studying (9 hours total). Thus the total amount of time you should set aside for your online class is three times the number given as hours arranged.

  • Do I need a book for an online class?

    As is the case with any on campus class, you will probably need to purchase a book for your online class.

    Because some classes require an access code (in addition to a textbook), we recommend that you purchase it at the Golden West College Bookstore on Campus or from the Online Bookstore, because the code will come packaged with the book when you purchase it from our store.

  • What is my Blackboard e-mail address?

    The Mail system in your course runs only within Blackboard, and thus, no email address is needed. To send Mail to your instructor or another student, do the following:

    1. Navigate to the Mail tool in the course
    2. Click Create Message
    3. Click Browse for Recipients
    4. Click to put a checkmark in the box under the To column, next to the name of the person to whom you wish to send mail
    5. Click Save
    6. Type a Subject and a Message
    7. Click Send!

    Likewise, your instructor and/or other students will send you mail in the same manner, without having to enter a traditional email address.

  • What is an Access Code? Do I need it? How do I get one?

    Just as you pay a publisher for a textbook, some online courses have textbook-related materials within the online course, and the publisher requires payment for them. Thus, they require you to purchase an Access Code to take part in the online course.

    If you purchase your textbook new from our campus, the access code should come shrink-wrapped with the book or be offered for purchase under the course section number.

    If you purchase your text used from our bookstore, or another source, you will need to purchase the access code separately, online, from Blackboard.

    There is a fifteen-day grace period for you to use to check out the course and purchase an access code, but after the fifteen days, if you do not enter an access code you will not be able to enter your online course.

    Definitely use the grace period if you're unsure as to whether or not you may drop the course, because once you have opened the shrink wrap package and/or entered the access code, you will NOT be able to return your book to our bookstore for a refund.

  • My online class disappeared from the list. Have I been dropped?

    Sometimes students are dropped from classes, either by the instructors (for being a no-show in the online class) or by Admissions and Records for some financial or technical reason.

    The best course of action is to call Admissions (714-895-8306) to confirm the drop and inquire about the reason.

    Next, you might want to contact your instructor if they initiated the drop, to request their reasoning or challenge the decision. The standard email address for any faculty member is as follows: the first initial of their first name and their full last name, plus "@gwc.cccd.edu" (example: [email protected]).

  • I was disconnected from my exam. How can I finish the assessment?

    If the duration has not yet expired:
    Log back into your class as quickly as possible - the timer is still running! You may access the quiz again by clicking the Continue Assessment button. Any answer selections saved (by clicking "Save Answer") before the disconnection will reappear when you reenter the assessment.

    If time has already expired, you may still be able to save or change answers and submit the quiz, but the instructor will see that your submission is late. If you cannot save answers, then the instructor has likely "disallowed answer submission after time has expired."

    It is also a good idea to email your instructor immediately to explain that you were locked out of the quiz and include any error messages that displayed.

    If the duration has already expired:
    Unfortunately, we cannot reset an exam for you without your instructor's permission. You will need to contact your instructor immediately, to inform them of your situation. If they wish to reset the exam for you, they will contact us with permission and/or instructions.

  • I don't have an access code, but I don't want to be a no-show. How can I get into my course?

    Though you will ultimately be required to enter an access code to continue in the course, you may choose to use a Grace Period of 15 days to access the course before you purchase your textbook and access code.

    When you see the heading, Access Code Required, and a blank text box for you to enter a code, you'll also see the following buttons: Submit Access Code, Cancel, and Request Grace Period. Clicking Request Grade Period will begin your 15 day timer and take you directly into your course.

    If you have not entered a code within 15 days, you will be prevented from entering your course. You are only able to request a grace period once for each course. Thus, to have uninterrupted access to your course, you will need to purchase your book/access code package and enter your access code within 15 days of requesting temporary access.

  • I haven't heard back from my instructor. How may I get a hold of them?

    At Golden West College, the standard email address for any faculty member is as follows: the first initial of their first name and their full last name, plus "@gwc.cccd.edu" (example: [email protected]).

    You may also call 714-892-7711 and remain on the line for operator assistance; you may then ask to be transferred to any instructor's phone extension.

    When provided by the instructor, his or her email address and phone information can also be found through our website, under the Class Lists button. Select Online or Hybrid, and then simply click the instructor's name from the class list to visit their faculty webpage for contact information.

  • Can I use AOL to access my online courses?

    Yes, you may use AOL as your internet connection, but it's best not to use the web-browser within AOL to access your classes.

    Please do the following: Log in to AOL, then minimize the window and open another web browser (such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox). Once you've opened a separate web browser, use it to visit our site (www.onlinegwc.org) and log in to your online courses.

  • When I click course icons/links, I get a blank page. How do I access the course content?

    Oftentimes, instructors will upload their syllabi, lectures, and handouts in Microsoft Word format.  These documents, as well as PowerPoint documents, will sometimes download to your computer, rather than opening in the browser window.  Please check your desktop, and the “My Documents” and “My Downloads” folder for these files.

    If you are unable to locate them on your computer, I recommend downloading the free web browser Mozilla Firefox (from www.mozilla.com).  After you install it and when you first open the browser, it will ask if you would like to transfer bookmarks and settings from Internet Explorer.  It is VERY IMPORTANT that you do NOT import any content from Internet Explorer.  Once the Firefox browser has loaded, type https://www.onlinegwc.org/ into the bar at the top, and log into your class.  Now, when you click on those same documents, you should get an alert box, asking if you would like to open the file or download it.

    If you do not own the Microsoft Word or PowerPoint software, you may download free viewer software by clicking the links we have posted on our Useful Plugins page, found under the Getting Started portion of our website.

  • Nothing happens when I click on an email message. How can I read my email?

    Often, Norton Antivirus is to blame for this.  If you have Norton Antivirus, please disable Norton's Pop-Up Blocker and Anti-Spam tool.

    You also want to be sure you have the latest version of Java, and that all pop-up blockers are disabled. Windows users should remove all previous versions of Java.

     


Still have questions? Call us at 714-895-8389, or submit them online at the GWC Online Support Center.