Online Success Tutorials

1. Choose a Class

Browse the Searchable Schedule. Take note of the CRN of the course you want to take.

2. Apply if Necessary

If you haven't taken classes at GWC in the past two semesters, apply online. You will receive a confirmation via email, with your registration date.

3. Get Official

When your registration date arrives, add courses and pay your fees through MyGWC.

4. Buy Your Books

Keeping your course's CRN handy for reference, buy the appropriate textbooks either on-campus or through the Online Bookstore.

5. Get Ready

Read through our Online Success Tutorials and watch the Canvas Tutorials. Bookmark the Searchable Canvas Guides for future questions.

6. Log in

Login to Canvas with your MyGWC username and password.

7. Enter the Classroom

When the start date of your course arrives, click the course card/link from the "Dahsboard" to enter the Canvas classroom for that course.

Important Note: At any point while inside your class, you may click the “Courses” link, on the Global Navigation bar on the left, to view your full class list.

8. Read the Syllabus & Get Started

Most courses provide a syllabus on the left menu or on the course home page. The syllabus is your contract with the instructor and your map to the class; please read it carefully. Begin navigating the site immediately to familiarize yourself with Canvas. If you have any questions about the course content or schedule, please contact your instructor via the method provided in the syllabus.

9. Technical Trouble?

Don't worry - it happens to the best of us! We're here to help you with any Canvas related inquiries.

Contact the OnlineGWC Help Desk at (714) 895-8389 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

10. Completion

Final grades will be available shortly after the course ends, through MyGWC.

You must have:

• Computer - that runs at least Windows XP or Mac OS X.
• Internet Connection - reliable and high-speed.
• Speakers or Headphones - for any video/audio elements of the course.
• Web Browser - Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome provide the best experience.

Be familiar with:

• Web Browsers - We recommend Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.
• Word Processors - Using a word processor such as Microsoft Word, Wordpad, Pages, or TextEdit.

Attendance:

• Log In on the First Day
  On the official start date of your course, or as soon after as possible, log in to Canvas and enter your course.
• Read the Syllabus
  Since you will not have a face-to-face instructor reminding you of deadlines and course policies, it is imperative that you thoroughly read and understand your course syllabus.
• Log in Regularly
  You are required to spend a specified amount of time ("Hrs/Wk arr" in the searchable schedule) inside Canvas per week. This equates to your "in class" time in an on-campus class.
• Make Time to Study
  In addition to time spent inside Canvas on course work and assessments, you will spend time reading, studying, and completing assignments, just like in traditional courses.

Participation:

• Post Early and Often
  Discussion boards are far more effective for all students' learning when you participate genuinely, post early (so your classmates have time to respond, and return to continue the conversation via replies.
• Take Advantage of Opportunities for Connection
  If your instructor offers office hours via chat, or allows you to join a study group - participate!

Ask For Help:

• From Your Instructor
  Read your course syllabus thoroughly, but don't hesitate to reach out to your instructor if something wasn't covered or was unclear.
• From Your Online Instruction Support Team:
  Contact our Helpdesk if you are having difficulty with Canvas. If you encounter an issue submitting an assignment or test, please contact us immediately. We can do a lot more to help you with the issue if you call us while it's happening than we can three weeks after the fact.
• From Your Fellow Students
  Just as you would ask someone sitting next to you in a classroom if they caught the due date of next week's assignment, you can connect with other students in your class.
• REMEMBER: even though you are not in a traditional classroom, you are not alone!

Keep your Instructor in the Loop:

• Trouble Logging In?
  Whether it be a username/password issue, trouble adding a class in MyGWC, or something else, if you aren't able to log in to Canvas and view your class within the first couple of days after your class begins, please email your instructor to let them know you are trying! Instructors are required to drop no-show students, so you want to be sure to communicate that you intend to take the course and are taking steps to gain access.
• Trouble Submitting an Assignment or Test?
  If you run into technical trouble that interferes with your ability to complete coursework, contact our Helpdesk for assistance, and send your instructor an email to let them know. If you miss the deadline due to technical difficulties, your instructor will at least have time-stamped and dated proof that you were actively trying to participate.

Time Management:

• Set Aside Time
  Although you do not have to sit in a classroom, you will need to devote a certain number of hours per week to your online course. Be sure to set aside time each week for your online activities, reading, studying, and homework.
• Create a Schedule
  Take note of the deadlines in your course, and create a schedule that will ensure you will complete your work on time.
• Be Proactive
  Waiting until the last minute is a recipe for disaster. What if your internet goes down? Browser crashes? You can't find the file? Complete and turn in your work early to avoid stressful situations, and the possibility of missing a deadline.
• Use Our Computers
  Have some time between classes? Hop online in our Student Computer Center to get some extra study time in!

Study Skills:

• Find a Study Space (and Time)
  Find a place and time where you can be free of distractions for the duration of your study sessions, whether that be a particular room in your house or a nearby coffee shop. If possible, commit to the same time/place every week.
• Get Free Tutoring
  Sign up for group or one-on-one tutoring free through our Tutorial and Learning Center!
• Improve Your Skills
  Sign up for short courses in our Writing and Reading Center, to improve your academic reading comprehension and essay writing skills.

Guidelines:

• Use Appropriate Language
  You are communicating with your instructor and fellow students; treat them with the same respect as you would in a classroom.
• Use Proper Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation
  When interacting in the context of this, or any educational institution, please avoid using text message abbreviations ("hey... when u gonna post scores thnx").
• Do Not Type in all Capital Letters
  Typing in all capital letters is considered SHOUTING on the internet.
• Remember Your Communication Online is Not Anonymous
  Your communications are tied to your Canvas account, and your interactions are bound by the GWC Code of Conduct.
• Obey Copyright Laws
  Do not use others' writing, images, research, or any kind of work without properly referencing the source.

Terms to Know:

• Browser: A software program used for viewing and accessing information on the Internet. Provides an interface (defined below), through which you view web pages.
• Cache: Stored in the "Temporary Internet Files" folder. These files are copies of information from the internet, stored on your computer, to speed up load times. Unfortunately, this can sometimes cause confusion due to outdated information. It is a good idea to clear your Temporary Internet Files often, either manually, or through your Browser's settings.
• Cookie: A file that is written to your hard disk when you access certain web pages on the Internet. The file contains certain information, which may influence the sequence of pages viewed in the web site.
• Cursor: A flashing line or rectangle on the screen that shows exactly where you are working.
• Download: To transfer (software, data, character sets, etc.) from a distant to a nearby computer, or from a computer to a peripheral device.
• File Extension: The three letters after the dot (.doc) that indicate the file type.
• Link: A line of text or a graphic which when clicked takes the user to another document or a different location within the same document.
• Login: These are the terms for the process of actually gaining access to the resources on a particular computer. This is normally done by entering a username and a password.
• LOL: An abbreviation for "laughing out loud".
• Search Engines: One of the most essential tools on the Internet which help you find web sites related to a particular subject. The search engines are huge databases containing millions of records.
• Thread: A series of messages or discussion area postings all related to the same topic.
• Upload: To transfer (software, data, character sets, etc.) from a smaller to a larger computer or server.
• URL: The Universal Resource Locator is the identifier used over the Internet to find different web site addresses. Allows Canvas to Link outside web pages to your course for additional information.
• Zip: Zip files contain vast amounts of information that have undergone compression to reduce the amount of disk space required.

For more internet terminology definitions, check NetLingo.

Academic Honesty Policy

Student Code of Conduct