De-stress as you move into Advising Week

Posted on January 22, 2015 by

Winding down from one semester, and planning for your next can be a significant adjustment. With the demand of approaching deadlines, it is easy to get overwhelmed in the blink of an eye. As you move into Advising Week, we want to provide you with some resources to help you unwind, and refocus on preparing for your next step.

Yoga has more benefits than I can list but the ones I want you to take advantage of right now is it’s capacity to reduce anxiety and stress. Taking time to stretch and twist the body, releases chemicals that our bodies naturally produce when stressed. Beyond the physical movements, yoga has a meditative component that ignites your inner strength in a way that will empower you to tackle any obstacle, help you maintain peace when feeling harried, and turn down the volume of the loud voice of self-doubt.

Incorporating yoga into your daily practice has been made easy with the use of technology. Here are some free apps you can download today that can jump-start your yoga practice! There is no greater obstacle to overcome than your own mind, feed it with positivity and it will help you accomplish great things! Namaste.

YogaQuote: Gives you daily inspirational yoga quotes and mantras.

Daily Yoga: Gives you live training with videos and a professionally made yoga program for you to follow without needing to go to a gym. This app even has yoga to help you de-stress at your desk (great to do right before writing a paper)!

As you move into Advising Week, continue to follow ELife for tips on:

Familiarizing yourself with resources to help you with your academic planning.
Focusing on your career planning.
Checking to make sure you are on the right path to achieve your goals.
Gaining skills outside the classroom.
Taking some time for reflection.

Article provided by NOVA Online Success Coach, Jennifer Reed. For more resources, please reach out to your NOVA Online Success Coaching Team by sending an email to elisuccess@nvcc.edu.

More Than Just a Holiday: Celebrating MLK Jr.

Posted on January 18, 2015 by kshagan

This Monday, January 19th we remember and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Although we might be off from work and school to observe this day, it is important to reflect on the importance of this holiday in history of the United States, and the impact Dr. King had on this community our country’s civil rights movement. How can we honor the ideals of this great contributor to history?

Here some ways you can take some time to observe this holiday:

If you are in the Northern Virginia area, join the movement in giving back for the 6th Annual NOVA SERVES: MLK Day of Service. The service event will take place on Monday, January 19, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Alexandria Campus.

For more details visit http://blogs.nvcc.edu/novaserves/

How much do you know about Dr. Martian Luther King Jr. and his contributions to the African-American community as well as our country? Take a few moments to check out this great documentary:

Do you have any other suggestion how how to observe this MLK Jr. Holiday? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments!

Blackboard Tip: Tutorials

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Dual Enrollment Coordinator

Confused as to how to submit an assignment or use the discussion board in Blackboard? Check the Blackboard Tutorials in your course menu.

The Blackboard Tutorials menu button is available in every NOVA Online Blackboard course site and provides a list of “how to” tutorials featuring the tools in Blackboard 9.1. This You Tube channel will also provide you with a variety of short videos to help you succeed this semester!

View this video, to help you better understand how to submit an assignment. Don’t fall behind. Make sure you are reading through the syllabus section and using the Overview of Assignments as a guide.

There is also an overview to help you understand how to post a discussion board post.

Remember, in most NOVA Online classes, once you submit your assignment or discussion board post, the submission is final. The only way to go back and edit is to ask the instructor for permission. Make sure to spell check, proof read, and edit!

Motivational Minute: Pushing Toward your Goals

Posted on January 15, 2015 by

By now you are settling into the new year and I want to help you keep the momentum going in a BIG way! I’m sure you have set some new goals for the new year so take advantage of the opportunities that will propel you forward toward your goals. Let this be the time when you push yourself past all the limitations you set for yourself last year, last week, last night and see through the lens of possibilities and imagine them into reality. Get a clear picture of what you want for yourself in the future and all of your steps will be aimed at creating it for yourself. If you don’t have a clear picture of what that future looks like, surround yourself with people who contribute to making you a better person and let them inspire the change you are capable of. NOVA Online has people here that can help you define your plans and future! Reach out to your NOVA Online Counselors and NOVA Online Success Coaches to talk about your goals and come up with a plan for carving out the best path to achieving them. You can go as far as your mind and effort can take you. How far will that be for you? Namaste.

Jennifer, NOVA Online Student Success Coach

NOVA Online Counselors: elicounselors@nvcc.edu

NOVA Online Success Coaches: elisuccess@nvcc.edu

Learn More About The Man And The Movement This MLK Holiday

Posted on January 13, 2015 by

This Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, learn more about Dr. King and his legacy.

Here is a landmark interview with Dr. King filmed in 1957:

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Look Here

We also recommend this e-book for more information:

Becoming King : Martin Luther King, Jr. And the Making of a National Leader

To access these items, use your myNOVA username and password when prompted. For more resources on Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, please visit the library’s website or contact us at NOVA Online-Library@nvcc.edu.

This week at NOVA Online!

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Dual Enrollment Coordinator

Spring classes begin today, Monday, January 12, 2015! Do you have any questions about getting started? Contact a NOVA Online Success Coach at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or 703.764.5076.

Each Monday, we will post NOVA Online events for the week! We will also post a tip, support resource or app to help you succeed. Unless otherwise noted, all times will be listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Upcoming events at NOVA Online for the week of January 12-18! You can participate in a webinar from your home computer or mobile device. All webinars are free, but registration is required. We hope to “see” you online!

Welcome Week- Follow our social media sites to learn more about tips for success and semester events when staring online courses at NOVA Online this spring!

Monday, January 12 – Webinar: NOVA Online Orientation 12:15-1:15pm – This one hour webinar will focus on getting started in your courses, navigating your Blackboard course site, and identifying tips for success and student support services. The NOVA Online Orientation is highly recommended for students who are new to online learning. Register here.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 – Webinar: Tips for Success in Online Courses. 12:15-1:00pm – This 45 minute webinar for NOVA students will focus on strategies and tips for being successful in distance learning courses offered through NOVA Online. Topics covered will include time management, schedule planning, learning preferences, and support resources. Register here.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 – Webinar: NOVA Online Orientation 6:30-7:30pm – See description above. Register here.

Thursday- NOVA Online Live Q and A. 7-8pm. Join our Google Hangout to connect with NOVA Online staff and other students, ask questions about starting online courses, and get a jump start on your spring semester!

Tip of the Week – As soon as you have access to your course in blackboard, log in and start navigating your virtual classroom. Start reading through each folder and make sure to go through the syllabus, overview of assignments, and announcements posted by your instructor. The NOVA Online Student Services Team is happy to help if you have any questions as you are getting started. Contact a NOVA Online Success Coach at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or 703.764.5076.

FREE Financial Aid 101 Webinar

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Dual Enrollment Coordinator

Do you have any questions about completing your FAFSA? Take advantage of this FREE Financial Aid 101 Webinar on Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 5 pm – 6 pm EST. (Click on picture to enlarge)

This free webinar is presented by U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid.

Space is limited for this free webinar. One registration per household.
You will receive a confirmation email with login instructions (if not received in your inbox, check your junk mail folder).
You will need a computer with internet connection and telephone to view and listen to the presentation or telephone only if you just want to listen in.

Do you have questions about Financial Aid? Visit the Financial Aid Support Center for contact information.

Is online learning right for you?

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Dual Enrollment Coordinator

Are you ready for Online Learning at NOVA Online?

SmarterMeasure is an assessment that measures learner readiness for Northern Virginia Community College’s Extended Learning Institute. SmarterMeasure is an indicator of the degree to which distance learning and/or learning in a technology rich environment will be a good fit for you.

SmarterMeasure is meant to be an interesting experience by which you may learn more about yourself, online learning, and how to succeed! Your SmarterMeasure score will not prevent you from registering for online classes. Take your time to rate yourself honestly. It is a tool that will help you assess your strengths and opportunities for growth related to online learning in 6 areas.

1. Life Factors
2. Individual Attributes – procrastination, time management, willingness to ask for help, academic attributes
3. Learning Styles – what is your predominant learning style?
4. Technical Competency, Skills, and Knowledge
5. Reading Rate and Recall
6. Typing Speed and Accuracy

You will receive a full color report immediately following the completion of all areas of SmarterMeasure. You may email this report, print it, or download and save for future reference. It also provides some remedial tools related to each area. For more information about SmarterMeasture, view this video.

If you are interested in taking courses through the Extended Learning Institute and would like to determine if online learning is right for you, please email NOVA Online Student Success Coach, Jennifer Reed at jereed@nvcc.edu for a user name and password and to discuss your results.

Research Series: Citation Basics

Posted on January 6, 2015 by

photograph by Dan4th Nicholas shared via the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License

In a previous post we learned about plagiarism and the importance of citing your work. So, how do you properly cite a resource? There are several citation style guides that provide a standard format for referencing your sources. Most of your instructors will require you to use one of these popular guides: American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), or the Chicago/Turabian.

Need help getting started? NOVA offers tutorials for each of these style guides!

APA

MLA

Chicago/Turabian

If you need more help, please contact your NOVA Online library staff at NOVA Online-Library@nvcc.edu. Happy Searching!

Motivational Minute: New Year, New Experiences

Posted on January 1, 2015 by

It’s a new year! It’s the time to step into unchartered territory and challenge yourself in ways you haven’t before. Dedicate yourself to exploring interests you may have put off or told yourself you don’t have time for. Try that new restaurant you always wanted to try but never had anyone to go with. Meet new people. Immerse yourself in learning more about the people you always see but you haven’t taken the time to get to know. Let this new year bring about new experiences, new hopes, new goals, and a new mindset toward achieving them! I wish you and yours the best year ahead. Namaste.

-Jennifer, NOVA Online Success Coach