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

Using financial aid to purchase course materials

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Dual Enrollment Coordinator

Students with pending financial aid can purchase books against their excess financial aid beginning online on December 28, 2014. Online bookstore purchases begin on December 28, 2014 and continue through the term census date, January 29, 2015, the end of the book purchase period.

Students must complete the Bookstore Authorization E-Form, via the Financial Aid Dashboard, prior to completing their purchase. Students enrolled in distance learning or wishing to make their purchase online must complete and electronically sign the Bookstore Authorization form via the Dashboard prior to your order being processed. Students enrolled or planning to enroll in later starting classes who desire to use their financial aid to purchase books must do so during this purchase period. Students who are awarded after the term census date will not be able to charge bookstore purchases against their undisbursed financial aid award until a second book purchase period opens prior to the second eight-week session.

If you completed the online Bookstore Authorization form for the Fall term, it will remain valid for the Spring term. If you are purchasing books with your financial aid for the first time this academic year, please complete the Bookstore Authorization form.

16 week classes:

First date to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: December 28, 2014

Last date to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: January 29, 2015

Second Eight week Classes:

First date to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: March 2, 2015

Last date to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: March 24, 2015

Start a New Hobby This Winter Break

Posted on December 23, 2014 by

Now that finals are over and you have some free time, why not use the library’s resources to start a new hobby? Hobbies offer many benefits and now is the time to get started!

Here are a few free resources available through your NOVA library. Use your myNOVA username and password to use each item:

1. Learn to sew with this video:

Sewing Basics

2. Learn about electronics and complete projects with this e-book:

Make: Electronics by Charles Pratt

3. Learn about french cuisine and how to cook it with this video:

World Foods: French Cooking

4. Learn Chinese with this audio book:

Starting Out In Chinese

5. Learn to play classical guitar with this e-book:

Classical Guitar Lessons for Beginners : Teach Yourself How to Play Guitar

6. Discover new music with this database:

Music and Performing Arts

This is just the beginning! Try searching for information about these and other hobbies on the library homepage. Have fun and enjoy the break!

SDV 298 PLACE – now a one credit course!

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Dual Enrollment Coordinator

Are you an adult learner who has acquired college-level learning from your work and life experiences? The PLACE Portfolio Development course (SDV 298) may be a great option for you to turn that learning into college credits toward your NOVA degree!

The process of developing a portfolio helps adult learners explore the following:

Reflect on your life history and evaluate your future plans
Articulate the college-level learning in your work and life experiences
Develop and/or refine short and long term career, personal, and educational goals
Create professional e-portfolios to challenge courses for college credit

Email pla@nvcc.edu / call 703-425-5835 / visit the Credit for Prior Learning Website for more information about earning credit for prior learning.

RESOURCE REVIEW: BRITANNICA IMAGEQUEST

Posted on December 16, 2014 by

What do the pictures above have in common? Here’s a hint: each one can be found in Britannica’s ImageQuest database.

If you’ve ever needed to add an image to an assignment and you weren’t sure where to look, ImageQuest is a great place to start. All the images are free to use for personal, non-commercial use.

All you need to access ImageQuest is your myNOVA username and password. If you need help using this database, please contact the library at NOVA Online-Library@nvcc.edu. Happy searching!