Fall NOVA Online Orientation Schedule

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Are you enrolled in your first online learning course this fall? Or, have you taken an online course previously and want to ensure that you are headed in the right direction? Do you have any questions about using Blackboard to complete your NOVA Online course? A great place to start is with the NOVA Online Orientation webinar.463461567A webinar is a live, online instruction session. You can participate in a webinar from any computer or mobile device with Internet access and speakers. A microphone is not required as we will use a text chat for all questions. Participation in all webinars offered through NOVA Online is free, but registration is required. Prior to the webinar, all students registered will receive an email with information about how to join the webinar live. You can view the NOVA Online Webinar schedule and registration process here.

You will need the ability to run JAVA to load Blackboard Collaborate, the web conferencing tool we use for the orientation webinar. You can test your connection ability ahead of time by visiting http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com and clicking on “First Time Users — Blackboard Collaborate web conferencing”.

The NOVA Online Orientation webinar is a live, one hour online instruction session that focuses on getting started in your NOVA Online courses, navigating your Blackboard course site, identifying tips for success, and highlighting student support services. During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you have before you start your course.

Connect with NOVA Online on Facebook, Twitter & join fellow NOVA Online students in the Virtual Student Union.

Bicycle Etiquette: What to know

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Now that the warm weather and long nights have arrived, if you are a bicycle enthusiast, promote your safety and well-being by obeying biking safety rules. Here are some tips that will help you be respectful of others on the roads and trails and overall promote the importance to being mindful of biking etiquette.bicycle

Wear a helmet at all times:  You may think you are safe without a helmet but one patch of sand or slip up and you could be down.  A helmet can make all the difference!

Be Respectful of Others (Observe the Traffic Rules):  Ride in the same direction of traffic and follow the same traffic laws as if you were driving a car.  Use hand singles to advise others of what you will be doing. Do not pass on the right and be sure to stop at red lights, stop signs and yield to pedestrians.  You are sharing the roads and must be respectful of automobiles and walkers.  If you are riding on a trail and notice walkers ahead, ring your bell (if you have one) and announce loudly, ‘coming up on your left’.  If the walkers do not move over, slow down.

Stay to the Right:  Ride as far to the right as is possible unless you are making a left-hand turn or avoiding hazards in the road.  If you must stop, do your best to move as far off the road as possible.

Ride Single File or in a Pair: When riding in a group of two or more, be sure that you do not ride more than two on the roads. According to LIVESTRONG, “no state permits riding more than two abreast on public roads”.

Equip Your Bike for Safety:  For safety purposes, your bicycle should have a bell, mirror headlight and taillight.

Regular Maintenance: As you would do with your car, keep your bike in excellent repair, checking the breaks and tires. Also, be sure to lock it when leaving it parked.

These are just a small listing of the safety measures you need to practice when riding your bicycle.  If you enjoy biking and want additional information on various websites to include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the  National Biking Safety Network.

NOVA Online Testing Tips: Proctor U

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Be Prepared – Begin reviewing and studying well in advance. If you need assistance locating helpful study resources, contact your Student Success Coach at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

For a sampling of helpful study resources offered through NOVA Online, please click here.

Proctor U Guidelines

Some courses offer online testing through ProctorU. Courses offering this option will be listed in the Syllabus Section of your Blackboard Course site, in the folder labeled “Taking Exams and Using Exam Passes”. You can also ask your instructor if Proctor U is an option for your course.

  • You will need to create an account through Proctor U. Make sure you use your VCCS email address, and select Northern Virginia Community College as your institution.
  • You will want to schedule your exam(s) at least 72 hours prior to testing to avoid a late fee.
  • If it is your first time using ProctorU, sign in 15 minutes early to set up your computer.
  • Be sure to have your photo ID ready.

Good Luck on your exams!

NOVA Online Testing Tips: Proctor Request Form

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Be Prepared – Begin reviewing and studying well in advance. If you need assistance locating helpful study resources, contact your Student Success Coach at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

For a sampling of helpful study resources offered through NOVA Online, please click here.

Taking Exams at an Alternate Site

If you will not be in the area during your course or exam time, you will need to identify a proctor to supervise your exams. Some examples of approved proctors are a full time educator, a professional librarian, or a military educational officer. A VCCS College Testing Center or a college or university in your area are also good options when looking for a proctor. Once your proctor has been identified,  you will need to complete the Proctor Request Form.

As soon as you have identified your proctor, submit the form. The proctor will be approved for all your exams for that semester. Please allow 3-5 business days for your proctor request form to be approved.

  • Do not wait until the last minute to take your exam(s). If you are able, we advise that you take your exam early. You will need to schedule a time with the proctor to take your exam. If you are using a College Testing Center, you will want to check with them for any specific policies and procedures.
  • Be prepared to stow your personal items, not permitted during your exam, including your cell phone. If your exam allows notes, your proctor will be made aware and permit the appropriate items.
  • If your exam is not working properly in Blackboard (ex. unable to type in a textbox, audio files not working, images missing) or if you feel your exam did not submit properly, your proctor will be able to give someone at NOVA Online a call for assistance.

Good luck on your exams!

Celebrating the 4th of July

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flag

Trying to make plans for the 4th of July holiday? Whether you are looking to see some fireworks, attend a festival/ parade or other events, we have provided some great resources below to plan a fun-filled holiday weekend.

Virginia.Org:

This is a great resource where you can search the different 4ht of July events by city/zip code in the entire state of Virginia

http://www.virginia.org/July4th/?adref=ggtxt070412&gclid=CIm26Jnpob8CFTJo7AodIU8AVQ

 Northern Virginia Magazine.com

Details about events scheduled within the Northern Virginia region.

http://www.northernvirginiamag.com/fourth-of-july-2010/

 RVAnews.com

More information about celebrating the 4th of July in Richmond

http://rvanews.com/tag/4th-of-july

Virginia Beach.com

Schedule of events for the 4th of July in VA Beach

http://www.virginiabeach.com/holidays/fourth-july-oceanfront-festivities

Colonial Williamsburg.com

Celebrating our nation’s birthday in Colonial Williamsburg

http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/plan/calendar/fourth-july/

 Washington.org

10 ways to celebrate Independence Day in Washington D.C.

http://washington.org/article/10-ways-celebrate-independence-day-washington-dc

Stay safe on the 4th of July in Washington D.C.  and take advantage of a free ride home

http://www.wrap.org/soberride/

We hope that all NOVA Online students and their families have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

NOVA Online Testing Tips: Campus Testing Center

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When taking your exams, the NOVA Online Student Services Team encourages you to follow the tips outlined below:

Be Prepared – Begin reviewing and studying well in advance. If you need assistance locating helpful study resources, contact your Student Success Coach at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

Campus Testing Center Guidelines

  • Do not wait until the last minute to take your exam(s). If you are able, we advise that you take your exam early. Not only will you avoid long lines, you many also avoid a last minute unforeseen emergency that could prohibit you from getting to a testing center.
  • Verify the Testing Center Hours before you go, and make sure you look at the start times “NOVA Online/Faculty Referred/VCCS Proctored Exams/SDV Able” as well as the office hours for the testing center. All exams are collected 15 minutes prior to the closing of the testing center.
  • Do not forget to bring your completed Exam Pass for each exam and a photo ID. You may print your exam pass from the “Taking Exams and Using Exam Passes” section of the Syllabus button in your Blackboard course site.
  • Be prepared to stow your personal items, not permitted during your exam, including your cell phone (that must be turned off), in the manner required by the testing center (generally in a locker). Simply placing your phone on “silent” is not enough. You are not permitted access to anything other than your exam while testing, unless expressly stated in the exam instructions.
  • If your exam is not working properly in Blackboard (ex. unable to type in a textbox, audio files not working, images missing) or if you feel your exam did not submit properly, please notify testing center staff immediately so they may help you troubleshoot the problem.
  • If you are taking multiple exams, you will be required to go through the line for each exam that you are taking.

Be aware of the parking policies at each NOVA Campus. If you do not have a parking pass, you will need to pay by the hour when you are on campus. You can view the parking policies.

The better prepared you are, the more relaxed you will be and the better your testing outcome.

If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to contact the NOVA Online Success Coaches at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

Good luck on your exams!

(Updated 8/23/17)

Do you know where you will take your NOVA Online exam?

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All NOVA Online courses require at least two proctored exams or assignments. There are a couple of different ways to do this, depending on where you live, and what courses you are enrolled in.

test

If you are in the Northern Virginia area, you are expected to take your exams at one of the six Campus Testing Centers. Each campus has a testing center, and it doesn’t matter which one you go to throughout the term. When you go to the Campus Testing Center, you will need to take your course Exam Pass and a Photo ID (your drivers license or other government issued ID will work, or your NOVA Card). Your course Exam Pass can be found in the Syllabus Section of your course. These are course and exam specific.

If you are out of the area, or planning to be out of the area at any point during your course, you will need to request a proctor using a Proctor Request Form. Please be sure to read the form carefully and submit it in a timely manner. It takes 3-5 business days for these forms to be processed so, don’t wait until the day before the test!

A third way to take an exam is by using a service called Proctor U. ProctorU is an online proctoring service that allows you to take your exams from your home computer, using a web cam and microphone. There is a fee for Proctor U, and currently it is $7.50. Proctor U is not available for all NOVA Online course, to see if is an option for your course, please check the Taking Exams and Using Exam Passes in the Syllabus Section of your Blackboard course, or ask your instructor. You must be 18 or older and meet minimum technical system requirements to use ProctorU. The specific requirements are listed on the ProctorU website.

It’s not too late to register for a summer course

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Although summer courses have already begun, it’s not too late to register for a NOVA Online course. If you have not signed up, we have two more upcoming course start dates/sessions to fit your schedule:

  • 2nd 6-week session: Monday, June 30, 2014 through Sunday, August 10, 2014
  • 3rd  4-week session: Monday, July 14, 2014 through Sunday, August 10, 2014 (MTT 1 only)

The following courses are available:

•    ENG 112 E88N – 6-week session, starts June 30, 2014
•    HIS 101 E85L and E86L – 6-week session, starts June 30, 2014
•    HIS 102 E86L – 6-week session, starts June 30, 2014
•    HIS 112 E85L – 6-week session, starts June 30, 2014
•    MTT 1 E95L – 4-week session, starts July 14, 2014

It is important to understand your course length and critical enrollment dates for your NOVA Online course.  Each course has specific start, refund, first assignment due date, withdrawal, and end dates that you should be aware of when you select a particular course. NOVA Online course dates and descriptions can be found by following this link. Your course will also have specific weekly or mid-weekly due dates.

For a comprehensive list of our summer courses, follow this link.  If you need assistance with your course selection, contact a NOVA Online Counselor at elicounselors@nvcc.edu or 703.323.2425.

Once you have registered, you must pay your tuition by 5pm on the next day to prevent being dropped from your classes.

Join NOVA Online on social media for announcements, updates and tips for success. If you have any questions or you are not sure where to start, you can contact the NOVA Online Student Services Team at 703.323.3347 or at NOVA OnlineStuLife@nvcc.edu. We are more than happy to answer your questions, as well as refer you to useful resources and services that will support your online learning experience.

An important notice about Pearson’s digital solutions

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On Saturday, June 28th, all Pearson digital solutions, including MyLab and Mastering, will be offline for maintenance from 3:00 AM EDT until 1:00 PM EDT / 08:00 BST until 18:00 BST (GMT+1).467304707

Please subscribe to this article to receive email updates on this maintenance event and associated downtime, as well as a notification of when you can access Pearson digital solutions.

We apologize in advance of any disruption this might cause for your summer courses. If you have any questions, you can contact the NOVA Online Student Services Team or your course Instructor. The NOVA Online Student Services Team can be reached at 703.323.3347 or NOVA OnlineStuLife@nvcc.edu. Your course instructor will be a great resource as well.