Wake Technical Community College: Distance Education

Online and Hybrid Course FAQs

I can't login to my.waketech.edu, WebAdvisor, or Blackboard. What should I do?

How does an online course work?

What is a hybrid course?

What equipment must I have to take an online or hybrid course?

What level of computer/Internet knowledge must I have?

How do I register?

What do I do after I register for an online or hybrid class?

I registered late. When can I login to my course?

When does class begin?

Are there any required on-campus meetings for online classes?

My course is not listed in my Blackboard account. What should I do?

How do I purchase textbooks?

How do I get to the online course website?

How do I login to my online class in Blackboard?

Who do I contact if I cannot login to my online class?

Where can I find instructions for using Blackboard?

How will my instructor contact me?

My instructor can't open the assignment that I submitted. What should I do?

Where do I take tests for an online course?

Will I receive full credit for an online class?

What are the tuition costs?

Will financial aid pay for an online course?

Will veteran’s benefits pay for an online course?

How do I withdraw from an online course?

 

Technical Help


I can't login to my.waketech.edu, WebAdvisor, or Blackboard. What should I do?

Current Curriculum Students:  Carefully follow the instructions for resetting your password.*
If you need to confirm your Student ID number or key account User ID, click on the "What's My User ID?" link in the lower right corner of WebAdvisor's home page.

New Curriculum Students: Follow the instructions for activating your key account.*

*If necessary, call the help desk at 919-866-7000 and press 2 for student help.

Continuing Education Students: To reset your Blackboard password, call the Helpdesk at 919-866-7000.


How does an online course work?

Online courses are distributed on the Internet through the College's Blackboard server, providing students with a convenient alternative to traditional on-campus classes. Students taking an online course must have access to a personal computer with an Internet connection and browser software. Some courses may include proctored testing, on-campus labs, or an on-campus orientation. Check WebAdvisor schedules and online course preview for details.


What is a hybrid course?

Hybrid courses combine regular classroom meetings with online instruction distributed through the College's Blackboard server, reducing the number of hours a class meets on campus during the semester. Check the course schedules in WebAdvisor to determine when your hybrid course will meet on campus. Students taking a hybrid course must have access to a personal computer with an Internet connection and browser software.


What equipment must I have to take an online or hybrid course?

You must have a computer, an Internet service provider and course-related software (if required). Students enrolled in for-credit (curriculum) courses are automatically provided with a Wake Tech e-mail account. To receive messages from your instructor, login to my.waketech.edu and follow the instructions to activate your Windows Live e-mail account. Your @my.waketech.edu e-mail address is the default e-mail address for online courses.

Recommendations for Using Blackboard

The screen resolution on your computer should be set to 800 x 600 or higher.

AOL and MSN customers may have trouble with certain features of an online course in Blackboard such as exams or chats. Use Internet Explorer or Firefox to view your online course. Download and install Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 2 to gain access to your Internet course. Follow these steps: Open AOL or MSN, minimize AOL or MSN, open Internet Explorer or Firefox to login to your course in Blackboard.

RECOMMENDATIONS for Using Blackboard

  • Platform: Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Vista; Mac OS 10.3 or 10.4

  • Hardware: 512 MB of RAM, 2 G of free disk space

  • Software: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or PowerPoint viewer, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Windows Media Player, Flash Player, virus protection software

  • Browser: Internet Explorer 7 and Java 6 Update 7 (uninstall Java 6 Update 11 if you are experiencing problems with Blackboard's Discussion Board), Firefox 2, Safari 2 or 3, JavaScript & Cookies enabled (Enable Cookies, Enable JavaScript). NOTE: Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3 do not work well with Wake Tech's version of Blackboard.

  • High Speed Internet Connection: T1, Cable, DSL, or Satellite

You may also need to:

  • Allow Pop-ups from a Specific Site
    If your quizzes and exams in Blackboard are presented in a pop-up window, you may need to allow pop-ups from the Blackboard site. Follow the links for browser-specific instructions: Internet Explorer or FireFox.

  • Allow Exceptions to Windows' XP SP2 Firewall
    There are issues with Windows' XP SP2 firewall that may interfere with uploading and downloading files in Blackboard. Go to Understanding Windows' Firewall: Using the Exceptions Tab for instructions on allowing exceptions.

Technical Help


What level of computer/Internet knowledge must I have?

Basic knowledge of the Internet, Web browsers, and search engines is necessary. The ability to download and install software may be required. Word processing skills are also necessary, including creating, saving, downloading, attaching and managing files and copying and pasting text from one software application to another. Familiarity with the procedures for sending and receiving e-mail with attachments is essential.

Top


How do I register?

Before you register, you must be admitted to the College. Registration for online courses is handled in the same manner as traditional course registration through WebAdvisor. Go to the WebAdvisor Online Demonstrations for instructions.

 


What do I do after I register for an online or hybrid class?

Follow the instructions for online course preview to obtain general information about your course before the term begins. Note: You must wait until the term begins to work on your course, which will appear in your personal Blackboard account on the first day of the term.

If this is your first online or hybrid course in Blackboard, complete the Online Student Orientation. Go to Wake Tech's Blackboard login page, click on the login button, and enter Blackboard with the following username and password:

Online Orientation

Username:

student

Password:

online

Open the orientation by clicking on the Orientation link that appears in the My Courses box on the right side of Blackboard's welcome page.


I registered late. When can I login to my course?

Blackboard rosters are updated every 2 hours. Please allow a few hours to pass before you login to the Blackboard system to access your courses.


When does class begin?

Online classes begin on the first day of the term. Hybrid courses include regularly scheduled on campus classes. Check the schedules in WebAdvisor for meeting times and locations.


Are there any required on-campus meetings for online classes?

Some instructors may require attendance in one or more on-campus sessions. Check the course schedules or online course preview to determine if your instructor requires on-campus sessions.


My course is not listed in my Blackboard account. What should I do?

Online classes become available on the first day of the term. Blackboard rosters are updated every 2 hours. If you register after the semester begins, you must wait a few hours for your course to be added to your Blackboard account.

If a course is removed unexpectedly from your Blackboard account, contact your instructor or Enrollment & Records at 919-866-5700 to determine why the course is no longer available.


How do I purchase textbooks?

Textbooks may be purchased online or on the main campus. Bookstore hours are posted online. Telephone: 919-771-1663.


How do I get to the online course website?

Go to http://dist-ed.waketech.edu and login to Blackboard.


How do I login to my online class in Blackboard?

For Credit Courses (Curriculum Students): Use your my.waketech.edu user ID and password. If you need to reset your password, carefully follow the online instructions.

Username Formula
For Non-credit Courses (Continuing Education Students):
Combine your first initial, middle initial, last name, and last 2 digits of your social security number. Example: majones21 for Mary Ann Jones, 987654321. NOTE: If you have a hyphenated last name, do not include the hyphen in the formula.

EXCEPTIONS: If you have more than one middle name, use only the initial for your first middle name. If you do not have a middle name (or a first name), that portion of the formula is omitted.

For married female students, if the login formula does not work with your middle initial, use the initial for your maiden name in place of your middle initial. Example: mjsmith21 for Mary Jones Smith, 987654321.

NOTE: If the username formula still does not work, try again without your middle initial.

Password Formula
For Non-credit Courses (Continuing Education Students):

new students only
:
Use your birth date in the following format: mmddyy. If you cannot login, call 919-866-7000 and press 1 for Blackboard assistance during normal working hours. After hours, call 866-471-4252.

Top


Who do I contact if I cannot login to my online class?

Contact your instructor or distance education support. For help after normal business hours and on weekends, go to the 24/7 Online Support center.
 


Where can I find instructions for using Blackboard?

Go to the online student orientation or to Blackboard’s student manual.


How will my instructor contact me?

To receive messages from your instructor, login to my.waketech.edu and follow the instructions to activate your Windows Live e-mail account. Your @my.waketech.edu e-mail address is the default e-mail address for online for-credit (curriculum) courses. If you need help with Windows Live, please go to the student knowledge base.


My instructor can't open the assignment that I submitted. What should I do?

If you are using a word processing program other than Microsoft Word (Works, WordPerfect, WordPad, etc.), follow the directions below to save your file in a format that can be read by any word processing program.

  • Open the assignment in your word processing program.

  • Open the File drop-down menu and select Save As.

  • In the Save As window, open the Save as type drop-down menu. Select Rich Text Format (.rtf) from the list of file types and then click the Save button.

After your file is saved in Rich Text Format (the file name will have an .rtf extension), send it to your instructor.


Where do I take tests for an online course?

For the majority of online courses, tests are administered online in Blackboard. Some instructors require proctored testing either on-campus in the Distance Education Testing Center or at an instructor-approved location near your home. Check the WebAdvisor schedules and online course preview for specific testing information.


Will I receive full credit for an online class?

Yes, you will receive full college credit. Distance education classes offer credit hours equivalent to those offered in a traditional course.


What are the tuition costs?

Expect to pay the same tuition and fees for an online course that you would for a traditional college course.


Will financial aid pay for an online course?

Yes, financial aid and military tuition assistance may be used for college credit online courses. Contact the Financial Aid Office for details.


Will veteran’s benefits pay for an online course?

Yes, educational benefits from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs may be used to pay for college credit online courses. Contact Veterans' Services for details.


How do I withdraw from an online course?

Send an e-mail to your instructor declaring your intent to withdraw. Your instructor will submit the necessary information to the Registrar's Office.

A grade of W is recorded for students who withdraw on or before the 60% point in the term. Students who withdraw after the 60% point receive either a grade of WP (pass) or WF (fail).

Top

 

Contact Distance Education Support

© 2009 Wake Technical Community College

9101 Fayetteville Road

Raleigh, North Carolina 27603

919-866-5000