Getting Started

Now that you are enrolled, we know that you are anxious to get started with your online course. The information below describes recommended steps for accessing your course for the first time.

Log In Information

Access to your online will be available after 12:00 noon on the first official day of the semester. Although it is not necessary for all students to log in simultaneously at 12:00, we do recommend that you access your online course at some time on the first day of the semester so that you may consult the syllabus and assignments that have been posted by your professor.

If you are a first time online learner, we recommend that you complete the CyberPrimer,our online tutorial before logging into your course for the first time. The CyberPrimer will be available to you two weeks before the official start of the semester. If you are taking a course that will utilize WebCT, you may access the CyberPrimer by following the instructions below for logging into your course. If your course does not use WebCT, instructions for accessing the CyberPrimer will be sent to you by mail. You have also been provided with access to the free Information Literacy Tutorial made available by the Guarini Library. Please note: while the CyberPrimer and Information Literacy Tutorial are available, your course(s) will not be accessible until the first day of class.

Follow the steps below to log into WebCT:

Web Browser Information

.Although you do not have to havet any special software be installed on your computer to use WebCT, you will need to be sure your web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Netscape) is supported and that it is configured properly for use with WebCT. To make sure your computer is ready for WebCT, please consult the WebCT Browser Tune-Up page: http://www.webct.com/tuneup

Textbooks/E-packs

If your online course requires a textbook, you may purchase it at the New Jersey City University Campus Bookstore located on the first floor of the Gilligan Student Union Building on the NJCU Campus. You may also purchase your textbook through the bookstore's website at: http://njcu.bncollege.com. The phone number of the bookstore is: (201) 200-3503.

Online students may also wish to browse major online bookstores such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble for textbooks and recommended course readings.

If your professor has adopted publisher prepared content called an "e-Pack" for your course, you will need an access code (in addition to your user name and password) when you enter your course for the first time. You will find the access code bundled with the textbook for your course - so please use care in making sure you purchase the correct text for your course. The access code is typically a series of letters and numbers and each access code can only be entered once (i.e., you cannot use another student's access code). See our e-Pack page for more information. If you purchased a used textbook, you will need to purchase the access code separately by visiting the WebCT website: http://www.webct.com

Online Course Delivery Systems

Most online courses utilize WebCT, a learning management system designed to provide faculty and students with a full range of tools for teaching and learning on the Internet. Since WebCT is totally web based, you do not need to have any special software installed on your computer to use it. All communication with your professor and classmates (including e-mail) occurs within your WebCT course which you can access anywhere and any time you have access to the Internet and a supported browser.

A small number of courses in the MA in Educational Technology do not utilize WebCT but rather have a free standing website designed by the faculty member, a class listserv and a WebBoard. Log-in information for these courses differ from the information described above and will be provided to students via mail.

Notice of Student Responsibility & Course Access Duration

Student access to online courses is available only during the official stated semester/session as indicated by the University's academic calendar. It is the student's responsibility to retain copies of his/her own work and/or correspondence posted to online courses for any future reference. All course sites, including content, are routinely removed from NJCU servers at the conclusion of each semester/session.

Getting Help

Online course support may be obtained by consulting the Getting Help section of this site.

If you cannot find the answer to your question there, please call (201) 200-3449 for assistance or send an e-mail message to dlsupport@njcu.edu. Be sure your message includes all pertinent information including your full name, name of your course, and a full description of the problem. A response will be made to you within twenty-four hours.

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