Home

   Courses

   Resources

  Register

  Help

 
    NOVA ONLINE
    is a service of the
    Office of Informa-
    tion Technology
    of Northern Vir-
    ginia Community
    College.  This
    site is maintained
    by Robert Loser,
    Instructional
    Technologist.  

    © 1998, NVCC

Questions
 
Hardware and Software Requirements
What hardware and software do I need to take a course?
Can I use AOL to take a course?
Can I use an internet appliance to take a course?
 
Registration
How do I find my course in Nova Online?
Where do you find the index numbers for online courses?
Which courses are still available?
Why aren't all the ELI courses listed on Nova Online?
My campus course uses the web; why isn't it listed on Nova Online?
How do I register for an online course?
What do I do after I register for an online course?
How long after I register do I have to wait to log in?
 
Logging On
How do I find out my course user name and password?
Why do I get "Access Denied" when I try to use the Discussion Board?
Why do I get "Access Denied" when I try to use Student Tools?
Why do I get "Access Denied" when I try to take a quiz or exam?
Why doesn't my account work?
Is my course username and password the same as for my NVCC email?
I can't log into my campus course web site; what should I do?
I used to be able to log in to my course, but now I can't. What happened?
 
Email
Is my NVCC email account generated automatically when I enroll in a course?
How do I find out my email user name and password?
Why wasn't my email received by other students in my Blackboard course?
Why wasn't my email received by my instructor in my Blackboard course?
 
FTP
How do I FTP files to my NVCC web site?
 
Questions about Courses
I'm confused about the directions in my course; where can I get help?
 
 
Answers
 
Hardware and Software Requirements
 
What hardware and software do I need to take a course?
You need a computer, a connection to the internet, and a standard browser. Your computer can be a PC or a Mac, but it should be a full computer, capable of running standard office programs, an email program, a standard web browser, and java applets. A Palm computer or web-enabled cell phone will not work. Your internet connection should be 28.8 kilobits per second (Kbps) or faster. These days, most dialup internet service providers give you twice that speed. Cable modems, DSL, and fixed network connections are even faster. There are two standard browsers that you can use: Netscape Navigator 4.0 or later or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later.
TOP
 
Can I use AOL to take a course?
You can use AOL as your internet service, but you cannot use AOL's built-in web software. AOL's built-in web software is not standard and does not support java and other important capabilities. You need to download and install Netscape Navigator ot MS Internet Explorer (versions 4 or later). When you are ready to connect to your course, dial into AOL. Once you are connected, minimize the AOL program and start Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer and use it to log on to your course and do your work.
TOP
 
Can I use an internet appliance to take a course?
No. Most internet appliances, such as Web TV, Audrey, iPaq, WebPAD, Connected Touch Pad, SurfBoard, and ePlate, are deficient in one or more areas. Most do not support java and javascript, being able to use browser plugins, and being able to view multimedia.
TOP
 
Registration
 
How do I find my course in Nova Online?
The courses in Nova Online are alphabetized in three ways -- by subject, by campus, and by the instructor's last name. You will see these three sections in the row of circles at the top of the courses page. Click on the circle that matches what you want. If you are looking up IST129, for example, click the i-l circle under "Courses by Subject". Then scroll down the page until you find IST129 listed.
TOP
 
Where do you find the index numbers for online courses?
Go to the NVCC online schedules. The index numbers are listed in the campus schedules. Find the schedule for the current semester. Click on the campus and subject area you want. If you are looking for an ELI section, scroll to "Continuous Enrollment" at the end of the campus listing. If you have a paper copy of the NVCC Schedule of Classes, look in the campus sections. Here the section with ELI courses is called "Extended Learning." The index numbers are the four-digit numbers listed just under the course prefix.
TOP
 
Which courses are still available?
During normal registration periods, all courses are open until filled. Many ELI courses are also available for continuous enrollment. Check the Open Class Schedule Inquiry to find out which sections are open.
TOP
 
Why aren't all the ELI courses listed on Nova Online?
Not all ELI courses are web courses. Many use surface mail, television, and voice mail to conduct the course. Only the ELI courses that use the web are listed in Nova Online.
TOP
 
My campus course uses the web; why isn't it listed on Nova Online?
Nova Online is maintained by ELI, but it is open for campus instructors to use as well. Some choose to list their courses; others do not.
TOP
 
How do I register for an online course?
Registration for online courses is no different than registration for campus courses. You can register on campus or at ELI, by mail, or by telephone. See the Admissions Page of the NVCC web site for further information.
TOP
 
What do I do after I register for an online course?
If it's an ELI section and the course materials are ready, you will receive directions in the mail about one week after you register. The directions will tell you how to log on. When ELI courses are being revised, the description in the Schedule of Classes will say "Materials available in May" (or August, or January). In those cases, you may not receive the materials until sometime that month. For campus sections, your instructor should contact you with logon directions. Please contact your instructor (not ELI) if you have not received campus course directions.
TOP
 
How long after I register do I have to wait to log in?
For ELI courses, you will be able to log in when you receive your logon directions in the mail. For campus sections, wait until the first class meeting or until you receive directions from your instructor.
TOP
 
Logging On
 
How do I find out my course user name and password?
For ELI courses, you will receive directions in the mail for your user name and password. Your instructor will provide your user name and password for a campus course.
TOP
 
Why do I get "Access Denied" when I try to use the Discussion Board?
Why do I get "Access Denied" when I try to use Student Tools?
Why do I get "Access Denied" when I try to take a quiz or exam?
Your account may not have been created, you may be using the wrong user name, or you may have logged into the wrong version of the course. For some ELI courses, there will different links to different versions of the course, and you need to click the correct one based on when you registered. If you are sure you are doing everything correctly and you are still having this problem, contact ELI (703-323-3347) for an ELI course, or your instructor for a campus course.
TOP
 
Why doesn't my account work?
Your account may not have been created, or you may be using the wrong user name and password. Your user name consists of your first initial, your last name, and the last 4 digits of your student number (usually your Social Security Number). Use all lower case letters and no spaces. Your password should be the nine digits of your student number, without spaces or dashes. Contact ELI (703-323-3347) if the user name and password in your ELI course directions do not work. For campus courses, contact your instructor.
TOP
 
Is my course username and password the same as for my NVCC email?
No. The email accounts and course accounts are created by two different departments using two different formulas. We hope to make them the same in the future, but we don't have access to the same information at this time.
TOP
 
I can't log into my campus course web site; what should I do?
Please contact your instructor. ELI does not create or manage accounts for campus web courses.
TOP
 
I used to be able to log in to my course, but now I can't. What happened?
You probably changed you password and then forgot the new one. Contact ELI (703-323-3347) for ELI courses, or your instructor for campus courses. When your password is changed, write it down in case you forget it.
TOP
 
Email
 
Is my NVCC email account generated automatically when I enroll in a course?
Yes. You are given an NVCC email account when you are enrolled in any course that the college offers.
TOP
 
How do I find out my email user name and password?
Go to the IT Help Desk web site. Click on the link for "Student User ID Search." This site also provides directions for how to use your NVCC email account.
TOP
 
Why wasn't my email received by other students in my Blackboard course?
For technical reasons beyond our control, email sent from the Blackboard email facility is often rejected by email servers such as AOL, Yahoo, Bigfoot, and Hotmail. Do not use the Blackboard email facility except to copy email addresses to your regular email program.
TOP
 
Why wasn't my email received by my instructor in my Blackboard course?
If your instructor does not use his or her NVCC email account, the problem is as described in the answer above. Use your regular email program to email your instructor.
TOP
 
FTP
 
How do I FTP files to my NVCC web site?
Connect to the following site: ftp://www.student.nvcc.edu . Log in using your email username and password, but put "nvstudent\" (without the quotes) in front of your user name. Then change to the directory "studentweb1/home/(user name)". Don't type the quotes or the parentheses, and substitute your user name at the end.
TOP
 
Questions about Courses
 
I'm confused about the directions in my course; where can I get help?
Contact your instructor for questions about specific material in a course.
TOP