Online Learning at NLC

Undergraduate and graduate courses meet for one week on campus. Most classes make materials available to students 4 weeks before this residence week by posting them on Blackboard.  This helps students prepare for the class before they ever arrive on campus. It also provides a means for students to communicate with their instructors and fellow students before and after the week-in-residence.

What resources do I need to be an online student?

• a computer with an Internet connection
• an e-mail account
• anti-virus software
• word processing software
• ease of access on a daily basis

How should I begin my online course?

After you have signed in to your online course, perform the following actions:

• Read the opening course Announcement; announcements are displayed on the first screen as you enter the course; the announcement might contain specific directions from the instructor, such as your first assignment
• Read the syllabus; it is usually found in the Course Information section of the course
• Check for a pre-residence assignment; it may be in the syllabus or in the Assignments section of the course; pre-residence assignments should be completed before you arrive on campus
• Check the information in other sections of the course and get comfortable with navigating the Blackboard environment
• Verify that your e-mail address in Blackboard is correct; you may check the e-mail address in the Student Tools section under Personal Information
• Bookmark the NLC blackboard address or save it as one of your browser's favorite locations