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Online learning at GCC

Coming fall 2013!

Complete your Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts fully online!

Our Liberal Arts degree provides a broad range of studies that build a solid foundation for transfer to 4-year schools. Starting this fall, 100% of required courses can be completed online!

Interested? Request information from an admissions counselor!


Request information




Our classes. Your schedule.

GCC’s online courses allow students to complete all course requirements from their home or office.  Students trying to balance work, family and education can fit online college courses into their own schedule, allowing them to pursue their education.

Regular interaction with instructors is possible through online chat or video chat, email, phone, and online discussion areas dedicated to class questions and conversation. Regular access to a computer and the internet is required to complete an online class from GCC, as well as a basic understanding of computer usage and how to send and receive email.

Fully online classes offer 100% of instruction online. You never need to visit GCC’s campus to complete your coursework (but a lot of our online students love coming here anyway, to study or work in our library or take advantage of our student services).

Hybrid classes may require occasional meetings on campus, but generally 50%-99% of course work can be completed online.  If you’re considering an online class, but you’re not sure if it’s a good fit for your learning style, a hybrid class might be a great place to start!

Is online right for you?

We want you to succeed at GCC.

That means that the classes you take should be a good fit for your learning style and technical skills. Online classes can be a great fit for some students because they provide learning opportunities outside of traditionally scheduled classes. However, online courses are not for everyone.  Succeeding in an online course requires a high degree of

  • self-motivation
  • self-discipline and independence
  • technical skill with computer software and in navigating and using websites

You may be a good candidate for online learning if you

  • are comfortable using basic applications such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and email
  • have a computer with high-speed internet connection or easy access to a wifi connection
  • have a daily schedule that allows you the time needed to work on the computer to complete coursework
  • have strong time management skills
  • are able to work independently
  • are able to express yourself well in writing
  • can follow written instructions easily

What to expect from fully-online and hybrid courses

All fully-online and hybrid courses are offered through Moodle, our learning management system. While these courses offer flexibility, they are not self-paced. Students may be expected to submit weekly assignments and participate in weekly discussions. Course expectations will be outlined in the course syllabus. Most students spend approximately 12-15 hours a week participating and completing assigned work in each online course. Students in these courses should log onto Moodle the first day of the semester and at least once a day.

Student responsibility in fully online courses

Your GCC student email account is used for all college-related correspondence. You are responsible for logging into your email account the week before class starts to receive important information about your online course. Your instructor may contact you as well. Students are responsible for checking their GCC email on a daily basis.

Classes

Online classes

Enroll

Get started!

Enrolling in an online class is just like enrolling in any other GCC class.  Current students should contact their advisor or the Advising Center to register.

Current GCC students

If you are currently a GCC student, signing up for an online class is the same as signing up for any of our courses at GCC.

To register:

  • You may register online at the time of your advising appointment, typically with your advisor or in the Advising Center
  • You may register online via MyGCC with a PIN # if your advisory has provided one

New to GCC and interested in taking a class?

You will need to complete an application for admission or a registration form; in addition you may need to complete placement testing and make an appointment with the Advising Center to enroll.  New or returning students should follow our steps to enroll at the Admissions Office site.

We also recommend you perform our system check to ensure that your hardware and software are compatible with our online learning management system.

Test your system

Get help
First stepsGetting help with MoodleTech supportAcademic support

Once you’ve enrolled you will receive an email with information about logging in to our learning management system (LMS).  Students will be able to access their online course by 8:00am the first day of classes in any given semester.

You will receive all additional information about your online course at your GCC email address, which is generated for you once you are officially registered for the class.  Instructions for finding your email username and password are available at our Student HelpDesk.

You will use your GCC email username and password to log into Moodle, our LMS.

Want to get a sense of what an online course looks like in Moodle?  Once you’re registered and have your username and password, log into Moodle and visit our “How-to for Students” course.  In this demo class, you will learn how to navigate through your course, be able to participate in a discussion forum, learn how to post assignments, and take a quiz.   In addition, a number of handouts and videos have been created to provide support to students who are new to either Moodle or an online course environment.

Additional Moodle support for students is available at our Student HelpDesk.

Can’t access your Moodle course(s), GCC student email account or MyGCC?

Send an email to studenthelp@stuemail.gcc.mass.edu with

  • your full name
  • your student identification number
  • the course name and number
  • name of your instructor
  • a clear description of the problem you’re having

Technology hand-outs and how-tos are also available at our Student HelpDesk.

GCC’s academic support services are available to students to students taking classes online or on campus.

Additional resources

FAQs

Frequently asked question

When will I have access to my course?
Students will have access to their online course(s) the first day of classes in a given semester.  See our academic calendar to find out which day this is for any given term.

How do I access my online course?
Online courses are delivered through the Moodle learning management system.  Moodle is accessible from most pages on the GCC website, including the homepage. At the top right of the page, click “Login” button and select “Moodle.” Follow the instructions for logging into Moodle.

Why can’t I see my course?
If you have logged into Moodle before the first day of classes, you may not see your course.  Courses are open to student the first day of classes.  See the GCC academic calendar for details.

What is my user name and password for Moodle?
Visit http://web.gcc.mass.edu/helpdesk/moodle/ for details.

What is my user name and password for my GCC email account?
Visit http://web.gcc.mass.edu/helpdesk/email/ for details.

How can I get my books?
Books can be purchased online from the GCC Bookstore.

How do I find my grades?
Grades are available at MyGCC, our student information system. Visit http://web.gcc.mass.edu/helpdesk/mygcc/ for details on logging into your account.

How do I pay my bill?
You can pay your online at MyGCC. Visit http://web.gcc.mass.edu/helpdesk/mygcc/ for details on logging into your account, or find out more about student billing from the Bursar’s Office.

Is technical support available?
Yes. You can get general information about using any of our web applications, like Moodle and email, from our Student HelpDesk. If you are unable to log into Moodle, your GCC email account, or MyGCC or experience a problem with Moodle, send an email to studenthelp@stuemail.gcc.mass.edu with

  • your full name
  • your student identification number
  • the course name and number
  • name of your instructor
  • a clear description of the problem you’re having
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