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Attend zoom sessions (when you can't, make sure to watch the recording).

Complete assignments on time.

Regularly check our class page in D2L.

Don't procrastinate!

Don't be afraid to ask questions.

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PCC has a great student help desk. Click on the link to get help with technical problems. You can email, call, or chat with them.

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The Student Help Desk provides computer software and online service support primarily for PCC online students. Instructors who need help with their online classes should contact the Faculty Help Desk or work with an Instructional Support specialist.

We provide support for a wide range of technology including:

Here we collect helpful information about additional technology resources that we do not provide support for:

Problems with D2L Brightspace

If you are having difficulty logging into D2L Brightspace from MyPCC, try the direct portal: https://online.pcc.edu.

For additional information see the D2L Brightspace page.

Accessing a Zoom Meeting Room

For information on how to access a Zoom Meeting Room that your instructor has created see the Zoom Student Participant Guide.

Connecting to the Student Web Server

The Secure FTP page goes over the steps on how to connect to the SWS via the Filezilla application.

If you are having troubles connecting to the SWS then contact the Student Help Desk and be sure to inform your instructor so that they are aware of the issue.

Cannot access MyPCC

If you are unable login or recover your MyPCC username / password you will need to call the IT Service Desk at:

Connecting to PCC-WiFi

If you are unable to connect to the PCC-WiFi access point, be sure you meet the following requirements:

You must be currently enrolled in at least one course for the term that is in session
Being on the wait list for a course does not count

You must be enrolled in a course for the current term in session for more than 24 hours

The term you are enrolled in must have started

If the above requirements are true for your account then you should be able to connect to the PCC WiFi. View the On Campus WiFi (PCC-WiFi and PCCGuest) page for further troubleshooting steps and connection information from the IT Service Desk.

Help with class assignments

For clarification on what you're supposed to do for an assignment you will want to contact the instructor for the course you are taking. You can find your instructor's email address by searching them up in the staff directory or by looking at your course Syllabus.

If you need assistance with completing an assignment then you will want to look at the Tutoring services that PCC has available.

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The Student Help Desk provides computer software and online service support primarily for PCC online students. Instructors who need help with their online classes should contact the Faculty Help Desk or work with an Instructional Support specialist.

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To be successful in this course you need:

regular internet access

regular access to a computer

a backup plan if your internet fails

In addition, it is helpful (but not required) to have a smart phone or tablet near you during our zoom sessions.

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PCC has tutors that can help you with work from your classes. Click on this link to get information on how to make an appointment or drop in for a tutoring session. There are tutors especially for ESOL, so don't be afraid!

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PCC tuition includes access to FREE TUTORING through Zoom and Google Meet platforms . Connect with experienced faculty, alumni, professional and student tutors from all campuses using our drop-in (no appointment necessary) tutoring and scheduled online appointments.

How it works: Interact with your tutor via a microphone, webcam, or a text-based chat box. Tutors use an interactive whiteboard to diagram concepts, and students can share their screens to review documents and clarify course material together.

* USE THE TABS BELOW TO EXPLORE OFFERINGS *

Drop-in

Drop-in tutoring allows students quick access to tutors to clarify concepts and deepen understanding of the homework material without an appointment. Come with questions or just to study with folks knowledgeable in PCC content.

Subjects Available in Drop-in

Appointments

Students can schedule to meet one-on-one with a tutor. Appointments are offered daily between 8am and 8pm.
Appointments are limited to one appointment per day per subject.
PLEASE NOTE: Students can book one appointment per subject each day. Contact academic-support@pcc.edu to coordinate accommodations.

One (1) appointment per subject per day.

Click a subject below to open the calendar:

Reading & Writing Center

We offer one on one virtual tutoring appointments with Reading, Writing, and English instructors and trained peer tutors.

NOTE: Students are limited to one (1) appointment PER DAY for the Reading & Writing Center. Any subsequent appointments will be cancelled.
We have this policy to ensure that we are able to serve as many students as possible.

Appointment hours: Monday-Friday 9 am-8 pm, Saturday 10 am-7:00 pm, and Sunday 11 am-7:00 pm.

Instructions for booking an appointment

1. Click on the BOOK an Appointment button.

2. Select the appointment time that works for you.

3. ACCEPT the appointment on your calendar to complete reservation.

4. At the time of your appointment, click on the >>Google Meet<< link in the appointment which is located on your PCC Google Calendar or in the reminder email.

5. Your tutor's name and email will be listed in the Calendar Invitation on your PCC Google calendar. Please reach out to them directly if you have any questions.

Looking for some resources to help with your reading or writing task?

Check out our resource page for writing guides, citation examples, videos, and sample papers.

Group Study

If you are a faculty member interested in having a Group Study space for your students, please contact us at academic-support@pcc.edu.

Tutor Facilitated Study Groups Are:

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Western eTutoring Consortium

For additional support, PCC is partnering with the Western eTutoring Consortium to provide free online professional tutoring in additional subject areas for all for-credit PCC students from tutors across the country.

Request a Tutor

Follow these steps to find tutoring support that meets your needs:

Use the Request a Tutor form:

Please allow up to 48 hours for a response (Monday through Friday).

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Request a Tutor Form Our open positions are posted on the PCC Student Job Board.
To access the job board:

1. Log in to MyPCC

2. Click on the Paying for College tab

3. Find the Need a Job channel and Check the student job board

Your experiences matter! Please help us continue to improve our services by completing a short feedback form.

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PCC tuition includes access to FREE TUTORING through Zoom and Google Meet platforms . Connect with experienced faculty, alumni, professional and student tutors from all campuses using our drop-in (no appointment necessary) tutoring and scheduled online appointments. How it works: Interact with your tutor via a microphone, webcam, or a text-based chat box.

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Be prepared to communicate with your teacher and classmates in writing and verbally.  Remember:

Email me with any questions (or post questions in the discussion board Q & A topic).

Be respectful of everyone

Be active in our class, both. in our zoom session and in the discussion boards.

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Set a schedule that helps you meet deadlines. Doing your work on time is important. When making your schedule, plan on spending 10-15 hours each week on work outside of our zoom session.

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Successful online students are goal oriented and self disciplined. Take control of your learning. Check your assignments each week and set goals for completing the tasks. Ask questions when you are unsure of what you need to do.

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PCC has an Online Start Guide to help you prepare for online learning. Follow the instructions to complete it.

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PCC has an Online Start Guide to help you prepare for online learning. Follow the instructions to complete it.

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Virtual Backpack: The Start Guide for Online Learning

The Online Learning department has developed a "start guide" for students who want to take their first online class at PCC. The primary purpose of this experience is to improve student success in online classes. This prerequisite activity will help prepare students for the rigors of online coursework, and allow the student to decide if online courses are appropriate - before they register for an online course.

Why is it required?

The start guide improves student success. We have spent the last several years working with instructors, students, advisors, and others to see how we can help students improve their success rates in online classes. We found that even the most competent technology users are often unaware of all the resources the college provides to support their success.

Note: It is not required for students taking campus classes that are moving online for Spring 2020. We still highly recommend it.

Who is it for?

The online start guide is designed for students who are new to online learning at PCC. Students who have already taken an online course at PCC will not be required to complete the start guide. The online start guide only applies to credit earning online classes that have the computer icon designation laptop in the schedule. Non-credit or community education classes do not require completion of the start guide.

How do I get started?

You can complete the online start guide anytime, anywhere you have an internet connection. You don't have to come to campus or make an appointment. To access the start guide:

1. Log in to your MyPCC account

2. Select the My Courses tab

3. Under the Ready to take online classes? heading, click on the "Start Guide for Online Learners" link

This will take you to the first page of the online start guide. If you have any problems accessing the start guide, please contact the Student Help Desk for assistance.

How does it work?

The prerequisite "course" is self-paced and can be completed any time after admission.

Students will be notified of the requirement prior to registration and provided with instructions for accessing and completing the guide.

The guide modules must be completed and submitted prior to registration for your first online class.

The modules should take about one hour to complete.

What will I learn?

The start guide experience is intended to help students understand if they are prepared to take their first online class, if they have the necessary skills and resources to succeed, and offer tips to help them plan for success. The start guide modules address:

study skills

technology skills

academic integrity

student support services

individual attributes

life factors

learning styles

what to expect in your first online class

Am I done?

If you're not sure if you successfully completed the online start guide, you can check your MyPCC account. On the My Courses tab, look for the Ready to take online classes? channel. If you see a blue backpack with a green check mark, you are ready to register for online classes. If you don't see the green check mark, you have not completed all the start guide modules yet and will need to do so before you can register for an online class.

Additional support

For more information, support and answers to common questions about the Online Start Guide, please refer students to the Student Help Desk and their Start Guide for Online Learning support page.

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Virtual Backpack: The Start Guide for Online Learning

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The Online Learning department has developed a "start guide" for students who want to take their first online class at PCC. The primary purpose of this experience is to improve student success in online classes.

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PCC has a student guide to help you adjust to remote learning. Check it out for more ideas.

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PCC has a student guide to help you adjust to remote learning. Check it out for more ideas.

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Student guide: adjusting to remote learning

We'll get through this together.

Things may feel out-of-control right now. You may be facing a lot of unknowns and disruptions. Try to be patient with yourself, your classmates, and your instructors during this time. Take care of your wellbeing first. Making a plan and adjusting your studying may help you feel even a little sense of control.

Use this resource as a starting point.

In this guide we'll talk about:

Staying organized

Avoiding multitasking

Making the most of video lectures

Setting a schedule

Trading your strategies for new ones

Working with a group or team

Being kind when online

Staying connected to other people

Your study habits may need to change.

While your coursework and teamwork have been moved to be online and remote, here are some strategies to keep in mind:

1. Staying organized

With classes changing to remote learning, staying organized will look differently for online versus face to face classes.

Here are some things you might want to keep track of for each class:

How are parts of the class being offered or delivered?

What are the in-person (synchronous) parts of this course?

Do you have to be online and in your class at a specific time or can you watch a recording at a later time?

Where can you find and enter your class and see your online materials? (Zoom, recorded lectures, D2L, etc.)

Check your PCC email regularly. This is likely the first place your instructor and others at PCC will communicate important information.

How is coursework being assigned and how are you supposed to submit it?

What kind of assignments is the instructor expecting you to complete?

Do you have the tools (computer program, webcam, etc) to complete your assignments? Do you know where to go if you don't have the tools?

Where do you find due dates for assignments, quizzes, etc?

Chances are your instructor has created a plan for how classes will be taught online. Do not hesitate to reach out to them if you have questions about the process, and review your course syllabus regularly.

What should you do if you need help?

Is your instructor offering virtual office hours? When and how?

Is there another place for asking questions?

Are you able to connect with a classmate and support one another?

Are you comfortable reaching out to a staff member that has helped you in the past?

2. Avoiding multitasking

The downsides of multitasking:

Assignments take longer. Each time you come back to an assignment (from Instagram for example), you have to get familiar with it, find your spot, remember what you were going to do next, etc.

You're more likely to make mistakes. Distractions and switching between tasks tires out the brain.

You'll remember less. When your brain is divided, you're less able to commit what you're learning to long-term memory (because it doesn't get encoded properly into your brain).

What to do instead:

When you need to study something important, consider these tips:

Focus on one thing at a time.

Take breaks between tasks.

Consider focusing on a task for 25- or 50-minutes at a time, then reward yourself with 5- or 10-minute breaks (this is also called the "pomodoro method").

3. Making the most of video lectures

Stick to your instructor's schedule as much as you can. Staying on a schedule will help prevent you from falling way behind.

Find out how to ask questions. Is there a chat feature? Is there a discussion forum?

Close distracting tabs and apps. Humans are not as good at multitasking as they think! (See #2)

Continue to take notes as you would if you were there in person.

4. Setting a schedule

As the situation unfolds, you may have fewer social commitments, group meetings, or work hours. Instead you may find that you have other priorities such as taking care of your family, or children, or a loved one. Setting a schedule for yourself can help provide structure and keep you motivated. If you don't already keep a weekly or daily calendar, try something like the example link below (you will want to download and save to your computer or Google Drive) to organize your time. Include time for exercise and self-care.
Schedule Template
5. Trading your strategies for new ones

Your routines may have to adjust during this time. Look for ways to adapt your usual habits or form new ones. For example:

If you usually study in a coffee shop or library, ask yourself what kind of environment helps you study. See if you can recreate that at home. Maybe it's studying in a chair, rather than on your bed or couch, or moving to a new spot when you change tasks. If you feel you need background noise, consider a white noise app.

If you always study in groups, try a virtual or even phone-based study session with your group.

If you thrive on tight timelines, but now have a more open schedule, think about how working with others or setting up a schedule can recreate that for you.

6. Working with a group or a team

Remote collaboration will look a little different but it is definitely possible:

Try not to procrastinate. That group project may be out-of-sight, out-of-mind if you aren't seeing each other regularly. Resist the urge to put it off. Make small progress and stay in touch.

Meet regularly, especially if you usually touch base during class or lab. Consider a quick text on your group chat about progress every couple of days. Ideally, have conversations over video any week you're working together. Check out tools you have access to as a PCC student.

Set goals for meetings and use a shared notes doc. Meetings might feel different when using video, even if your team was really good at working informally in the past. Try to set the goals of your meeting in advance. Take notes in a shared document so you can all contribute and follow along.

Keep videos open when you can. As long as you can see whatever you need to collaborate, aim to keep the video visible on your computer screen. It'll help you see the expressions of your teammates and stay connected to each other. Identify how your group will do the work - if that is everyone works in the same shared document and/or determine another way.

Check on each other and ask for backup: If someone has been absent from your group meetings or chat, ask them directly if they're still able to participate in the project. If you aren't getting responses within a day or two, let your instructor know. Know it isn't being petty, it's your team's responsibility.

7. Be kind when online

Follow the same rules online as you would in person. Be polite and ethical.

Be aware of your "surroundings" and consider your audience.

Consider what items are in your background that your webcam might be showing to others, or turn your camera off.

Use how you are in-person during face to face classes, and bring that to your online classes.

If you're in a live session, consider muting your microphone if you are not talking in case there is sound around you that could come through and distract others.

Try using full sentences when communicating online. Avoid using abbreviations or "text" speak.

Be mindful of your writing. For example, don't WRITE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. It comes across as shouting. Use written annotations in your text to express mood.

You can use different emoticon smiley faces 🙂 or surround words in asterisks, such as *smile* before posting a comment. Read through your message to see how it will sound to the reader.

Don't assume negative intent. Give others the benefit of the doubt and ask questions to clarify their meaning before you respond and assume their comment is offensive.

Ex. Can you help me understand?

Ex. I am not sure I am following?

8. Staying connected to other people.

Even if we limit how much face-to-face time we spend with others, connecting with family and friends might be more important than ever. Alos, staying in touch with instructors, classmates, and group mates is still important for continued classwork.

Here are a few ideas:

Schedule video calls with friends and family. Talking with loved ones is often really helpful when you're stressed or nervous about something. Taking a break to have a laugh is also important.

Use Google Apps to connect with classmates to talk through a tough problem.

Attend virtual office hours or study groups that your instructor might provide so that you can stay up on your coursework.

Please remember, we are here to help.

If COVID-19 has disrupted your life and this all feels like it came at the worst possible time, remember. you've have faculty and staff at PCC who are here to support you. The college has been adjusting and finding ways to meet some of the needs of our students. Please check the college's website for updates, information, and resources. If you have a question and/or need some support please reach out and let someone know.

Remember, take a deep breath, reach out if you have questions or need help, do your best, get some rest, and wash your hands.

Additional resources

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Student guide: adjusting to remote learning

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We'll get through this together. Things may feel out-of-control right now. You may be facing a lot of unknowns and disruptions. Try to be patient with yourself, your classmates, and your instructors during this time. Take care of your wellbeing first. Making a plan and adjusting your studying may help you feel even a little sense of control.