Student Success Services

1. Check your email and Moodle as frequently as possible during the next week.

2. If you have concerns about your access to technology and connections for online learning, email studenthelp@ehc.edu.

3. Download and install Zoom on any device you’ll be using for learning. You do NOT need to sign in, create an account, or pay money. You just need to have Zoom downloaded on your device.

Access, download, and install here: https://zoom.us/download

You DO NOT need to sign in or create an account to connect with your professor or attend class

You do need to test your set up here: https://zoom.us/test

Your professors will share invitation(s) for a class that will include a link and call-in options

Quantitative Learning Center / Math Tutoring:

Dr. Crystal Hall will have Zoom drop-in tutoring hours for Math 121 from 6-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, and Zoom drop-in tutoring hours for Math 100 from 6:30-7 on Wednesday evenings. Click those links during those times to join the tutoring session.

For other math tutoring needs, please send a request to the student services support email, studenthelp@ehc.edu. 

Writing Center:

To learn more about opportunities for writing support during online classes for the rest of this semester, please see the Writing Center webpage. 

Supplemental Instruction and Peer Tutoring:

The SI and peer tutoring programs have been suspended due to the difficulty of facilitating this support in an online environment. As always, your faculty are available for individualized support during office hours–which will now be online–and via email.

If you have received communication from your professors asking you to connect or contact them, they really mean it and they really mean YOU. Please respond to them as soon as you can!

Communication skills are vital in online learning because you must seek help when you need it. Faculty are willing to help, but they are unable to pick up on non-verbal cues they usually use in face-to-face courses.

• Determine how your professor would like you to communicate questions. Some prefer e-mail, discussion groups, chat room office hours, or Zoom meetings.
• If your teacher is offering online office hours, use them, especially since we aren’t offering the peer tutoring services we can offer in person.
• Check your Moodle Account Notification Preferences. You may want to adjust to be more frequent and/or include email and app notifications.
• Use professional language in communications. Before sending messages, take a moment to reread your communications to ensure they convey respect and courtesy.

How to Manage Your Time for Online Learning:

Time management is the biggest challenge to learning online. This is being compounded by being in a very different situation than any of us expected to be in.

To protect your time and set yourself up to succeed:

• Review the revised syllabus for each of your courses. Develop a plan for completing the remainder of your assignments on time.
• Make a daily “To Do” list. Check things off the list as you complete them.
• Develop a daily routine with scheduled course time, study time, and free time. Research has shown that students with a structured daily schedule are more successful academically.
• If you start struggling with time management or feel like you are falling behind in class(es) please contact your professors and/or … as soon as possible.

Create Space for Online Learning:

Separating your study space from your living space is important to your academic success and your overall well being. If you can’t set up a separate physical location to work, consider setting up your work space so that you can pack it up and put it away when you’re done for the day.

Tips for a healthy study environment:

• Get some peace and quiet. You will need a quiet place to work without distractions from things like television, family, or roommates. If you can’t close a door, try using headphones.
• Avoid games. Consider uninstalling any computer games to avoid temptation, or keep the games on a different computer in the house.
• Turn off your cell phone or use ‘Do not disturb’. Let friends and family members know the hours that you will be “at” school.
• Beware surfing the black hole of the Internet. It is easy to lose track of the time as you wander from site to site.
• Consider ergonomics. Adjust the height of your chair, keyboard, and screen so that you are comfortable. Forearms and thighs should be level and parallel to the floor. Wrists should not be bent while typing.
• Set up good lighting and comfortable seating. Lighting in the room should be at least as bright as the computer screen to avoid eye strain.

Attending vs. Participating. 

Attending class online doesn’t mean just signing into Zoom or Moodle. That is the virtual equivalent of just “showing up.” What it really means is participating – in discussion board posts or in collaborative activities and live sessions when possible, and in engaging in the materials. Be present and engaged! 

Find a partner in each of your courses.

• Make a pact with them to help support each other inside and outside of class. 
• Set-up times to virtually connect with them to study
• Talk about the class materials and, where appropriate, work on class assignments or review and give feedback on each other’s work.   

Follow proper “netiquette” when participating online.

• Share your point concisely and clearly. Stick to the point when writing posts. 
• Verify facts before posting.
• Provide proper credit citing and referencing other’s work as appropriate.  
• Check for spelling/grammar errors and do not use slang.  
• Respect others with the appropriate choice of language. 
• Exercise caution when using humor online. It can easily be misinterpreted.

During Zoom Class 

• Please keep your microphone muted except when it is your turn to talk. 
• For discussions, enable your video camera and use the ‘Gallery View’ so that everyone can see each other. 
• Use the buttons underneath the participant window to raise your hand, agree or disagree, provide feedback on the pace of the lecture/discussion, or indicate if you have had to step away for a short break. 
• Share your screen when it is your turn to share your presentation or content with the class. 
• Please refrain from any side conversations during the Zoom class. 
• Do not talk over or interrupt other students or the instructor. Use the ‘raise your hand’ icon. 
• Click on the ‘chat’ button to see and participate in the ongoing chat discussion. 

Camera Use 

• Position your webcam at eye level or higher. Experiment for best angles. 
• Make eye contact. Try to look at your webcam as often as possible. 
• Use the gestures and mannerisms that you would typically use in person. 
• Please treat this as you would our in-person class in terms of dress and appearance.  Your camera should not reveal anything potentially offensive.

Before your first Zoom Class: 

You will need to install the Zoom app on your computer or mobile device.

Access, download, and install here:https://zoom.us/download

You DO NOT need to sign in or create an account to connect with your professor or attend class

Test your set up here: https://zoom.us/test

Your professor will share invitation(s) for a class that will include a link and call-in option

If your microphone is not working

Use the phone number listed in the Zoom invitation when you set up a Zoom call. You can use your phone as the microphone and audio source for your call rather than your computer’s built-in microphone if necessary. 

If your Internet connection is slow or lagging

Consider temporarily turning off your video stream and only maintaining the audio stream. Sometimes, running the web camera on your computer will use up the Internet’s bandwidth in a way that might make communication challenging. Turning off the video should improve communication quality and consistency. 

If you have earbuds or a headphone set, wear them!

Wearing earbuds or headphones will reduce the amount of noise that your computer will pick up during your quality, which will make it easier for your class to hear you.  

Check the Zoom Help Center