College credit and non-credit/continuing education online courses are offered via the Internet. We have entire degrees and certificates available, or you can choose to take just a few of your courses online.

At Florida Community College, online credit courses are offered through Blackboard, a web-based learning management system that contains tools for distance learning, such as course content and notes, a bulletin board system and chat for collaboration and communication, assignment drop boxes, interactive quizzes and exams, and much more! All online courses are instructor-led and use the same schedule as on-campus courses. That means you may have midterms and final exams, papers, and discussion assignments to complete with deadlines. Online instructors use a variety of learning methods and assignments in online courses just as they do in an on-campus class. Remote testing is also available.

Take the "Is Distance Learning For Me?" quiz to find out how well a Web-based course fits your needs and lifestyle. Want to learn more about distance learning and technology? See our Glossary of Online Learning Terms.

The Florida Distance Learning Consortium enables a student to access an electronic catalog to locate distance learning opportunities at all Florida community colleges and universities.

Computer Requirements

All online courses require the following:

• Computer with personal access to the Internet (e.g., computer with a modem, or cable modem connection)
• A Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) student e-mail account
• Web-browser software at least Internet Explorer 6.0, Mozilla Firefox 1.0.x. You can download Internet Explorer or Firefox. For alternate browsers, see the Blackboard browser requirements.
  
• Windows 95 or higher operating system
• Virus-checking software
• Some courses may require additional software. For details about specific course requirements, refer to the information found in your schedule in Artemis, visit your Instructor's web page, and reference this Course Software Chart. If your instructor uses this software make sure you have installed the necessary plug-ins on your computer. If you have difficulty contact the Learner Support Center at 904.632.3151.

You must have Internet access before you can access your online course. If you do not have an Internet service provider such as AOL or Comcast, Florida Community College offers all enrolled students a FREE e-mail account and dial-in access. If you have a computer with a modem, you can use th college dial-in service to connect to the Internet free of charge. You must have a Florida Community College student e-mail account before you can use the student dial-in services. For information about how to activate your student account and dial-in service, see Student Computing.

Technical Guidelines and Help

To access your online courses, you must first be registered and paid. Once registered and paid, you must activate your College e-mail account. If you do not have an Florida Community College e-mail account, please visit Student Computing.

Once you have a student user id and password, you will be able to logon to Artemis, where you will find a link to Blackboard under College Resources. Following this link will automatically log you onto Blackboard.

Alternately, you can access Blackboard directly by visiting http://bb.fccj.edu and entering the same student user id and password.

Please also note the following:

• Course access will not be given prior to the official first day of classes.
• Instructor Web pages can be reached through the directory or in the schedule notes in Artemis.
• You can change your password through Artemis, and it will be global in effect.
• Courses will become unavailable to students three days after final grades post in Artemis.

If you experience problems accessing your course, please be sure that you are registered and paid and check Artemis for information about your course schedule. If you are experiencing technical difficulties, contact the Learner Support Center at 904.632.3151, or e-mail at helpdesk@fccj.edu.

• Provide the browser type that you are using to access the course (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
• Describe how you connect to the internet (on campus or with FCCJ dial-in access or via an Internet service provider like Comcast, AT&T or AOL)
• When did you have this trouble? During an initial access attempt or did the failure occur while you were logged on?
• When is the best time to call or e-mail you?