Prepare for Your Online Course

How online learning works

Learning online at Jamestown Community College means that your instructors provide all instruction through an online platform. Like on-campus courses, online courses have specific start and end dates according to JCC’s academic calendar.

JCC instructors primarily deliver instruction and course content through our learning system, Brightspace. In Brightspace, you can access your online courses, syllabus, assignments, and grades. You may also participate in classroom discussions through written word forums and webinars.

For most online courses at JCC, you can log in 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Plan on several hours of work per week per credit hour. For a three-credit course, you should set aside 9-12 hours per week. You should also plan to interact in your course several times during the week.

Required hardware & software

The primary hardware needed for online courses are a computer with a reliable internet connection, access to your student account, and an up-to-date browser.

  • We recommend a full-size computer (either PC or MAC) with a high speed, broadband, or DSL internet connection. We do not recommend dial-up connections for downloading and viewing rich media.
  • Check the Brightspace supported browsers for desktop computers, tablets and mobile devices.
  • Check the compatibility of your system with the SUNY system check.

Depending on the course, there may be additional hardware or software requirements. Check the course description and course syllabus, and ask your instructor if you have any questions.

Your course at JCC may require the use of Respondus LockDown Browser with or without a webcam.

Respondus LockDown Browser prevents students from accessing other sites while taking an exam in a digital environment to help protect the integrity of online exams. Respondus LockDown Browser may be used with a webcam requirement (sometimes called Monitor) for online proctoring.

Ask your instructor and read the syllabus to determine if Respondus Lockdown Browser (with or without webcam) is required to be used in your course. The first time you take a test in Brightspace that requires Respondus LockDown Browser, you will be prompted to download the browser.

Your course at JCC may use Turnitin to check the originality of student written work. Turnitin can help students be successful in creating their own written work and help prevent plagiarism.

If Turnitin is used in your course, you should see a statement similar to the following in the syllabus for your course. You should also ask your instructor if Turnitin will be used for written work in your course.

Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the Usage Policy posted on the Turnitin.com site.

NC-SARA

Jamestown Community College has been approved by New York state to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.

NC-SARA makes it easier for students to take online courses and transfer those credits from postsecondary institutions in other states by establishing national standards among member schools.

NC-SARA logo