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Course Technology Help & Requirements

NCC is here to help you succeed, and we understand that some of the technology and tools used within our courses may be new to our students. We want to make sure you have everything you need to be successful in the different course formats that we offer and are here to help you troubleshoot if you are having challenges with course technology being utilized. 

Technology Requirements and Recommendations

These courses require students to regularly complete work on the Blackboard website and potentially other internet-based tools. These courses may include assignments that require access to a computer equipped with a camera and microphone.

 

  • Local students can opt to utilize on campus computer labs to meet these needs.  Most of our computer labs are located in our libraries. Click here for library locations and business hours

If a student intends to complete this work from off campus, we recommend that you have:

 

  • Reliable access to a standard computer (PC with Windows or Mac) or Chromebook equipped with a camera and microphone.
    • Camera and microphone can be built in to the device or purchased separately and plugged in. 
    • Plug in cameras and microphones can be purchased from the NCC bookstore, Walmart, Amazon, and many other stores. 
    • iPads, tablets, and smart phones may not work with software in online courses. 
  • Reliable access to strong internet connection.  High speed broadband internet access (LAN, Cable or DSL) is highly recommended. Note that the following factors can negatively impact your internet strength:
    • Using a shared Internet connection could impact connectivity – shared connection could include streaming TV, gaming, or other online activities.
    • Using wireless connections – connectivity could be impacted by the distance from the router (wired connections are better for connectivity).
    • Service from your internet provider may vary throughout the day due to community usage.

These courses require online live meetings via video conferencing tools. Additionally, these courses may include assignments that require access to a computer equipped with a camera and microphone.

  • Local students can opt to utilize on campus computer labs to meet these needs.  Most of our computer labs are located in our libraries. Click here for library locations and business hours

If a student intends to complete this work from off campus, we recommend that you have:

  • Reliable access to a standard computer (PC with Windows or Mac) or Chromebook equipped with a camera and microphone.
    • Camera and microphone can be built in to the device or purchased separately and plugged in. 
    • Plug in cameras and microphones can be purchased from the NCC bookstore, Walmart, Amazon, and many other stores. 
    • iPads, tablets, and smart phones may not work with software in online courses. 
  • Reliable access to strong internet connection.  High speed broadband internet access (LAN, Cable or DSL) is highly recommended. Note that the following factors can negatively impact your internet strength:
    • Using a shared Internet connection could impact connectivity – shared connection could include streaming TV, gaming, or other online activities.
    • Using wireless connections – connectivity could be impacted by the distance from the router (wired connections are better for connectivity).
    • Service from your internet provider may vary throughout the day due to community usage.

In-Person Courses may utilize Blackboard and/or e-textbook materials. These courses may include assignments that require access to a computer equipped with a camera and microphone.

  • Students can opt to utilize on campus computer labs to meet these needs.  Most of our computer labs are located in our libraries. Click here for library locations and business hours

If a student intends to complete this work from off campus, we recommend that you have:

  • Reliable access to a standard computer (PC with Windows or Mac) or Chromebook.
    • iPads, tablets, and smart phones may not work with software in online courses. 
  • Reliable access to strong internet connection.  High-speed broadband internet access (LAN, Cable or DSL) is highly recommended. Note that the following factors can negatively impact your internet strength:
    • Using a shared Internet connection could impact connectivity – shared connection could include streaming TV, gaming, or other online activities.
    • Using wireless connections – connectivity could be impacted by the distance from the router (wired connections are better for connectivity).
    • Service from your internet provider may vary throughout the day due to community usage.
  • Access to web camera and microphone (you may want to contact your instructor before purchasing to see if your course requires this).
    • Camera and microphone can be built in to the device or purchased separately and plugged in.
    • Plug in cameras and microphones can be purchased from the NCC bookstore, Walmart, Amazon, and many other stores.


Course Technology Help

If you're having trouble with the technology being used in your course or courses, review the list below to see where you can go to get the assistance you need. If you have additional questions or there is technology being used that isn't on this list, please reach out to our Help Desk today at helpdesk@northampton.edu.

Course Technology

Adobe Creative Cloud access is available to students using their NCC account on classroom machines throughout each campus. This access is limited to on campus computers only. Off campus, personal account access to Adobe Creative Cloud is not included.

Log into Blackboard through NCCGo. Your login credentials are the same as what you use to access Workday. If you have issues logging in, reach out to NCC's Help Desk helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413. You can also reset your password by going to the NCC password self-service.

Additional Resources:

Blackboard Learn Help Center

Blackboard Accessibility

Blackboard Tuturial Playlist

Blackboard Mobile App Download Instructions

 

Please Note: While NCC has the Blackboard mobile app enabled for all students, you may not be able to access tests or assignments on a mobile device (phone/tablet). When taking an online course, students should have access to a standard computer (PC with Windows or Mac) or Chromebook.

For questions about course content, communicate with your specific course instructor for assistance. Faculty contact information is listed in the course syllabus.

Computer labs are available at our Bethlehem and Monroe campus libraries. Contact askthelibrarian@northampton.edu or 610.861.5359 with any questions.

NCC's Computer Club provides various services for personal computers (not NCC property) at a reasonable rate through its PC Repair Clinic in Richardson Hall room 13. Services include installing Windows, PC tune-up and repair, updates, program and hardware installation, and Malware removal. Email computerclub@northampton.edu for more information.

 

For help with NCC computers or loaner laptops, please contact NCC's Help Desk at helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413. 

All NCC campuses have access to both Public and Spartan WiFi. Public WiFi is a non-authenticated, secure access method for any device for the general public or any device that needs access to the internet. Spartan WiFi is a secured, authenticated network for the personal devices of NCC-affiliated students and staff and offers a superior connection speed with the best possible service on campus.

 

Each campus has WiFi available outdoors and in the parking lots. At the Monroe campus, the entire parking lot in front of Keystone Hall has WiFi.

 

Please contact the NCC Help Desk with any questions regarding your connection at helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413. 

If you have purchased an ebook for your course but are having an issue accessing the content, we recommend the following:

  • If you purchased your ebook through the NCC bookstore or with your tuition, please email our NCC bookstore manager, 1342mgr@follett.com.
  • If you purchased your ebook through an external seller (not NCC bookstore and not with tuition), refer to the textbook publisher associated with your book from those listed in this tool (i.e. Cengage, Macmillan, McGraw Hill)

For help with Echo360, you can go to their support website or contact NCC's Help Desk at helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413.

You can learn more about Echo360, which is a video and active learning platform that engages students deeply into course content.

Additional resources:

Echo360 Mobile Apps - Instructions and download links
Learn about accessing and using Echo360 for course video & engagement
Taking notes and using the Study Guide within Echo360

Access your NCC school email through NCCGo under Microsoft Suite.

Refer to our Office 365 video playlist for student video tutorials.

For assistance accessing email or installing Office 365 contact NCC's Help Desk at helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413.

For assistance with how to use email, contact the Learning Center to schedule an appointment with an Academic Coach.

Online course instructors will typically ask that students submit online course work in a specific file type (typically Microsoft Word or a PDF). NCC students have free access to a web-based version of Microsoft Office called Office 365.

Refer to our video playlists for Office 365 and file formatting tips.

For assistance with how to use Microsoft Word and format course files, contact the Learning Center to schedule an appointment with an Academic Coach.

We recommend using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox at NCC. That way all sites will load consistently.

If you need guidance or have any questions, please contact NCC's Help Desk at helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413.

Acces your Microsoft Office suite in NCCGo. For assistance accessing or installing Office 365, contact NCC's Help Desk at helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413.

For assistance with how to use Office 365 and Microsoft Office, contact the Learning Center to schedule an appointment with an Academic Coach.

Refer to our Office 365 video playlist for tutorials.

Microsoft Office 365 Help:

For assistance, contact NCC's Help Desk at helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413.

Read and Write is a literacy software program available to all faculty, staff and students. It is another tool you can use to check your course materials for accessibility. Students may download RW in the Student Information tab>Blackboard and Technology Help.

  • Click on Read and Write link
  • Click on download tab and install program; sign in using your NCC email and password

*Please note: if downloading to a Chrome book, it is recommended to download the Chrome extension.

**The mobile app is in your app store. No payment information is required.

***Video tutorials on various features may be found under the information icon “i” in the upper right-hand corner of the toolbar (Windows) or under the HELP tab (Macs).

Video tutorials of features also found at: TextHelp Video Tutorials

RW summary and links also available: Read & Write Padlet

For help with SafeAssign, view the SafeAssign Help Center or contact Online Learning at onlinelearning@northampton.edu or 610.332.6089.

Instructors can use the SafeAssign service to check submitted assignments for plagiarism potential. SafeAssign compares submitted assignments against a set of academic papers to identify areas of overlap between the submitted assignment and existing works.

SafeAssign Originality Report provides detailed information about the matches found between a student's submitted paper and existing sources.

Splashtop is a tool that allows students to log in to on campus computer resources to use campus based software packages. It is only used for specific courses that focus in architecture, Cisco, or communication.

It is not available to all NCC students. For assistance with this product, contact NCC's Help Desk at helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413.

For help with your Cengage textbooks, go to cengage.force.com/s/ or call 800.354.9706.

For help with your Lumen textbook, go to lumenlearning.zendesk.com

For help with your Macmillan textbook, visit macmillan.force.com or call 800.936.6899.

Hours of operation for tech support: Monday–Thursday 8 AM–3 AM ET; Friday 8 AM–12 AM ET; Saturday 12 PM–8 PM ET; Sunday 12 PM–3 AM ET

MATH020, MATH022, and MATH026 courses feature McGraw-Hill E-learning electronic textbooks paired with ALEKS.

ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to easily determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a MATH course.

For help with ALEKS, please contact dhigham@northampton.edu.

For help with your McGraw Hill, SimNet, or Connect textbooks call 800.331.5094, or go to:

Instructors: mheducation.com/highered/support

Students: mheducation.com/highered/support/student.html

Additional resources:
MGH Connect Computer Compatibility Check
MGH System Status Site

For help with your Norton E-book or learning tools, visit wwnorton.com/tech-support.

For help with your Revel textbook, go to pearsonhighered.com/revel/students/support.

For help with your Sage ebook, go to us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/technical-support.

Log into Workday through NCCGo using your NCC credentials. Students are provided with Workday login instructions in the acceptance email from the college.

Within NCCGo, you can view Training & Resources for help with Workday and more.

For help with Workday, you can also contact NCC's Help Desk at helpdesk@northampton.edu or  610.861.5413.

For assistance connecting to Zoom, contact NCC's Help Desk at helpdesk@northampton.edu or 610.861.5413.

For assistance with how to use zoom, contact the Learning Center and schedule an appointment with an Academic Coach.

Additional Help:
Zoom system requirements for Windows, macOS, and Linux
Zoom system requirements for iOS, iPadOS, and Android
Using Zoom on a Chromebook
FAQ from Zoom

Additional References

Check out these additional resources to get you ready and connected for a successful semester!

Contact NCC's Help Desk

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us:

Monday - Wednesday: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm ET
Thursday - Friday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm ET
Saturday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm ET
Sunday: Closed

Phone: 610.861.5413
Email: helpdesk@northampton.edu