Resources
I've got you covered!
I know it's frustrating when you need help and feel alone. Although you are learning online, we are here for you! Who is "we"? Counselors, success coaches, student tutors, faculty (including me), librarians, and your peers are ready to help you reach your educational goals. We can help you with your course schedule, choosing classes, finding student aid, receiving crisis and career counseling, getting help with study skills, locating and using resources in the library databases... you name it, we have someone who can help. To locate the service you need, see the CRC Student Support Resources list below.
When to reach out:
Do you have a personal question or emergency? Contact me directly.
If you have a personal question, your best bet may be to contact me via the Canvas inbox. This is the quickest and easiest way to get a message to me.
From our course, click on "Inbox" in the left global navigation menu to access your Canvas conversations.
Or, simply click on the "Help" icon. A dialogue box with a series of help options will open. Contacting your instructor is the top choice. Most emails are returned within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. I do check my email over the weekend, but it may take me longer to respond.
Do you have a course question? Post to the "Ask the Professor" discussion.
If you have a question about the course--especially a question your peers might be pondering, as well--please post it to the "Ask the Professor" discussion. I will respond within 24 hours (I will be slower on the weekends) and, even better, like crowdsourcing, a peer may jump in and answer your question.
Do you have a technology question? Check the module resources.
In this course you are going to be asked to work with technology, and, well, technology doesn't always work the way we think it should! To stay sane, and keep your friends, family, and coworkers sane, you will need to develop a balanced approach to technology frustration. The keyword is balanced. Here is the two-pronged approach to balancing technical woes:
Have grit. Google it, watch YouTube videos, and get to know your Canvas Guides. Learning how to find and use tech resources will save you so much time and frustration. Solving a problem on your own is empowering and it also establishes confidence that you can draw upon the next time you encounter a problem.
Ask for help. Don't try so hard to figure it out yourself that you end up frustrated. When you feel your blood pressure rise or begin yelling at your computer, that means it's time to take a deep breath and contact me. We'll figure it out together. :)
Do you need help finding the right support service, finding a tutor, or navigating college paperwork?
CRC has Student Success Coaches who can answer all your questions and point you toward the appropriate service. Jennifer Nishizaki-Ngo is the Science Success Coach, and she is here to help. Follow the link to the success coach website and scroll down to her profile to schedule an appointment or email her with questions.
What's my role in supporting you?
As your instructor, I am your first contact for help you need in this course. If something doesn't make sense, sounds confusing, or you'd just like more information, let me know. Use that Canvas Inbox we talked about. If you're having difficulty using Canvas, let me know. But if Canvas stops working for some reason or you're experiencing technical issues, please see Canvas Assistance below.
Provided that you maintain close contact with me throughout the course, I'll do my best to use my experience to support you. I will strive to anticipate when and where you will need our help and provide meaningful feedback in a timely manner.
Need Canvas help?
For technical difficulties with Canvas, select "Help" in the Canvas Global Navigation menu. The help menu provides you with many options for getting help with Canvas.
I suggest bookmarking the Canvas Student Guides, as well. There are guides for mobile device users too, with FAQs and step-by-step instructions for how to do tasks in Canvas.
CRC Student Support Resources
CRC has a ton of resources to support students. I've listed a few of them here along with a short description. It can be difficult to figure out which services are right for you. If you need some guidance locating the appropriate service, please contact the Science Student Success Coach, Jennifer Nishizaki-Ngo. Jennifer is an incredible person, and the perfect navigator to connect you with the support you need.
If you'd like to learn more about these services and to determine your eligibility, please check out the CRC Student Support Resources page.
Financial Aid: money shouldn't get in the way of getting a college education. The Financial Aid Office is here to help you get the financial support you need to afford college.
Counseling: the Counseling Center provides prospective and current students with comprehensive academic, career, personal, and crisis counseling necessary to successfully reach their goals.
CalWorks: is a State-wide public assistance program that provides cash aid and services to eligible families that have a child or children in the home.
EOPS provides support services to students meeting specific educational and economic criteria, as well as students from underrepresented groups
CARE is a state-funded program which provides students with academic and personal counseling, career planning, peer support & tutoring, workshops, financial aid in child care and transportation, and meal vouchers.
Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS)
Students who may need an academic accommodation based on the impact of a disability and who require instructional, curricular, or test accommodations are responsible for making such needs known to the instructor as early as possible. Every possible effort will be made to accommodate students in a timely and confidential manner. Individuals who request accommodations must be registered with the Office of Disabled Students Programs and Services which authorizes accommodations for students with disabilities. The philosophy of DSPS is to encourage maximum independence and personal empowerment through a successful educational experience.
NetTutor and CRC Tutoring Services
We are very fortunate to have tutoring services as part of our course. I strongly suggest you use CRC's tutoring service to help you with your projects in this course. In addition to tutoring offered by the Tutoring Center, you can access free online tutoring through NetTutor. NetTutor is available during hours when the CRC Tutoring Center is closed: Monday through Friday from 6pm-10am and 24 hrs on Saturday and Sunday.
Reading and Writing Center: the Reading and Writing Center (RWC) staff help students understand required reading, write essays and other assignments, complete language homework, find resources, and proofread their own writing.
