Spring 2023 PTC 101 Handbook

TO PTC 101

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

PTCSTUDENT

Clubs&Organizations

Clubsandorganizationsplayanimportantroleinstudentlife.Theycanhelpyoutodevelopleadershipskills,promoteinteractionwithprofessionalsinthefield,provide educationalprogramsforthecampuscommunityandprovideasocialnetworkformembers Currentclubsandorganizationsinclude:

ALPHACHIEPSILON – a chapter of Lambda Alpha Epsilon, the American Criminal Justice Association.

CHRISTIANSTUDENTUNION – Open to all students, faculty and staff, the club provides a ministry to the campus community

COLLEGIATEFFA – Collegiate FFA is a form of membership within the National FFA Organization

CVTCLUB – Open to CVT students, this club promotes cardiovascular care and heart disease awareness in our community.

DIVERSITYINACTION – Open to all students who have a desire to promote equality among the student population.

ECDCLUB – The ECD Club is open to any student in the Early Care and Education program

FULLTHROTTLE – To promote leadership among students in the automotive technology program.

HEALTHOCCUPATIONSSTUDENTSOFAMERICA(HOSA)– For students enrolled in health care programs.

HORTICULTURECLUB – Cultivates relationships between students & provides opportunities to dig deeper into horticultural topics.

HUMANSERVICESCLUB – With the motto of “helping people help people” and open to all students, members of this organization are involved in social change.

LAMBDACHINU – For ADN students & graduates; the honor society recognizes academic & clinical excellence in nursing.

LITERARYANDARTSJOURNALCLUB

MEDICALASSISTINGCLUB – Open to all medical assisting students

NATIONALASSOCIATIONOFLICENSEDPRACTICALNURSES – a professional organization that encompasses licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and PN/VN students and affiliates

NATIONALTECHNICALHONORSOCIETY – Recognizes outstanding student achievement in Career and Technical Education.

PHITHETAKAPPAINTERNTIONALHONORSOCIETY – Open to students in associate degree programs, the four hallmarks are scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service.

PIEDMONTTABLETOPCLUB– Open to all students who enjoy playing games. Operates on the Greenwood Campus.

PNCARECLUB – Open to students enrolled in the PN clinical program.

PTCSALUDAGAMECLUB – Open to all Saluda students who enjoy playing games

RADTECHCLUB – Open to all radiologic technology students, the club is involved with promoting the rad tech profession.

RESPIRATORYCARECLUB – For respiratory care and pre-respiratory care students

RXTECHS – A club for pharmacy technician students, the club’s mission is networking, personal and professional growth, and service to the community.

SCRIBETRIBE – Scribe Tribe gathers to encourage others to write, brainstorm ideas and perform works.

STUDENTNURSESASSOCIATION – A national organization open to nursing and pre-nursing students to help in professional development.

STUDENTOCCUPATIONALTHERAPYASSISTANT(SOTA)CLUB – Comprised of students enrolled in the OTA program on the Newberry Campus.

SURGICALTECHNOLOGYCLUB – Open to all surgical technology and pre-surgical technology students

TAUUPSILONALPHA – Honor society for students who have declared a major in human services

TRANSFERCONNECT- A club for students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution to meet other students and stay informed

VETERINARYTECHNOLOGYCLUB – A student chapter of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.

VIP(VERYINVOLVEDPERSONS)CLUB – Provides local leadership and community service opportunities for all Newberry County Campus students.

YOUNGFARMERSANDRANCHERSCLUB - grows and develops young Farm Bureau members and provides them opportunities and experiences to strengthen their leadership and ensure effective Farm Bureaus

BRIGHTSPACE D2L STUDENT TRAINING SESSIONS & RESOURCES

All new students & students taking an online course for the first time are encouraged to participate in Brightspace (D2L) training. PTC has several training options including live student assistance sessions, self-paced training, & customized training.

ONLINE SELF-PACED TRAINING

Learn to use Brightspace (D2L) using the Are You D2L Ready? information located on the D2L homepage. Videos, guides and a self-assessment quiz will ensure you have the skills necessary to successfully use D2L.

More in depth training is available in the Self-Paced Training Course. In addition to video tutorials and guides you will also have the ability to interact with the learning environment by completing sample activities. To take part in the online Self-Paced Training Course click on the Discover link on the D2L home page and select Enroll in Course. (Earn 15 Piedmont Points)

BRIGHTSPACE (D2L) LIVE STUDENT ASSISTANCE SESSIONS

One-on-one assistance is available by appointment. This D2L student assistance is provided in both virtual and on-campus formats (including all county campuses).

To schedule an appointment, please complete the D2L Student Assistance Request Form.. This form can also be found in the Quick Launch section of the Pathway homepage using the D2L Help button.

Technical Support

For technical and system information check the User Support widget on the home page. PTC Helpdesk: 864-941-8627

For tips on how to be successful in your online course, check out the Pathway to Online Success tip sheet: www.ptc.edu/online_success

D2L Brightspace Pulse

Brightspace Pulse is a D2L app that helps you stay on track with your courses. You can use it to stay up to date with course calendars, assignments, grades, and announcements. Real-time alerts keep you connected even during the busiest times.

MORE TIME STUDYING.

With a quick glance, you can check your courses to see assignments and tests that are coming up. You can even add your own personal milestones.

LESS TIME ORGANIZING.

You can make better decisions about how to handle your workload, submit assignments, and prepare for tests—all while keeping the stress level low.

ALWAYS UP TO DATE.

Real-time alerts keep you up to date with the latest announcements, and grade postings.

Now available from the App Store and Google play. *

*Thelatestversion of BrightspacePulseis supportedon devices with iOS 12+or Android6.0+. Older versions of Pulsewill continueto work on devices with iOS11(Iphone5cand back) orAndroid5.0 (2015~phones andback)

Brightspace (D2L) Quick Guide

Getting Started

To Login to yourD2L account: Goto (www.ptc.edu). Click on the PTC PATHWAY link. Enteryour usernameand password. Click Login. Click on theD2L Login link.

Note:You will needto change yourpassword whenyoulogin thefirst time.

Navigation - My Home and the MainNavigation Bar

My Homeis yourstarting point inside D2L. On thehomepage,you will find Help,Resources, and other information. The My Courses areawill display course tiles afteryoupin them. (Rememberyou cannot entercourses untilthe first day of class.)

The Minibar is located at thetop of apage. Itis yourmain navigation tool to courses, email, alerts, and personalsettingsin D2L.

The course selectorlists yourcourses. You can select specificcourses fromthe course selectorand pin themto the topof the list for easiernavigation.Pinned courses alsodisplay as tiles in your My Courses area.

To pincourses, click on the course selectorin the Minibar andselect the pin icon beside thecourse title.

Navigation The Course Homepage andNavbar

The Course Home is similar tothe D2L My Home butcontains course related information and tools. The Announcements areais whereinstructors will share important information with you.The Calendar displays course related events. The course homepagenavbar contains links totools usedforthe course. The titleof the course will always bring you back tothe course homepage. The home icon will return youto the My Home page.

TIPS

Are You D2L Ready? contains resources forusers who are newto D2L.

Run a System Check on everycomputeryou use toaccess D2L.

Be sure toclear yourbrowsercookies and cache oftento preventtechnical difficulties. Be sure to setyoursecurity questionsin Pathway sothat youcan resetyour passwordwhenneeded. Notification settingsallow youto setup periodic updatesby email or textmessageabout Assignments, Quizzes, Grades, or Announcements

Updated: December7, 2021

Contact: Gilliam.k@ptc.edu

The D2L Brightspace Pulse app is available forAndroid or iOS mobile devices. The app allows you toaccess and view details aboutupcoming Assignments,Discussions, and Quizzes as wellas Announcementsfrom yourinstructors. You can download Brightspace Pulse from the AppleStore or GooglePlay.

D2L Course Tools

The Content Tool contains the main course material for yourcourses. Yoursyllabus, assignmentschedule and othercourse documentscan befound by accessing this link from thecourse navigation bar.

Frequently Used Course Tools: Discussion, Assignments, Quizzes

The Discussions Tool allows you to communicate with yourinstructor and peerswithout having tobe online at the same time. Tostart a thread: 1. Click Discussion. 2. Chooseand click on aDiscussion Topic. 3. Click Start a New Thread.

The Assignments Tool is usedforhomework assignments.Homework assignments appearin folders. To submita file foran assignment: 1. Click Assignments. 2. From the list of folders, chooseand click thefolderlink. 3. Click Add a File 4. Click Upload. 5. Locate and click the file you wishto submit fromyourfile documents. 6. Click Add. 7. Click Submit

The Quizzes Tool is used by instructors forquizzes, exams,and tests.Some instructors may require examsand quizzesto be proctoredortimed. To use the Quizzes Tool: 1. Click Quiz. 2. Click on thequiz you wish totake. Read the quiz details and instructions. Be sureto noteany enforcedtime limits. 3. Begin the quiz. D2L automatically saves youranswers as you progress throughthe quiz. 4. When you have finishedyour quiz, click Submit Quiz. 5. Click Submit Quiz on the Quiz Submission Confirmation page 6. Reviewyour answersand score on the Quiz Submissions page.

Note: Instructorsmay not allow you to review questionsuntil after the quiz period hasended.

Frequently Used CommunicationTool: Classlist

The Classlist provides alist ofall yourclassmates and instructors with adirect email link.

Frequently Used ProgressTools: Grades,ClassProgress

The Grades Tool showsthegrades for yourcourse.

The Class Progress Tool displays yourcourse progress with content, discussions, assignments, quizzes and more.

Updated: December7, 2021 Contact: Gilliam.k@ptc.edu

In-person tutoring sessions are available on the Greenwood Campus and County Campuses (depending on tutor availability). Sessions can also be conducted virtually if the student prefers this method.

Students schedule appointments in collaboration with their tutors to allow for as much flexibility as possible and at times that are convenient for both.

Tutors assist students with understanding course material and may offer suggestions about how to study, take notes, or manage your time. Tutors are not allowed to complete work for students or give answers to assignments.

Log into your Pathway account and go to the Student tab. There you will find a “Request Tutoring Services” link. You can also find the link on the PTC website at www.ptc.edu/tutoring. Call (864) 941-8359 if you need help completing the request.

If a tutor is available for the course, students can often be matched with a tutor within 1-2 business days after submitting a request. The tutor will then reach out to the student to schedule the initial session, which will depend on the availability of the student and the tutor.

Yes, if a tutor is available for the course.

We have tutors available for many different courses, but occasionally tutors may not be readily available for some courses. If that happens, we will work to find a tutor and will communicate with the instructor of the course to determine if he/she is available to work with the student until a tutor becomes available.

Because students and tutors coordinate their sessions, you should contact your tutor to cancel sessions and reschedule. It is important to maintain open communication with your tutor.

Yes. NetTutor is an online tutoring resource available to students on the Resources tab in D2L. Faculty also provide open labs throughout the fall and spring semesters. Information on these labs can be found in the Passport to Success newsletter in the Academic Resources area on the PTC website, along with tips on note taking, time management, and managing test anxiety.

How to Use NetTutor

What is NetTutor

NetTutor is an online tutoring service available to all PTC students free of charge. Learners have the ability to connect with tutors 24/7 for assistance in many subject areas. Learners can connect with a tutor either synchronously (in real-time), or asynchronously (submit a question and await a response).

NetTutor Subject Areas

Accounting

Chemistry

Finance

Physics

Spanish

Access NetTutor

Biology

Computer Science

College Skills

Nursing and Allied Health

Political Science

Statistics

To access NetTutor: 1. From the D2L homepage, do one of the following:

Click on Resources and select NetTutor

Business

Economics

Humanities & Social Sciences

Writing

Psychology

Scroll to the Online Tutoring: NetTutor widget and click the NetTutor link.

Connect with a Live Tutor

Live tutoring is available for most subject areas. Tutors are available during scheduled times.

To view the schedule:

1. Access NetTutor.

2. Select the appropriate subject.

3. On the subject dashboard, select the Drop-In Tutoring Hours link.

4. A side panel will display the days and times live tutors are available for drop-in tutoring.

To connect with a live tutor:

1. Access NetTutor during one of the days/times that tutors are available for your subject area.

2. Select the appropriate subject.

3. On the subject dashboard, select Drop in and Meet with a Live Tutor.

Submit a Question to a Tutor

If there is no live tutor available or you are not able to connect during one of the scheduled times, you can drop off your question to receive feedback.

To drop off a question:

1. Access NetTutor.

2. Select the appropriate subject.

3. On the subject dashboard, select the Drop off a Question link.

4. In the pop-up window, enter a question title and click Proceed to Question Entry

5. In the whiteboard provided, enter your question and click Submit Share as much detail as possible about where you need help.

To view answers to dropped off questions:

1. From the subject dashboard, click on the Your {Subject} Locker link.

2. Click on the Question Feedback link.

NetTutor Online Writing Lab

Learners can upload papers and receive feedback from a writing tutor.

To submit a paper for feedback:

1. Access NetTutor.

2. Select Online Writing Lab.

3. On the Online Writing Lab dashboard, select Drop off a Paper.

4. In the space provided enter a name for your paper and provide information describing your assignment.

5. Click Next.

6. Select the areas where you would like to receive feedback.

7. Select the Citation Style and Paper Type

8. Enter the paper length.

9. Click Next.

10. Drag and drop your paper in the area provided or click Choose a File to browse for your paper and select it.

11. Wait for the file to complete loading and select Drop Off Your Paper.

To view paper feedback:

1. From the Online Writing Lab dashboard, click on the Your Online Writing Lab Locker link.

2. Click on the Paper Feedback link.

NetTutor Tutorial Videos

How to use NetTutor: https://youtu.be/Vq6J84Sv2ro

Uploading a Paper in NetTutor: https://youtu.be/ZiJZAurEd_o

NetTutor Technical Support

For technical support or assistance with NetTutor, call 813-674-0660 extension 204 or email support@link-systems.com.

Piedmont Technical College is currently seeking tutors for the main campus and all county campuses (Newberry, Abbeville, Saluda, Laurens, Edgefield, and McCormick). Compensation is based on tutor’s education level: $9.00 -- $16.00 per hour .

Tutors are needed in all subject areas. AN “A” OR “B” IN THE COURSE SUBJECT IS REQUIRED. Anyone who wishes to become a tutor will first need to apply online at www.jobs.sc.gov and follow up with a letter of interest to Tamatha Sells (Tutor Coordinator) at sells.t@ptc.edu .

Our professional counselors are available to assist students with academic concerns such as: Study Skills • Test Anxiety • Critical Thinking Note Taking • Time Management • Academic Probation

We also have printed materials on a variety of academic topics that students can access free of charge.

Sometimes students become overwhelmed with personal issues and don’t know where to turn. Our professional counselors are available to offer assistance with issues such as Grief (death), Divorce, Loss of job, Anger issues, Homelessness, Suicide, etc. Some students just drop by to vent, others are looking for outlets and resources for community agencies.

Have you ever thought “I don’t know what to do? or “I don’t know what my career choices are?”

Our career counselors can assist you with:

• Career assessments – TypeFocus, personality, interests, values, etc.

• Career/job specific resources – CareerOneStop, Candid Career

• Online resources that provide an in-depth look at your career options

• Learning more about yourself so you can make informed career choices

Services are available to students who have disabilities including, but not limited to, visual impairments, hearing impairments, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. A trained counselor is available to support and assist students by coordinating efforts between students, faculty and staff to develop reasonable and appropriate classroom accommodations.

Dean of Counseling and Career Planning: Cindy Klauck – (864) 941-8685

Student Disability Services Counselor: Brenda Dailey – (864) 941-8378 Career Counselors: Susan Hendricks – (864) 941-8345 Amber Campbell – (864) 941-8509

To make an appointment with Career Planning Services, visit www.ptc.edu/ccs

for students DISABILITY SERVICES