Online Learning Resources

A flexible and convenient alternative to taking face-to-face courses.

Athens Technical College’s Online Learning courses include Blended (BL), Online Synchronous (OS), Online Asynchronous (OA), and eCampus (ECP) courses. With these options, students take an active role in their learning to ensure a successful experience.

Online learning courses at ATC are:

Taught by college faculty.

Have the same course content, student learning outcomes, grading policy, and learning criteria as face-to-face courses.

Allow students to interact with the instructor and other students through our online learning management system Blackboard.

Athens Technical College participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

Subscribing Institution

Athens Technical College is a member of Quality Matters.

NC-SARA helps raise the bar on student consumer protections, requiring all SARA-participating institutions and member states to adhere to a set of common standards designed to enhance quality and strengthen oversight of distance learning programs.

Quality Matters course design standards directly support engagement, learner support, transparency, and accessibility, to help students achieve success and meaningful learning experiences.

Online Learning Requirements

All students must complete a Blackboard Orientation before meeting with an advisor and registering for classes.

Online learning courses use the internet for course delivery. Visit the Technology Requirements section below for more information regarding software and hardware requirements.

Students can register for online learning courses through BannerWeb . College advisors can help answer questions about course registration.

Technology Requirements

All courses taught at Athens Technical College use Blackboard as our digital Learning Management System (LMS). Depending on the course type, some classes will utilize Blackboard more than others will. Instructors of all courses post grades in Blackboard, regardless of class type. The types of classes offered are On Campus (OC), Blended (BL), Online Synchronous (OS), and Online Asynchronous (OA), and eCampus (ECP).

Students who take blended, online, and eCampus courses must have consistent access to a computer and reliable internet access. There are specific computer software, Internet browser, and hardware requirements associated with online learning at Athens Technical College.

Online Learners must have daily access to a computer.
The computer’s operating system must be supported by the manufacturer and all security updates installed.
Reliable access to the internet
Google Chrome or Firefox internet browser (Do not use AOL’s web browser to access online courses)
Microsoft Office applications (available to all students through Office 365)

Some courses require specific software that is not required by all courses. You are responsible for obtaining and installing any supplemental software required for your course. Contact your instructor for specific requirements.
Some courses use books that require an Access Key. This Access Key is ONLY available with new books. It is your responsibility to check with the instructor of your online course to determine if the course requires an Access Key. Please do this before you purchase books.

Students planning to travel outside the USA during the semester should notify their instructors as soon as possible. The installation and use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) capable of assigning a U.S.-based IP address is required to access Blackboard while outside the USA. Also, emails originating from another country may not be received by college employees, unless sent using a VPN. The installation, setup, and any costs associated with the VPN are the responsibility of the student.

Proctored Event Policy All online and eCampus courses are required to have at least one proctored activity during the semester. Proctored activities are required learning events for which the student must appear in person and present photo ID, such as a driver’s license or College issued ID, to complete the activity as directed by the instructor. Some instructors may require students to download and use Respondus LockDown Browser to complete the proctored assignment. There is no cost to the student for using Respondus LockDown Browser. In special circumstances, students may complete the proctored activity at an alternate site with the approval of the instructor and/or division dean. Third-party proctors may charge a fee and are the responsibility of the student. For more information, please review our Distance Education Proctor Policy.

If you have any questions regarding Online Learning, please submit a Support Request .

Technical Support

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the learning management system (Blackboard), for your course(s), please follow the three steps below:

Make sure:

your computer meets the software/hardware requirements listed above
your browser has pop-ups enabled
you have all media downloads

If you are still having trouble accessing areas of your Blackboard course, contact your instructor.

If your computer meets requirements and your instructor can’t help

If your computer meets all requirements and your instructor has not been able to solve your technical support issues, submit a support request . You will receive a response within 24 hours on class days.

Many technical problems have to do with the student’s particular Internet Service Provider (ISP) or with his/her hardware or software. In most cases, students will have to contact their ISP for technical support.

NOTE: Athens Technical College cannot resolve problems with your hardware, software, or Internet service.

If you experience major technical difficulties with your computer, you may come to campus and use the computers in the library to complete your coursework.

Notice About Books and Required Access Keys

Some online/hybrid courses use books that require an “Access Key.” This Access Key is ONLY available with new books or when purchased directly from the publisher. It is your responsibility to check with the instructor of your online course to determine if the course will require an Access Key. Please do this before you purchase your books for online/hybrid classes.

Computer labs on campus

All students are welcome to use the computers in the libraries on the Athens, Elbert, and Walton campuses at any time. The libraries on all campuses are open during regular school hours.

Assistive technology is available through the Athens Technical College Library. Please see the library staff for assistance.

Tips for Communicating Online

The following tips for online communication apply to e-mail messages and to discussion forum posting. Remember, you must use your @student.athenstech.edu email address.

Write meaningful subject lines

Your subject line should draw the recipient into the rest of the message. It should provide enough information that the recipient can guess at the content in the body of the message. On the other hand, the subject line shouldn’t be too long, or it will not display in its entirety.

Be careful about humor

Many messages containing ironic or sarcastic humor can be misinterpreted at the other end. Don’t cut the humor, just make sure that people know when you are making a joke (ha!).

Be careful about expressing frustration, anger, or complaints

Minor complaints can sound like major anger without a context, especially if the recipient is in a defensive mood. So if you are complaining, make sure your recipient knows how you would like them to respond.

Make it personal

Put your name and course number in every e-mail you send. Putting the recipient’s name at the top of your message in a situation is a tiny step that makes any message much friendlier. Recalling a personal detail or shared experience also helps. E-mail is a sterile form of communication if you don’t occasionally add these touches.

Use selective emphasis

DON’T PUT MESSAGES IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. IN THE ONLINE WORLD, THIS IS SHOUTING!!! On the other hand, an OCCASIONAL word in all caps, surrounded by *asterisks*, or given its own line can help your meaning come out more clearly. Be careful about the bold, underline, and fancy font options in some modern e-mail programs. The message won’t necessarily look as fancy to the recipient if they don’t have the same e-mail program.

Consider privacy

Remember that system administrators can read any message sent via e-mail. It is also just a click of the “Forward” button away from being passed along to the person you complained about. Be especially careful when you are involved with mailing lists. When you reply with a joke to that message from your friend, you might accidentally be sending your joke to hundreds of other people.

Tips for sending e-mail attachments

When you attach a word processing document to an e-mail message, the instructor may have trouble opening it or reading it if he or she has a different word processor (or different version) than you have. Below are three suggested options to try when attaching documents to e-mail messages. You may have to try all three to find a way that works for the person you’re sending the attachment to.

OPTION ONE

Save your document (either to your hard drive or to your flash/thumb drive). Remember where you saved it.

Open your e-mail program and compose a brief message to the recipient.

In your e-mail program, click on the attachment button. A dialogue box will ask you which file you would like to attach. Remember where you saved your document and select it. This action will attach your document to the e-mail. Then click send.