Online Learning
CT State Community College offers a variety of fully online courses. In fact, you may even be able to complete select degree and certificate programs without ever having to set foot in a classroom!
Additionally, financial aid is available to online students just like for traditional courses, and you will enjoy the same academic support services, such as access to tutoring and campus libraries, as students taking in-person classes.
Getting Started
Registering for an Online Course
Registering for an online credit course is easy! In fact, the process is the same as if you're registering for an in-person course.
Logging In For the First Time
Follow these steps to log into myCTState and Blackboard for your online credit courses.
- Go to my.ctstate.edu
- Enter your NetID and password, and click "Login"
- Find the Blackboard tile and click on the link to access Blackboard
- Alternatively, you may enter Blackboard directly by going to ctccs.blackboard.com
See the "Additional Resources and Assistance" section below for help with your NetID and password.
Navigate Your Online Courses
Once you are in Blackboard, you can click on "Courses" on the left panel. Approximately one week before your classes start, you will see the list of classes that you have registered for. Click on a course title to enter its Blackboard shell. You may switch courses by closing out the current course by clicking on the "X" in the upper left corner and selecting a different course. To avoid a time-out message while you are working on Blackboard, once you are in Blackboard, you will return to the my.ctstate.edu window and logout.
Your course entry page may be the announcements page or a content page. In general, a content page is divided into two parts: the course menu and main page. The course menu shows the links to basic tools such as announcements, discussions, messages, syllabus, course content, etc. When you click on a link on the course menu, the main page displays the tool or the content of the link.
It's important to click on each of the links on the course menu and explore various files and tools provided by your instructor. Usually the first link is the beginning point for your class. Your professor has information on how you should get started with your course. Many courses label this link as "Getting Started" or "Welcome." Click on each of the links within these sections to read the information from your professor. If a file does not open up, you will click on the A sign icon next to the file name and select an alternative format to open up the file. All online courses have a syllabus, and the syllabus link is usually directly located on the course menu. The syllabus in your course serves as your learning guidance. On the course syllabus, pay special attention to the section titled "Evaluation," "Assessment," or "Grading Methods," which shows you what assignments are included and how much weight each assignment counts towards your final grade. Another section on the syllabus is the course outline or course schedule. This section gives you an idea of what you're expected to do each week and when an assignment is due. You should print out the class syllabus and read it closely. Some online courses use folders or learning modules, and each represents a week, a lesson or a session. Many courses use folders or learning modules labeled as "Course Content" on the course menu. When you click on a folder or learning module (such as Week 1) you may see two split windows. Click on a link in the left window, and you will see detailed information about the link in the right window. A folder or learning module is designed to place all necessary files and tools you need for class assignments in a week, a lesson or a unit. Most online courses use discussion boards or forums to engage students in active participation. It's highly recommended to draft your discussion answers in a Microsoft Word file. Save a copy of your answers to your computer and then copy/paste your answers to the discussion message window.
After you've gone through various links located on the course menu or on a course content page, you may explore various tools used in your online course, such as announcements, messages, discussions, tests and assignments.
Courses are available one week prior to the start date, during which time you may go in and get familiar with the format of Blackboard. Course content may not be available until the start date.
Are Online Courses Right For Me?
Online courses are a great way to maintain a flexible schedule that works with your lifestyle but they aren't for everyone. Here are some things to consider before taking an online course:
1. How are your organizational and time-management skills?
Online coursework is often self-guided and independently completed. Successful online students are self-motivated, organized and able to manage their time to ensure all assignments are completed on time.
2. How comfortable are you with technology?
Online courses are, well, online. You must be able to navigate the Internet and the software that online courses are run on (Blackboard Learn).
3. Do you like a challenge?
Don't assume that just because a course is online it won't be as difficult or rigorous as a similar in-person course. You should not sign up for online courses thinking they will somehow be "easier" than taking an in-person counterpart.
Additional Resources and Assistance
NetID
Your NetID is firstname.lastname@ctstate.edu.
If your NetID does not work, use the Look Up NetID tool to search.
Password
If it's your first time logging to my.ctstate.edu you will need to create a password. To do this, enter your NetID (above) and click "Next." Click on “Forgot My Password,” enter the verification characters and click on "Next." A verification code will be sent to your personal email or phone. Enter the verification code to create a new password and follow the new password rule to create a new password. You will then use this password to log on to my.ctstate.edu.
Note: Scheduled downtime will be posted at MyCTState login page or at the Blackboard Institution Page.
If you cannot log onto MyCTState, there are two things you can do:
1. Verify Your NetID and Password
In many cases, our users have mistyped their NetID or password. Be sure to type your NetID correctly as firstname.lastname@ctstate.edu. Example: Jenny.brown@ctstate.edu
If you have never logged on to MyCTState on a campus computer at any of the CT State campuses, you will use your initial password. Keep in mind that your initial password is a combination of first three letters of your birth month, & (Shift+7), and last four digits of your social security number. Remember there is a “&” between your birth month and social security number. The first letter of your birth month needs to be capitalized. You only need to take first three letters of your birth month (capitalized first letter) and last four digit of your SS#. Here is an example, if you are born in April and your last four digits of your SS# is 1234, your initial password is written as Apr&1234.
Other reasons your initial password may not work:
- You do not have a social security number.
- When you first enrolled to a community college in Connecticut years ago, your record in our system was missing either your birth month or social security number
- In rare cases, your birth month or social security numbers may be entered incorrectly in our system.
- You have logged on to a campus computer or have gone to myCTState at my.ctstate.edu to check on financial aid, register a class, or check your grades, you might have changed your password and do not remember it or your password has expired. Your password expires every 180 days.
Regardless of reasons, you can create a new password on your own.
2. Reset Password
- At my.ctstate.edu do one of the following to reset your password
- On the page where you enter your NetID, click on “Can’t access my account”. You will be prompted to enter your NetID (username) and follow the steps to reset your password.
- On the page where you enter the password, click on “Forgot Password.” You will be prompted to enter your NetID (username) and follow the steps to reset your password.
- Call Technical Support Center at 860-723-0221 at any time. This help center support employees and students 24/7, 365 days a year
- Call or visit your campus IT department with your photo ID (student ID or driver’s license) within normal business hours.
Before taking an online course, you will need:
- A supported internet browser
Check your browser to see if it's supported - High-speed access to the Internet
- A computer or laptop: Smartphones and some tablets are not supported for test taking and other activities
Free software you may need in order to access course materials.
- Microsoft Office 365 – Click on this link to learn how to download Office 365 for free through your NCC email
- Java – Microsoft Windows needs the Java Virtual Machine installed to run Java applets like Blackboard Chat and email.
- Google Chrome – Download Google Chrome for Windows, Android, iPhone, iPad
- Mozilla Firefox – Just another browser you can use.
- Microsoft Download Center – All kinds of Microsoft downloads
- Adobe Reader – Allows viewing of documents in portable document format (PDF)
ONLN = Online
Courses in which all instruction and assessment is delivered asynchronously through Blackboard—often in conjunction with publisher-based content. These courses include discussion boards, assignments, projects, assessments, etc. Courses designated as ONLN have completely asynchronous instruction, as well as asynchronous assessment.
OLCR = Online Course with Campus Component
All instruction is asynchronous like ONLN but requires a synchronous on-ground orientation and/or real-time proctored assessments.
HYBR = Hybrid
Combines synchronous on-ground or remote instruction and asynchronous online instruction. This course method is for courses that have required hands-on components that cannot be accomplished online or asynchronously, for example: labs, manufacturing, clinical, technology, or digital arts courses. Students will be required to attend scheduled class sessions on-ground or remotely as noted in the schedule. Due to social distancing requirements, delivery of this instructional method may be limited, or alternatives to on-ground meetings may be implemented.
LRON = Live Remote Online
Live synchronous online sessions are held at specified times using Teams/WebEx/Collaborate. Classes may make use of Blackboard, but instruction is delivered in real-time as noted in the schedule.
There is a Blackboard Learn app available for download. We recommend students and faculty use the Blackboard Learn mobile app only to view and review information, not to complete coursework.
How to log into Blackboard Learn mobile app
- Make sure your mobile device (smartphone or smart tablet) is connected to the internet
- Search for the “Blackboard” app on your mobile device. Download and install the Blackboard app on your mobile device.
- Open the app
- From the Institution drag-down menu, select “CT State Community Colleges.” Then click the “Web Login” button at the bottom of the screen.
- Type your NetID (firstname.lastname@ctstate.edu) and Password, and click on “Sign In.”
Mobile device browsers (Safari, Chrome, etc.)
Do not use mobile devices (e.g. Smartphones -iPhone, Android, etc.; Tablet PCs – iPad) to submit any course assignments (e.g. discussions, email, assignment drop boxes, online tests, etc.) since Blackboard is not fully compatible with mobile devices. You may be able to browse information in your online courses with a mobile device.
Have an alternative plan to access the internet in case you have technical difficulties at home. You may check out a laptop from a college library or use a computer in campus libraries or labs, local libraries, or at a local school or friend/relative’s home.
Blackboard Mobile Learn FAQs
For more information and Frequently Asked Questions about the Blackboard Mobile Learn application, please visit and bookmark this article: Can I use Blackboard on my Smartphone or Tablet?