Welcome to Flexible Education at CCM
At CCM we understand that every student has different life commitments and preferences in the way they experience learning. That is why we offer three different learning environments – in-person, hybrid, and online.
Online courses are asynchronous and high-engagement. This means that there are no required real-time virtual meetings, but you are expected to engage with your faculty members and peers on a regular basis through activities, such as discussion boards, blogs, and other opportunities. There are no on-campus requirements for online courses. In hybrid courses, students experience both the in-person and online environment. It is important to note that distance learning is not a self-paced or self-study learning environment.
Be sure to check out our 411 overview and orientation for distance education at CCM.
Flexible Learning Formats
Online – Virtual Campus courses are fully online courses, certificates or programs designed to provide students quality distance education consistent with the Virtual Campus’ mission statement. Unless otherwise noted, Virtual Campus courses were developed to be taught without specific meeting times. There is no on-campus requirement. Students in online courses should log into Blackboard on the first day of the term.
Hybrid – Virtual Campus courses are a combination of the traditional face-to-face instruction and online sessions. This may include some on-campus labs with reduced in-classroom time or other instructional designs that meet the needs of the course materials. Students in hybrid courses should log into Blackboard on the first day of the term and not wait until the first on campus meeting.
General Information
Registering for Flexible Learning Courses
Before a student can register for any course, they must be admitted to the college through the Admissions Office. If you are a visiting student, follow the instructions offered on the admissions link. Registering for a distance learning course is the same procedure as for on-campus CCM courses. If a section is closed, an online waiting list is now available in Titans Direct. Distance Education courses have course caps and may be closed to enrollment.
Confirmation Information
Just prior to the start of the semester/session an email to your @student.ccm.edu account is sent to registered Distance Education students. All students (including visiting) have a CCM email account. It will contain important information about logging onto Blackboard and general information. Remember, your course(s) will not appear on Blackboard before 8am on the first day of the term.
Orientation
Be sure to check out the Student Guide to Distance Learning for all pertinent information regarding distance education at CCM. Some instructors have mandatory orientation. To check for mandatory orientations, please be sure to view Titans Direct. Check the Specific Course Information.
Check out the orientation modules at THE 411 – LEARNING at CCM
Still have questions? Contact Distance Education at 973-328-5332 or email vclearning@ccm.edu.
Textbook Information
Textbooks for distance education classes may come with special on line components. Be sure that when you purchase your books from the bookstore, you request the book that corresponds to your section. Some books come with special access codes. You will need to enter a secondary site to complete your course work. You may purchase books in person at the CCM bookstore or ordering your books online here.
Blackboard
Bb Student Mobile App is available in IOS, Android and the Windows app stores for free. Please note the app may not mirror the full-version of Blackboard that you access via your desktop/laptop.
View Blackboard help for assistance with most commonly used tools in Blackboard.
Online Proctoring
Smarter Proctoring is an online proctoring service that may be used in some of your courses. This allows you to take your exam from the comfort of your home. This automated service is available 24/7 and does not require scheduling. Follow these instructions to get ready to take an exam with Smarter Proctoring. Maintaining a strong and stable internet connection is essential (ie: make sure no one else is using the internet while you’re testing. Things like watching Netflix/Hulu or playing online video games will slow down the connection and may disconnect you from your exam.
Click this link to view Smarter Proctoring’s privacy and practices policy.
County College of Morris uses Smarter Proctoring for online exam proctoring. If a student does not want to use Smarter Proctoring, a student may choose to sit for a proctored exam at an authorized testing site. If a student chooses to use an authorized testing site, they must contact the faculty in writing no later than 10 business days prior to the scheduled exam. The student is responsible for any out-of-pocket fees.
Online Tutoring
Brainfuse – Free supplemental 24/7 on demand tutoring support and resources across a wide range of subjects. Online tutoring is an added support service to assist all CCM students, especially those who may only be taking distance education courses. Furthermore, online tutoring addresses the needs of students during the evenings, weekends, holidays, winter and summer terms, when the Center may not be open or operating with limited hours and available in-person tutors. Click here for student access instructions.
Hardware Requirements
- PC computer running at 3.0 GHz CPU or greater with Windows 10 or higher
- OR an Apple Macintosh 10.12 or higher
Minimum 4GB RAM, 8GB or higher strongly recommended - Internet connection, Broadband preferred
Web camera, microphone and speakers
Updated anti-virus software - Select Browser Checker to determine your system compatibility with Blackboard
Is Distance Education for You?
Take the quiz below and get an idea of your “chances for success” as an online student. While there are many points to consider when making a decision about online learning, ultimately you are in the best position to know whether it fits your personal learning style and lifestyle. If you have the right qualities to be a successful online student, you will probably find it to be a very convenient and rewarding alternative to traditional classroom learning.
Virtual Student Resources
Important Reminder: Students will not be able to register/add an online course once it begins. It is especially important to pay attention to payment due dates so that you are not deleted from the course for non payment.