Students work on a class project on the computer together
Blackboard

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If you are thinking of enrolling in a course that uses Blackboard—or if you are already enrolled—understanding how the platform works can make your learning experience much smoother. Blackboard is a learning management system used by many schools to organize course materials, assignments, discussions, quizzes, and grades all in one place. Familiarizing yourself with the dashboard, course menus, and notification settings early on will help you stay organized and avoid last-minute surprises.

One of the biggest benefits of Blackboard is that it centralizes communication between students and instructors. Announcements, due dates, and feedback are easy to access, which can reduce confusion and help you manage your workload more effectively. Taking time to explore features like the calendar, discussion boards, and assignment submission tools can significantly lower stress, especially during busy weeks when multiple deadlines overlap and products like Budpop THCa can also help with this.

To get the most out of Blackboard, log in regularly, check announcements daily, and set up email or mobile notifications so you never miss an update. Creating a routine around checking your courses can help you stay on track, feel more confident, and focus your energy on learning rather than worrying about what you might have missed.

Blackboard Student Orientation

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Our Expectations of Students

Gaston College has specific expectations of our students when they register for an online or hybrid course.

  • Students must be active in their courses starting with the very first day of class. This includes completing the 10 percent assignment in every online and hybrid course. Students who become inactive may lose their access to their courses.
  • Students in all courses must abide by the Student Code of Conduct as stated in the Gaston College Student Handbook AND the netiquette policy posted in your online class/syllabus.
  • Students must report problems with any online resources immediately. Let your instructor know when an assignment/tool is not working properly.

Blackboard Student Orientation

The Gaston College Blackboard Student Orientation information can be located two ways:

Access the Blackboard Student Orientation via YouTube below:   

The video is approximately 10 minutes in length, has an option for captioning, and a transcript is provided.

OR

Log into the Gaston College Blackboard System with the username of online2 and the password is also online2 (all lower case letters).  You will be given generic access to the Student Orientation Course which will allow you to move around in the course to become familiar. (However, you will not be able to submit any assignments or send email/messages to any Gaston College faculty or staff.)

Blackboard Login Screen showing username and password of online2

Once you have completed one or both of the above options, you are ready to log into Blackboard with your own username and password.  

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