Dear Student,
Thank you for bearing with us as we have continued to respond to the rapidly evolving health threat associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. We know that this has created a lot of uncertainty and concern. I know this is a LONG message. But please read it entirely because of the importance and timeliness of the information.
To continue to develop strategies for prevention and protection, Cerro Coso is taking the next step of transitioning most on-ground classes online. Faculty have been working on this preparation, and this includes classes at every campus location. This is a preventative measure to help slow the spread of the virus throughout our service area while supporting as much as possible the completion of courses. In order to allow faculty and students some additional time for this transition, the college will close on-ground classes from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20. All other services and supports will remain open and available, including library, tutoring, proctoring, and counseling.
**Note that courses already online will continue according to the syllabus during this period of on-ground class closure.**
We are aware that this transitioning of classes into remote delivery creates a variety of potential challenges for students who may not be familiar with online classes and/or who have challenges with access to technology. Below are resources that you can access immediately to help prepare for this transition:
Module 1 - Introduction to Online Learning
- Introduction to Online Learning (12 min)
- Getting Tech Ready (12 min)
- Prepare Your Computer for Canvas - Test Your Computer Readiness
- Log in to Your Online Class
- Navigate Your Online Course Successfully
Module 2 - Tips for Success in Online Courses
- Organizing for Online Success (10 min)
- Online Study Skills and Managing Time (12 min)
- Communication Skills for Online Learning (13 min)
- Online Reading Strategies (9 min)
Module 3 - About Your Campus Support Team and Support Resources
For students who have challenges with access to technology, please note that computers remain open access for student use at all campus locations: Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Bishop, and Mammoth.
In addition to these resources, the college is making available layers of training and support to assist any student who wants or needs support in moving online. You will receive additional communications about these available resources on your campus and about the variety of tools available for you to stay connected to your faculty, fellow students and the college, tools such as the following:
- Conference: Conferences are primarily used for virtual lectures, virtual office hours, and student groups.
- Chat: The Chat tool allows students and teachers to interact in real time.
- Conversation: Conversations is the messaging tool used instead of email to communicate with a course, a group, an individual student, or a group of students. Students and faculty can communicate with other people in the course at any time.
- Collaboration: Collaboration allow multiple users to work together on the same document at the same time. Collaborative documents are saved in real-time, meaning a change made by any of its users will be immediately visible to everyone.
- Discussion: Discussion allow both instructors and students to start and contribute to as many discussion topics as desired. Discussions allows for interactive communication between two or more people; users can participate in a conversation with an entire class or group.
- Pronto: Pronto allows for communication in a Canvas class, both directly through direct (one-one) messages and whole class streams. Pronto can be used in Canvas course on a desktop or as a mobile app. It is a real-time student-to-student and instructor-to-student app.
- Joining Zoom: Zoom is used for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems.
All offices remain open to provide tutoring, counseling, library and other student services. Please use the departmental directory for any needed numbers for your campus.
Student Employees - Please expect to continue to report for work. You will receive a direct communication if this changes at some point.
Finally, please remember that when it comes to events and group gatherings, the college has put into effect the California Department of Public Health guidelines that has unfortunately led to the rescheduling of a number of events. We will continue to monitor and respond as we get closer to various events. The guidelines are currently in effect for the rest of March.
Please know that we are here to assist and support you in completing your courses! Do not hesitate to reach out for assistance and to communicate if you have needs we may not have considered. We understand that this is a stressful and uncertain time, and we are still open and available to assist you. Please also remember that this is a rapidly evolving situation so our response will be rapidly evolving as well. Please monitor your email and the college website for updates. Keep an eye out for updates which will contain "COVID-19" in the subject line. Stay in touch with us and take care of yourself!
Sincerely,
Heather
Heather Ostash
Vice President of Student Services
Cerro Coso Community College
3000 College Heights Blvd.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
hostash@cerrocoso.edu
(760) 384-6249
