Starting Online Classes

Fall Quarter 2008
Online Classes Begin On Monday, September 22nd, But Not Before 8:00 AM PST.
Your Vista Course Site And Classes Will Become Available At That Time.

This page provides important instructions for a proper entry into Blackboard Vista, your BCC online classroom.
You may also enter Vista directly from your MyBCC portal.
Print this page now. You will need it later.

Read ALL instructions below before attempting to enter your Blackboard VISTA course site for the first time. Username and password information is in Step 4 BELOW.

(1)  If your computer uses the new Microsoft operating system also called "Vista," it's critical that you read the notices, printed in red, on the equipment and skills page.  Go there now.

(2) NOTE:  If you intend to create a shortcut to your Blackboard Vista site, bookmark this "Starting Online Courses" instruction page or the link below ONLY.  DO NOT bookmark any website address (URL) in the Blackboard Vista site. If you do save any other link in the Blackboard site you may receive an error message and will be blocked when you next attempt to log in and must delete that link to be able to access your course site.

(3)  Go to http://vista.bcc.ctc.edu/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct but do not log in at this point (the instructions about how to do so are in Step 4 below). Read the information on the Vista log-in page about pop-up blockers and the JAVA Security Certificate and then run a browser check (click on the gray "Check Browser" button).

• If you are notified that you have one or more pop-up blockers running, you must disable all of them before you will be able to move forward into the course site. Follow directions from your internet service provider, browser or security software to disable all pop-up blockers for the Blackboard VISTA site. Information detailing how to do this is available in Configure your Browser for Blackboard Vista.
• If the browser check indicates that you need to do so, verify, then delete old versions and download the current version of JAVA. Information detailing how to do this is available in Configure your Browser for Blackboard Vista.

(4) To Log In,  return to the Vista log-in window (at http://vista.bcc.ctc.edu/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct) and fill in your:

• Username -> username is your BCC Student ID.
• Password  -> Your password is your birth date, entered in mmddyy format. For example, May 5, 1980 = 050580; November 2, 1985 = 110285
• Click OK. You will arrive at your Vista 4.0 My Blackboard menu where you will see all the courses in which you are correctly registered.

(5)  Click on a course title to start that class.

NOTE: When the registration process for a course is complete, the course name will automatically appear on the VISTA menu. If you do not see your course on the Blackboard VISTA menu and it is after 8 a.m. on the start day for online classes, then you have not yet been put into the course database.  Please contact your instructor or the Distance Ed. Office so you can be added to the Blackboard VISTA class database. Instructor’s BCC e-mail addresses are located on the course description pages which are linked from the distance course schedule.  The Distance Ed. Office Contact info is below.If you cannot get your user name and password to work, confirm that you are not trying to get into the class before the start date of the class, and make sure you have done a browser check (browser check is a link to the right of the log in form) and followed all recommendations to tune up your computer to enable access.

QUESTIONS?

You can call us at 425-564-2438 (toll free 1-877-641-2712), or come to Room A140 on the BCC campus. Of course, you can always email us too!

But remember that, whether you call us or email us, for us to help, you must provide the following information:

• your registered name,
• your telephone number,
• your BCC student ID number,
• your Vista password,
• the course name and number,
• the instructor's name,
• and a detailed account of the problem(s) you are encountering.

Please jot down all that information and have it handy when you call. (Fill in the answers to those questions if you email us.)