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If you are a Faculty/Staff member, please visit the Faculty & Staff FAQ page.

Blackboard

Blackboard is the College’s Learning Management System which provides tools for teaching online as well as for on ground courses. All QCC courses have a Blackboard shell that may be used for handouts, online discussion, testing, group work, assignment submission, and grading.

This video explains what Blackboard is, how to logon, how to find your course(s) in Blackboard, what you can find on and how to individualize the Blackboard institution page, how to navigate a Blackboard course, what the Introduction to Blackboard and QCC Resources course is, and what you can find on qcc.edu/help: http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/0h1j8

Please view the How to Login to Blackboard job aid for detailed instructions. 

Vea por favor el documento adjuntado "Cómo iniciar sesión en Blackboard" para instrucciones detalladas.

This video explains what Blackboard is, how to logon, how to find your course(s) in Blackboard, what you can find on and how to individualize the Blackboard institution page, how to navigate a Blackboard course, what the Introduction to Blackboard and QCC Resources course is, and what you can find on qcc.edu/help: http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/0h1j8

If you need to log into the Blackboard website directly

  1. Go to the Blackboard website
  2. Enter Username (Student ID)
  3. Enter Password
  4. Use the drop-down menu next to "Sign in with third-party account" and select "Sign in with your Microsoft account."
  5. Follow the prompts to sign into your QCC Microsoft account. 

Note: if you are already logged onto your Microsoft account, you won't need to enter your username and password. You'll just need to use the drop-down menu next to "Sign in with third-party account" and select "Sign in with your Microsoft account."

If you do not know your password

Click on the Forgot Your Password? (To the right of the Login button) 
A new window will pop open. Enter your First and Last name, and your Username. Your Username is the same one you use for the portal (The Q). 
Click Submit. 
An email will be sent to your QCC email address. This email will contain a link to reset your Blackboard password. Follow the instructions to reset your password. 
Navigate back to the Blackboard website, and enter your username and the new password that you just reset to log into Blackboard. 

If you need further assistance, please contact the IT Service Desk at 508.854.4427 or help [at] qcc.mass.edu.

Blackboard Learn support is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

You can access our help by one of the following ways:

  1. Review Blackboard Learn Help for Students.
  2. You can call the IT Service Desk (508.854.4427) and follow the prompts for Blackboard Help.
  3. You can email help [at] qcc.mass.edu from your school email address.

At this time, QCC recommends using Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For more information, please see this Blackboard Help page.

Course enrollments are uploaded to Blackboard daily. If you have added or dropped courses, wait 24 hours before contacting the Help Desk. If your course list is still incorrect after that time, then contact the IT Help Desk.

Contact your instructor. Your instructor controls the availability of all course content.

Unfortunately, the information is probably lost permanently and you will need to recreate it. Contact your instructor immediately.

Here are some reasons why you may have been kicked out:

  • The internet connection dropped.
  • The browser was refreshed.
  • Your browser timed out due to inactivity. Blackboard has a security setting that logs you out if it doesn't receive any input for a period of time. Note: Typing into a text box doesn't count as activity. Saving periodically does count. Save frequently.

These tips might help to prevent future issues:

  • Use a wired connection if possible when taking a test. Wireless internet connections are less reliable.
  • Do not refresh the browser page.
  • Do not close the browser window
  • Do not click the browser's back button.
  • If possible, type out the text in an external application like Notepad and then paste it into Blackboard Learn. Working offline first ensures that your work in progress will not be lost.
  • If you are working in assignments, save your work in progress. Saving often helps avoid any browser timeout issues.

Blackboard Learn doesn't keep a record of emails sent or received. To locate an email message you sent, do the following:

  • Student: Login to your Qmail account and check messages in the Sent folder
  • Faculty: Login to your QCC account and check messages in the Sent folder

You can find Blackboard tutorials on this website: https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Original

Don't know where to start?

We can help! Schedule a session with a Tutor in the General Academic Areas Tutoring Center!

  • Call us at 508.854.4279
  • Email us at gaa [at] qcc.mass.edu
  • Visit the GAA Website

Students can also contact the Online Learning Coaches

Video about this service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJZ35h7k0zA 

If you need assistance from an Online Learning Coach, use one of these contact options:  
Email: OnlineCourseHelp [at] qcc.mass.edu   
Phone: 508.854.7455  
Starfish: We are listed in your Success Network.  
Zoom: The Online Learning Coaches also are available to meet with students in Zoom by appointment. Contact them using one of the methods listed above to schedule a time.    

From the Blackboard Learn website: "Blackboard measures and evaluates accessibility using two sets of standards: the WCAG 2.0standards issued by the World Wide Web Consortium(W3C) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act issued in the United States [by the] federal government."

This is the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT).

Screen Reader Tutorials for Blackboard Learn are available as well.

Privacy Policies
Blackboard (8/4/2022)Pinterest (9/2/2020)
Cengage (nd)Qwickly (nd)
Facebook (7/26/2022)Slideshare (05/25/2018)
Flickr (11/23/2020)Starfish (3/18/2020) 
Google (2/10/2022)Tumblr (12/26/2019)
Hypothesis (8/2/2022)Turning Technologies (nd)
Instagram (7/26/2022)Twitter (6/10/2022)
Kaltura (3/1/2021)Vimeo (1/20/2022)
LinkedIn (8/11/2020)WileyPlus (4/29/2022)
McGraw Hill (nd)YouTube (nd)
Pearson (1/1/2020)Zoom (12/15/2021)
This table lists the privacy policies of commonly used applications for QCC courses. If the privacy policy you're looking for isn't included in this table, please contact your instructor for more information.

 

To succeed in an online course, you should:

  1. Know how to use Blackboard to contact your instructor and for discussions, assignments and tests.
  2. Be able to create, send and download emails, with and without attachments.
  3. Create, edit and submit word processing, spreadsheet and presentation files.
  4. Copy and paste
  5. Download, locate and install software applications and plug-ins.
  6. Some courses might also require the use of head sets and microphones or other course-specific software or peripherals.

Please see the attached How to Navigate your Blackboard Course. job aid for detailed instructions.

Please see the attached How to Submit Assignments in Blackboard job aid for detailed instructions.

Vea por favor el documento adjuntado  "Guía para los estudiantes: cómo enviar las tareas en Blackboard" para instrucciones detalladas.

Submitting an assignment on BB

We have created a consolidated list which reflects some of the most commonly asked questions, click here to view.  It includes links to many different resources, including:

  •  Blackboard Help video links
  • Computer technical requirements
  • Internet browser resources
  • Where to get Office 365 for free if you are a current student!
  • QCC's Alden Library Research and LibGuides site
  • Netiquette & Communication
  • Accessibility links to publisher & tool providers (not all may be listed here, check with your instructor for course specific tools and applications)
  • Self Help FAQs (no login required)
  • 24/7 Blackboard Support - Call, Chat, or Submit a Ticket
  • Privacy Policies (for some tools & providers)

We hope you find this resource useful!

For Students:

If your instructor has informed you that you need to download and install the Respondus LockDown Browser (and Monitor) to take a test, click here to access a job aid with the download link and instructions.

For additional details and information, you may download the Respondus Student Quick Guide by clicking here.

For Instructors:

If you are just getting started using Respondus LockDown Browser in Blackboard for testing, click here to access a job aid to assist you in the process.

For additional details and infomation, you may download the Repondus Instructor Quick Guide by clicking here.

Troubleshooting Tips:

Click here to review some common issues and troubleshooting tips.

Review the feature overview document to learn the major features and functionality of the new Blackboard Content Editor (Nov. 2020).

Blackboard Content Editor - Updated Nov. 2020

Blackboard Ally is an integrated part of our learning management system (LMS) and helps build a more inclusive student experience by improving accessibility of content materials in Blackboard.
For more information, click the links below:

Students

Instructors can connect the Hypothesis tool to online course readings in Blackboard. If they do this, “Hypothesis lets you take notes, view and reply to other notes, along with other features. When you open a Hypothesis assignment you’ll see the web page or PDF your teacher assigned alongside the Hypothesis sidebar” (Hypothesis website).

For more information about how to use Hypothesis, see these how-to guides:

Blackboard Collaborate

Are you someone who hasn't really had exposure to the Collaborate Ultra platform?  I would recommend you take a moment and watch this brief overview of Collaborate Ultra to get a feel for the tool.  Watch the Blackboard Collaborate Tour (02:12)
 

You can view the Collaborate Student guide

You can also view online information and help on Blackboard's website.

Blackboard Mobile

The Blackboard Mobile™ app takes interactive teaching and learning mobile, giving students and educators access to their courses, content and organizations on a variety of devices including iOS®, Android™, and webOS® smartphones. Presently, it is not available for Windows RT. You are able to purchase Blackboard Mobile™ Learn access to your Blackboard course.

The Blackboard Mobile™ Learn app is designed more for the student experience. Follow these steps if you would like to try it:

  1. Download the Blackboard Mobile app (iOS®, Android™, and webOS®) from the appropriate app store.
  2. In the Mobile Learn school search box, type "Quinsigamond Community College"
  3. Your username is your “The Q” username (example – 123456)
  4. Your password is most likely your “The Q” password. Reset your Blackboard password.

Go to the Blackboard Mobile web site to see the features available with Blackboard Mobile™ Learn.

The first thing to check is whether or not your Blackboard login works on a web browser. When you try to log in to your school's Blackboard site, are you able to login successfully, and then can you access your current classes?

I've successfully logged in on my web browser

Then those exact same credentials should work on the Blackboard Mobile Learn app. Please contact the Blackboard Support Team - make sure to include the URL of QCC's Blackboard site where you can login successfully!  We will start investigating your issue right away.

I can't login on my web browser

Then you won't be able to login to the app either. If this is the case, please reach out to QCC's IT Service Desk so we can help you with account issues like this.

You can learn how to use the Blackboard Mobile app and get technical assistance from the Blackboard Mobile App website.

Accessibility in the Blackboard Mobile App page provides information and a datasheet  (for Apple and Android devices). 

Class Resources/Help

To get set up with your online course products, there are a few things you’ll need first:

  • Access to your course in Blackboard
  • Your syllabus  
  • Your textbook and the access code that came with the book, the access code card, OR the digital access code (emailed to your Qmail after purchasing from the bookstore).  

After you have the items listed above and have logged onto your Blackboard course, check your syllabus to learn exactly what steps your instructor wants you to follow. Some products require a Course code or ID, which your instructor will provide to you. Other products do not require a course code or ID. 

It is important to follow the instructions from your instructor, as some online course products must be accessed through Blackboard in order for you to be linked to the assignments your instructor wants you to complete.

If your instructor directs you to the course product website, follow the registration steps provided there. If accessing the assignments through Blackboard, once you click on an assignment or link connected with the online course product, you will be prompted to register. 

Be sure to remember your username and password that you created for this. (If you are asked to provide an email, it is recommended that you use your Qmail address.)

You’re into the online course product now. Always make sure to FIRST check your syllabus or assignment directions or with your instructor if you have any questions about what work you need to do and when it is due. Don’t assume that you must complete every assignment listed in the online material; always check your syllabus and with your instructor first.  

If taking an in-person, blended, or remote class, it is best to wait for your first class, as your instructor should provide you with details about how to use your online course materials.  If taking an online class, your instructor will usually post information about this in the syllabus or the announcements section of Blackboard.

This information is provided by the Online Learning Coaches and the General Academic Areas Tutoring Center. For further assistance with products from specific publishers, such as Cengage, McMillan, McGraw Hill or Pearson, please contact the Online Learning Coaches or logon to the General Academic Areas Tutoring Center in Blackboard. For instructions on how to access this, watch this video:

If you need assistance from an Online Learning Coach, use one of these contact options:  
Email: OnlineCourseHelp [at] qcc.mass.edu   
Phone: 508.854.7455 (this is a landline and does not accept texts)
Text: 774.502.9270 (Tricia LaFountaine) or 774.502.9469 (Ann Panetta)
Starfish: We are listed in your Success Network.  
Zoom: The Online Learning Coaches also are available to meet with students in Zoom by appointment. Contact them using one of the methods listed above to schedule a time.    

Online Learning Coaches are here to help you succeed in classes in all modalities (blended, in-person, online, and remote) at QCC. Please use one of our contact methods listed below if you need help with any of the following:  

  • help navigating your Blackboard course  
  • accessing course materials  
  • accessing and/or submitting assignments  
  • logging onto your Zoom or Collaborate course  
  • using Zoom, Collaborate, Blackboard, Starfish, The Q, Qmail or other online tools  

Watch a video about this service

If you need assistance from an Online Learning Coach, use one of these contact options:  

Email: OnlineCourseHelp [at] qcc.mass.edu   
Phone: 508.854.7455 (this is a landline and does not accept texts)
Text: 774.502.9270 (Tricia LaFountaine) or 774.502.9469  (Ann Panetta)
Starfish: We are listed in your Success Network.  
Zoom: The Online Learning Coaches also are available to meet with students in Zoom by appointment. Contact them using one of the methods listed above to schedule a time.    

Infobase

Infobase Learning Cloud (formerly Hoonuit & Atomic Learning) is an online technology training and professional development tool for students and educators. Infobase Learning Cloud provides a wide variety of training, more than 1,600 courses, including 100,000 videos across 50+ topics. 
These are integrated with Blackboard so that instructors may link presentations on topics such as incorporating quotations in essays and citing sources. 

  1. Login to Blackboard and click on the "Bb Support" tab, this will open the Help page and another menu will appear as shown below. 
  2. Click the Infobase Learning Cloud tab as shown below.  
  3. Click on the Infobase Learning Cloud icon for automatic login and search the video tutorials.

Infobase Learning Cloud

If you have tried to access Infobase Learning Cloud and receive an error message, please fill out the "Submit a Question" form below or contact the IT Service Desk.

You can get technical help for Infobase Learning Cloud from the Home Page Help link.  When in the Infobase website, click on the arrow next to your name in the upper right hand corner,. Click on Help in the list.

infobase-help.jpg

From the Infobase website:

Infobase considers accessibility a very important aspect of maintaining our solutions. We take our commitment to accessibility seriously, and are constantly striving to further enhance the usability of our site and resources.

Not only do we provide closed captioning on our videos, the Infobase website is routinely audited by a 3rd party accessibility service, and is compliant with Section 508 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) in accordance with our Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and WCAG Support Statement.

For detailed documentation, view our...

Beyond compliance, we also offer online training materials focus on helping schools, colleges and universities ensure the accessibility of their instructional materials through training on assisted devices such as Dragon Naturally Speaking or JAWS, as well as accessibility features of Windows, Microsoft Office applications, and others.

IT Service Desk

  • Your student id number is your username for The Q. Your Microsoft account is used for universal login to The Q. The initial password is set to the default of: The first two letters of your last name in lower case, followed by the last four digits of your SSN, then Qc. Ex. ab####Qc.
  • If you need help resetting your password please contact the IT Service Desk at 508.854.4427. Give them your name, your phone number or email address, your id number and a brief description of your problem. Mention that you have a problem logging in. Do not send your password.

Your full student email address is your Qmail username.  You can find your username by logging into The Q. In the top right corner is a circle (Avatar) with either your ID picture or a person Icon, click on the circle then select “My Profile & Settings”.

Click on Contact Information (at left) > Email Addresses  - click the down arrow to view email address.

  • e.g. John Smith - Qmail user name is jsmith [at] qmail.qcc.edu

Please view the How to Login to Blackboard job aid for detailed instructions. 

Vea por favor el documento adjuntado "Cómo iniciar sesión en Blackboard" para instrucciones detalladas.

This video explains what Blackboard is, how to logon, how to find your course(s) in Blackboard, what you can find on and how to individualize the Blackboard institution page, how to navigate a Blackboard course, what the Introduction to Blackboard and QCC Resources course is, and what you can find on qcc.edu/help: http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/0h1j8

If you need to log into the Blackboard website directly

  1. Go to the Blackboard website
  2. Enter Username (Student ID)
  3. Enter Password
  4. Use the drop-down menu next to "Sign in with third-party account" and select "Sign in with your Microsoft account."
  5. Follow the prompts to sign into your QCC Microsoft account. 

Note: if you are already logged onto your Microsoft account, you won't need to enter your username and password. You'll just need to use the drop-down menu next to "Sign in with third-party account" and select "Sign in with your Microsoft account."

If you do not know your password

Click on the Forgot Your Password? (To the right of the Login button) 
A new window will pop open. Enter your First and Last name, and your Username. Your Username is the same one you use for the portal (The Q). 
Click Submit. 
An email will be sent to your QCC email address. This email will contain a link to reset your Blackboard password. Follow the instructions to reset your password. 
Navigate back to the Blackboard website, and enter your username and the new password that you just reset to log into Blackboard. 

If you need further assistance, please contact the IT Service Desk at 508.854.4427 or help [at] qcc.mass.edu.

The default password will be the first two letters of your last name, followed by the last four digits of your social security number, then the letters “Qc”. This password is all lowercase, except for the letter Q. If you are unable to login using this password, contact the IT Service Desk to have it reset.

You can try the Office 365 Community Forum.

You can also access Office 365 tutorials through Infobase Learning Cloud.

To access Infobase Learning Cloud, log in to Blackboard, then click on Bb Support at the top of the page, then Infobase Learning Cloud and the website will launch. Search for Office 365 to show the video tutorials.

  1. On your device, go into your Wi-Fi Settings and select QCC Guest
  2. Open browser page and go to qccwifi.campus.qcc.edu
  3. A page will load for registering to the Guest Wi-Fi
    1.  fill out all the required information
  4. Select the gray checkmark to acknowledge the Terms & Services Agreement
  5. Select submit and once successfully submitted, wait at least a minute and the page will redirect to www.qcc.edu

**Once completed, your device(s) will be registered on the Wi-Fi for 180 Days***

If needing further assistance, you can call the QCC IT Service Desk at 508.854.4427 or email help [at] qcc.mass.edu and someone will be able to assist you.

Microsoft Office

For system requirements for Office please visit the official Microsoft Office website.

Office 2007, Office 2010, Office 365, or Office 2013 users can open documents created without any additional action. Customers using earlier versions of Office may need to download and install a compatibility pack.

If you are using Microsoft Office Word 2007 or Word 2010, you can open .docx or .docm files that were created in Word 2019, 2016 and 2013. However, a few newer features may not be supported in older versions or they may not be editable. For example, equations in later files are converted to images in earlier versions of Word, which can’t be edited.

Although people who use previous versions of Microsoft Office and have installed the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats, can open documents that are saved in the Microsoft Office Word 2007 format, they may not be able to change some items that were created by using new or enhanced features.

In newer versions of Microsoft Office - Word (2019, 2016 & 2013), you'll see the words [Compatibility Mode] next to the file name on the title bar. Compatibility Mode makes sure that no new features in Word 2019, 2016 or 2013 are available in the document, so that people using earlier versions of Word can work with it. You can work in Compatibility Mode or you can convert your document to the new format. To convert the document, click File>Info>Convert. Converting your document lets you use the new features, but people using earlier versions of Word might have difficulty editing certain parts of the document.

The ribbon is a set of toolbars at the top of the window in Office programs designed to help you quickly find the commands that you need to complete a task. You'll find some of the things that were previously on the ribbon available now under the File menu, including the Save and Options selections.

There are several ways that you can control the appearance of the ribbon: Auto-Hide Ribbon, Show Tabs, Show Tabs and Commands.

Office 2019:  The ribbon can be minimized so that you only see the tab names and not the command groups and buttons. To always keep the ribbon minimized, right-click on a blank area of the ribbon, then select Collapse the Ribbon from the menu. (To revert this setting, click on one of the tabs, then right-click on a blank area of the ribbon and de-select Collapse the Ribbon from the menu.) You can also double-click on an active tab name to toggle this setting.

Office 365: Use the Ribbon Display Options button in the lower-right corner of the ribbon and select your choice from the drop down menu.

Click File > Print to see a print preview of the current document to the right of other useful print-related settings.

The right side of the window previews how the document will look when printed. Use the left side of the window to choose a printer or fine-tune settings — for example, to change from Portrait to Landscape, to change the paper size, or to print only the current page.

There are various icons and toolbars that will appear around the document to advance to another page, change the zoom level, and, in Excel, to show the margins so that column width can be changed. To set more print options, click the Page Setup link at the bottom of the left side of the window, below Settings.

Office 365 is a subscription based version of the Microsoft Office suite. It includes the latest full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher*, and Access* as well as cloud services and 1TB of OneDrive storage.

Faculty and Staff

You can obtain Office 365 directly through the Microsoft website. You'll be able to use Office 365 on up to FIVE devices/computers at a time. Follow these steps:

  • Go to https://www.office.com/ and Sign in. Be sure to use your QCC Email address if you need to register.
  • Follow the instructions on the website.

 If you require assistance, these are your options:

  • If your password doesn’t work at the Microsoft site, you should go to SSRPM (Password Reset) and either enroll or reset your password.
  • If you have trouble loading onto your personal computer (not QCC owned), you can call 508.854.4427, select 2 then 3 for BlackBelt Technical support.

Students

For the web-based version of Office 365, you will need to know and have access to your QCC Student Email, Qmail. 
You can obtain Office 365 directly through the Microsoft website. Follow these steps:

  • Go to https://www.office.com/ and Sign in. Be sure to use your QCC Student Email address as the username. Your default password will be:
    • the first two letters of your last name
    • followed by the last four numbers of your Social Security number
    • and then Qc (Example: John Smith would be sm1234Qc)
  • Once you login, you will be prompted to set up your password recovery questions and method. This only takes a minute! Follow the instructions on the website.
  • If you have not received the email or would like password assistance, please call the QCC Help Desk at 508.854.4427, press 1 then 4. We are available Monday -Friday 8am -5pm.

*Microsoft Publisher and Access for PC only.

Student Job Aid on how to Access and/or Install Office 365 when online or on-campus.

  • Word
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Outlook
  • Publisher*
  • Access*
  • OneNote
  • TB of OneDrive Storage and more
  • * Publisher & Access are only included in the Windows Version

QCC has several video tutorial powered by Infobase Learning Cloud (formerly Atomic Learning & Hoonuit) that are available to all students, staff, and faculty members. If this is your first time using Infobase, we recommend that you watch two short videos to learn about preferences available and how to search.

IMPORTANT: You will need to be logged into Blackboard in order to access and view the below videos.

Below are the video topics available for Office 2013.  After you click on a title please expand all to see the video selections. 

The attached file will review how to save a Microsoft Office word document when using Office 365 online, web-based version. This document will review your save options with a specific focus on saving files as docx and rtf, the two most common file formats at QCC. Click here to review the job aid.

Office 365

Office 365 is a subscription based version of the Microsoft Office suite. It includes the latest full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher*, and Access* as well as cloud services and 1TB of OneDrive storage.

Faculty and Staff

You can obtain Office 365 directly through the Microsoft website. You'll be able to use Office 365 on up to FIVE devices/computers at a time. Follow these steps:

  • Go to https://www.office.com/ and Sign in. Be sure to use your QCC Email address if you need to register.
  • Follow the instructions on the website.

 If you require assistance, these are your options:

  • If your password doesn’t work at the Microsoft site, you should go to SSRPM (Password Reset) and either enroll or reset your password.
  • If you have trouble loading onto your personal computer (not QCC owned), you can call 508.854.4427, select 2 then 3 for BlackBelt Technical support.

Students

For the web-based version of Office 365, you will need to know and have access to your QCC Student Email, Qmail. 
You can obtain Office 365 directly through the Microsoft website. Follow these steps:

  • Go to https://www.office.com/ and Sign in. Be sure to use your QCC Student Email address as the username. Your default password will be:
    • the first two letters of your last name
    • followed by the last four numbers of your Social Security number
    • and then Qc (Example: John Smith would be sm1234Qc)
  • Once you login, you will be prompted to set up your password recovery questions and method. This only takes a minute! Follow the instructions on the website.
  • If you have not received the email or would like password assistance, please call the QCC Help Desk at 508.854.4427, press 1 then 4. We are available Monday -Friday 8am -5pm.

*Microsoft Publisher and Access for PC only.

Student Job Aid on how to Access and/or Install Office 365 when online or on-campus.

  • Word
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Outlook
  • Publisher*
  • Access*
  • OneNote
  • TB of OneDrive Storage and more
  • * Publisher & Access are only included in the Windows Version

You will need an Internet connection to download and install Office 365, to activate your Office 365 account, and manage your account. Once installed, you will be able to use the Office products offline. Some services, including accessing your OneDrive account, require you to be connected to the Internet.

You may install Office 365 on up to 5 PCs or MACs, as well as other Mobile Devices.

Your Office 365 subscription is valid for as a long as you are a student at Quinsigamond Community College. You may be required to re-verify your eligibility at any time. Once your subscription has expired, you will only be able to view, but not edit or create new documents. You will also no longer be able to access online services associated with your school email address.

Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus can be installed on Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10 and Mac OS 10.6.8 or later.

Students

For the web-based version of Office 365, you will need to know and have access to your QCC Student Email, Qmail. 
You can obtain Office 365 directly through the Microsoft website. Follow these steps:

  • Go to https://www.office.com/ and Sign in. Be sure to use your QCC Student Email address as the username. Your default password will be:
    • the first two letters of your last name
    • followed by the last four numbers of your Social Security number
    • and then Qc (Example: John Smith would be sm1234Qc).
  • Once you login, you will be prompted to set up your password recovery questions and method. This only takes a minute and it is strongly recommended so that you can recover your password in the future if needed! Follow the instructions on the website.
  • If you have difficulty logging in, please call the QCC IT Service Desk at 508-854-4427.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty & Staff can obtain Office 365 directly through the Microsoft website. You'll be able to use Office 365 on up to FIVE devices/computers at a time. Follow these steps:

  • Go to https://www.office.com/ and Sign in. Be sure to use your QCC Email address if you need to register.  Follow the instructions on the website.
  • If you would like to install the Office 365 apps on your computer, log into your web-based Office 365 account, you will then see an "Install Office" button in the top right corner. Click the button and follow the instructions on the website.

 If you require assistance, these are your options:

  • If your password doesn’t work at the Microsoft site, you should go to SSRPM (Password Reset) and either enroll or reset your password.
  • If you have trouble loading onto your personal computer (not QCC owned), you can call 508.854.4427, select 2 then 3 for BlackBelt Technical support.

Student Job Aid on how to Access and/or Install Office 365 when online or on-campus.

Click the following link to view a video:

How to access the Free Microsoft 365

For additional training, students, staff and faculty can watch Infobase Learning Cloud video tutorials (formerly Hoonuit). These are available once logged into Blackboard by clicking on Bb Support at the top of the page, then Infobase Learning Cloud click on the link at the bottom and the website will launch. Search for Office 365 to show the video tutorials.

How to access Infobase Learning Cloud in Blackboard. Click on Bb Support and then click on Infobase Learning Cloud and the application will open.

You can try the Office 365 Community Forum.

You can also access Office 365 tutorials through Infobase Learning Cloud.

To access Infobase Learning Cloud, log in to Blackboard, then click on Bb Support at the top of the page, then Infobase Learning Cloud and the website will launch. Search for Office 365 to show the video tutorials.

QCC has several video tutorial powered by Infobase Learning Cloud (formerly Atomic Learning & Hoonuit) that are available to all students, staff, and faculty members. If this is your first time using Infobase, we recommend that you watch two short videos to learn about preferences available and how to search.

IMPORTANT: You will need to be logged into Blackboard in order to access and view the below videos.

Below are the video topics available for Office 2013.  After you click on a title please expand all to see the video selections. 

Open Educational Resources

QCC uses the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) definition of OER: “Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning and research materials in any medium – digital or otherwise – that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions"

Please visit the QCC Alden Library OER LibGuide for information about this topic. 

Qmail

Your full student email address is your Qmail username.  You can find your username by logging into The Q. In the top right corner is a circle (Avatar) with either your ID picture or a person Icon, click on the circle then select “My Profile & Settings”.

Click on Contact Information (at left) > Email Addresses  - click the down arrow to view email address.

  • e.g. John Smith - Qmail user name is jsmith [at] qmail.qcc.edu

You must go to the Registrar’s Office with a legal document (marriage certificate, divorce papers, etc) that states that your name has changed. At that time, you can ask that your Qmail username be changed.

Contact the IT Service Desk. Give them your Student ID, Qmail username, and any error message.

The default password will be the first two letters of your last name, followed by the last four digits of your social security number, then the letters “Qc”. This password is all lowercase, except for the letter Q. If you are unable to login using this password, contact the IT Service Desk to have it reset.

If you would like to receive your email on your phone, you will need to either use the Gmail app included on most android phones, or access it on your iPhone through settings and adding a Google email account. If you need assistance getting this setup, contact the IT Help Desk.

To forward your Qmail account to your personal email follow these steps;

1) Log in to your Qmail from The Q.

Tip: Forgot your Qmail Username? Click on "Personal Info" next to your name after you login to The Q to view your full Qmail username.

2) Click on the Settings icon at the top right (Gear) and select Settings from the drop-down menu.

3) Click the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab

4) Click the Add a forwarding address button

5) Enter the email address you wish to forward your Qmail to and click Next.

Tip: Send yourself a test email to your Qmail address to make sure forwarding is working properly.

Please see the attached How to Access Qmail job aid for detailed instructions.

This video provides some basic information about what Qmail and the Q are, how to access and use them, and why they are important to use: http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/0ejz3

Remote Instruction

Remote learning consists of real-time virtual classroom engagement and flexibility combined with asynchronous online work.

Classes are held virtually at a specific day and time, using Zoom or Collaborate once a week (75 minutes).  Additional coursework that meets course objectives is delivered asynchronously through Blackboard. These courses, in addition to the virtual class meeting, use various online tools that include but are not limited to discussion boards, assignments, testing, web links, videos, group work, journals, etc.

Don't know where to start?

For assistance, contact an Online Learning Coach.

Online Learning Coaches are here to help you succeed in classes in all modalities (blended, in-person, online, and remote) at QCC. Please use one of our contact methods listed below if you need help with any of the following:  

  • help navigating your Blackboard course  
  • accessing course materials  
  • accessing and/or submitting assignments  
  • logging onto your Zoom or Collaborate course  
  • using Zoom, Collaborate, Blackboard, Starfish, The Q, Qmail or other online tools  

Watch a video about this service

If you need assistance from an Online Learning Coach, use one of these contact options:  

Email: OnlineCourseHelp [at] qcc.mass.edu   
Phone: 508.854.7455  
Starfish: We are listed in your Success Network.  
Zoom: The Online Learning Coaches also are available to meet with students in Zoom by appointment. Contact them using one of the methods listed above to schedule a time. 

Does your system meet the minimum computer requirements? (Click here for minimum requirements).

I need to purchase a new system, what should I buy? (Click here for minimum requirements).

Is there financial assistance available? (Click here for emergency Assistance Grants)

How do I get Access to the Internet? (Click here for more information)

Can I get Financial Assistance for Internet access? (Click here for more information)

The college provides access to The Q (personal portal), Qmail (College email), Blackboard Learn (our learning management system), and Starfish (Communicate and monitor your progress) to all credit students. We recommend that you log into all college systems 7 days before classes start to ensure everything is working. 

Tour of the QCC Suite of Online Tools!

At QCC, our student email system is powered by Google and our Faculty and Staff email is powered by Microsoft Outlook. Both systems are accessible from off campus and also allow you to receive email on your phone. 

Your full student email address is your Qmail username. You can find your username by logging into The Q. Where it displays "Welcome back your name..." in the top right, click “My Profile & Settings”

Click on Contact Information > Email Addresses  click the down arrow to view email address.

You may also contact the Registrar's Office, email is preferred at qccreg [at] qcc.mass.edu or call the IT Service Desk at 508.854.4427 (You must know your Student ID number).

e.g. John Smith - Qmail user name is jsmith [at] qmail.qcc.edu

For technical support, contact the IT Service Desk, Technical Support.

  • Phone Number: 508.854.4427
  • Email: Help [at] qcc.mass.edu
  • Help website 

We recommend that you test your QMail access one week prior to classes starting.

The Q is Quinsigamond Community College's secure website or portal. Think of it as the gateway to the college; it's the one stop which allows current students and faculty the ability to access their personal college information twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Your student id number is your username for The Q. Your username for The Q and password information was sent to you prior to the start of your first semester here at QCC via email or mail.

You can reset your password to The Q, but you need to have access to your Qmail to do so.

If you don’t have your login information, contact the Registrar’s Office, or via email qccreg [at] qcc.mass.edu. Their office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Please note that the Registrar’s Office will not release this information over the telephone.

The login page for The Q is accessible through any internet browser.  At this time we recommend Firefox (or Chrome) as your internet browser. Visit The Q

For more information on The Q, visit The Q help section.

For technical support, contact the IT Service Desk, Technical Support.

  • Phone Number: 508.854.4427
  • Email: Help [at] qcc.mass.edu
  • Help Website 

We recommend that you test your access to "the Q" one week prior to classes starting.

Blackboard is the College’s Learning Management System which provides tools for teaching online as well as for on ground courses. All QCC courses have a Blackboard shell that may be used for handouts, online discussion, testing, group work, assignment submission, and grading. 

To log into Blackboard Learn simply click on the Blackboard icon after you log into The Q.

For more information on how to use Blackboard Learn, contact the General Academic Areas Tutoring Center.

  • Phone Number: 508.854.4279
  • Email: gaa [at] qcc.mass.edu
  • GAA website

For technical support, contact the IT Service Desk, Technical Support.

  • Phone Number: 508.854.4427
  • Email: Help [at] qcc.mass.edu
  • Help website

Your class may require your attendance in a virtual classroom. If it does, you may need to use one of these two tools: Blackboard Collaborate or Zoom.

Blackboard Collaborate is part of the Blackboard Learn system. Your instructor will make the course room available at the required time. To access this virtual classroom, either follow the directions the instructor emailed to you, OR log into your Blackboard course and click on the "Bb Collaborate" link located on the left side course menu. For more information on Blackboard Collaborate, please visit the Blackboard Collaborate help section.

To access the Zoom virtual classroom, either follow the directions the instructor emailed to you, OR log into your Blackboard course and click on the "Zoom" link located on the left side course menu.  For more information on Zoom, please visit the Zoom help section.

For more information on how to use Blackboard Collaborate or Zoom, you can contact the Online Learning Coaches and/or the General Academic Areas Tutoring Center.

Online Learning Coaches

  • Email: OnlineCourseHelp [at] qcc.mass.edu   
  • Phone: 508.854.7455 (this is a landline and does not accept texts)
  • Text: 774.502.9270 (Tricia LaFountaine) or 774.502.9469 (Ann Panetta)
  • Starfish: We are listed in your Success Network.  
  • Zoom: The Online Learning Coaches also are available to meet with students in Zoom by appointment. Contact them using one of the methods listed above to schedule a time.    

General Academic Areas Tutoring Center

  • Phone Number: 508.854.4279
  • Email: gaa [at] qcc.mass.edu
  • GAA website

For technical support, contact the IT Service Desk, Technical Support.

  • Phone Number: 508.854.4427
  • Email: Help [at] qcc.mass.edu
  • Help website

We recommend that you test your camera and microphone one week prior to classes starting.

QCC Virtual Classroom Etiquette for Students

Here are things to think about and steps to follow as you attend your virtual classroom meetings. Following these do’s and don’ts will help you, your professor, and most of all your fellow classmates have a productive learning experience.

Starfish provides a tool that you can use to stay informed of your progress in courses, take action on flagged issues and referrals by viewing your Starfish folder and keep in touch with your personal "success team".

To access Starfish click on the Starfish option  on the menu bar across the top of your screen.

How can I learn more about Starfish?  For more information on how to use Starfish, review the Student Guide

We recommend that you test your access one week prior to classes starting.

Yes you can! For information on how to get Microsoft products click here: https://www.qcc.edu/help/microsoft-products

Student Resources

For technical support, contact the IT Service Desk

  • Phone Number: 508.854.4427
  • Email: Help [at] qcc.mass.edu
  • Visit the Help website

Respondus Lockdown Browser

To see the current system requirements for Lockdown Browser, visit the Respondus System Requirements page.

If you are required to install LockDown Browser, you should only use the download link provided to you by your instructor

This link will provide general Install Instructions, but QCC has a unique download link available from your instructor.

Respondus LockDown Browser® is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within a learning management system (Blackboard). LockDown Browser's name says it all: it "locks down" the browser on a computer or tablet. Students are unable to copy, print, access other applications, or visit other websites during an online exam.

Starfish

Starfish is an on-line early alert program and intervention tool to support student academic success. 

Faculty can inform students of their academic performance within a course by raising flags (concerns), kudos (praise), and referring students to support resources.  An automatic email is sent to the student and their assigned academic advisor.

Students can stay informed of their progress in courses and take action on flags and referrals by viewing your Starfish folder and reading your QMail.

For more information on how to use Starfish, review the Student Guide.

You can also view a video on YouTube (02:35) on "How to use Starfish" by clicking here."

Student Demo Series - Videos:

The Q

The Q is Quinsigamond Community College's secure website or portal. Think of it as the gateway to the college; it's the one stop that allows current students and faculty the ability to access their personal college information twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The login page for The Q is accessible through any internet browser.  At this time we recommend Firefox (or Chrome) as your internet browser.

This video provides some basic information about what Qmail and the Q are, how to access and use them, and why they are important to use: http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/0ejz3

  • Your student id number is your username for The Q. Your Microsoft account is used for universal login to The Q. The initial password is set to the default of: The first two letters of your last name in lower case, followed by the last four digits of your SSN, then Qc. Ex. ab####Qc.
  • If you need help resetting your password please contact the IT Service Desk at 508.854.4427. Give them your name, your phone number or email address, your id number and a brief description of your problem. Mention that you have a problem logging in. Do not send your password.

The QCC Alert Notification System allows you to receive a text message on your cell phone in case of a school emergency or school closing. To add or update your text messaging information, Login to The Q. At the top of the Welcome page, click on the “My QCC Alert Contact Info” link.

Login to The Q. Click on the My Academics tab. Click on My Registration. Click on the My Degree Audit link on the right. Select "What-If Degree Audit" if you want to run an audit for a major other than your currently elected major. If your major is Undeclared you also should select a "What-If Degree Audit," as you do not have any "Your Curriculum Requirements" degree audit until you have applied and received a letter of acceptance from the Admissions Office.

Login to The Q. Look under the Blackboard Link on the left side of the "Welcome" page. Select “My Grade Report." Select the Term, and then click on “View Final Grade Report” or “View Midterm Grade Report”.

Please contact the Registrar's Office. You will need a photo ID.

If your student record is correct, but your Qmail name is incorrect (either the username or the viewable name), contact the IT Help Desk.

If any other information on The Q is misspelled or needs to be changed, you can update it by doing the following:  Click the Personal Info link next to your name. Click on the Biographical Info tab. Click on the pencil icon next to "Name, Address and Personal Details". Enter your changes, then Click [Submit]. Information will be updated within two to three business days.

To waive your health insurance online:

  • Go to www.QCC.mass.edu 
  • Select “The Q” (student/faculty portal) DO NOT LOG IN.
  • Select the link at the bottom of the page under Helpful Links: Health Insurance Waiver Form. This will bring you out of our system to the web site of Gallagher/Koster, the company that manages the health insurance.
  • All students must “Create an Account” before waiving the insurance. Using your student ID: If your student ID is less than 9 digits, please add “000” to the FRONT of the ID for a total of 9 digits. Ex: If your ID is 123456, it should be entered as 000123456
  • Once the “Account is Created”, go to the top left corner and click “Student Waive”
  • Click on “I want to waive” red button

Please read carefully and answer all the questions then click “Click to Continue On”. Now you are ready to waive the insurance.

Fill out the required fields and select “Submit”. Print “Confirmation Sheet” for your records.

Please follow the instructions in the universal login guide.

ThinkingStorm

Please see QCC's job aid for detailed instructions.

Zoom

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