Online Courses Help Desk - Porterville College

Help Desk for Online Courses

Can't find your answer here?
Contact PC Online Course Help at: sphinney@portervillecollege.edu
Be sure and include the following in your email:

your name
the class you are enrolled in
what exactly you are trying to do and specifically what is not working
what browser and OS you are using

Frequently Asked Questions

type efficiently
operate a word processing program (i.e. Microsoft Word)
save files in alternative formats
send and receive email including attachments
find files on your computer
find information on the Internet
evaluate information you find on the Web
use a discussion board
download and install programs
follow instructions for updating your browser
customize settings on your browser
copy and paste text from one program to another

Q. Do you offer an online orientation course for students?
A. Yes. INFS P050 and INFS P058S, are 1 credit courses that help students become familiar with the online course environment. Refer to the schedule for further information.

Q. I'm on the waitlist. What do I do?
A. Waitlisted students cannot login to their Etudes courses. You will simply have to wait to see if you get into the class as other students drop.

Q. Do online classes ever require students to come to campus?
A. Yes, some online classes have a requirement that students come to campus for special meetings (orientations, exams, etc.). Please check the course outlines to determine if campus meetings are a requirement in the course you are considering.

Q. Can I use PC Library resources online?

A. Yes, just go to the PC Library website for more information.

Q. Can I talk with a counselor online?

A. Yes, online counseling is available. Just send an email to our online counselor and wait for a reply.

Q. How do I get to my course?
A. You should receive an email from your instructor by the first day of the semester (or the first day of class for late start classes). If your course uses Etudes you can login on the first day of the semester (or first day of class for late start classes) at Etudes.fhda.edu/portal/. If your course uses CourseCompass or Moodle you should follow the instructions sent to your email.

Q. When will I be able to login to my class?
A. Students who are on the official class roster will be able to login to their course on the first day of the semester, unless otherwise notified. For classes that start later in the semester, check the schedule for the first day of class.

Q. How do I login to my ETUDES class?
A. If your course is in ETUDES you will need to enter your User ID and password to login.

Your User ID is:
the first 2 letters of your first name +
the first 2 letters of your last name +
the last 5 digits of your Student Identification Number*** (SID)
Please be sure to use lower case letters.
Example: George Washington whose SID is @00123456, would have the following Username: gewa23456

The default Password is: your birthday (in the following format: MMDD)
NOTE: If you were enrolled in an Etudes course in a previous semester, your password will be the same as the last time you used that account. It is your responsibility to remember your password. If you have forgotten your password, there is a link on the login page to have the password reset.

Q. How do I login to my Moodle class?
A. Your instructor will email a course key to you. Go to the Moodle login page and if you don't yet have a Moodle account create one. Then login using the key that was emailed to you.

Q. How do I find my student ID number?
A. Login to My BanWeb at banweb.kccd.cc.ca.us. Once logged in select "Personal Information" and choose the last option, "View your Student/Employee ID". Your ID will be displayed. It will begin with the @ symbol and be followed by eight digits. Write it down in a safe place. In the future you can use this Student ID instead of your SSN to login to BanWeb. Make sure and choose "Exit" when done.

Q. I forgot my Etudes course password. What do I do?
A. Etudes Reset Password link
(Note: If you receive an error message when attempting to reset your password, you will have to update your account. Update Etudes Account here.)

Q. I forgot my Moodle course password. What do I do?
A. Moodle Reset Password link

Q. How do I change my course password in ETUDES?
A. To change your password and other personal information, once you're logged in to ETUDES, click on "Account" then click "Modify Details".

Q. When I try to login I get an error. What do I do?
A. Most login error messages are a result of entering an incorrect Username or Password. Check to make sure that your Caps Lock key on your keyboard is not activated and try entering your Username and Password again, being sure to follow the instructions above for logging in to your course.

Q. Can I use AOL to access my online class?
A. You should not use the AOL browser but you can use the AOL connection to connect to the Internet. Download and install a supported browser for best success.

Q. I need to email my instructor but I don’t know his/her email address. What do I do?
A. Your instructor's email address should be in one of the following locations: printed schedule, online schedule, campus directory online or on the course outline (link to course outline listings).

Q. Instructors tell me they are sending me emails, but I’m not receiving them. What do I do?
A. You should first check to make sure that your instructor has the correct email address to reach you. Check the email address that is in Porterville College's My BanWeb system, and also verify the email address in Etudes by clicking on "Account" after you login through the Etudes site. Next check to see if your email box is full. When your box is full, incoming email is blocked from reaching you. Another possibility is that a spam guard or security restriction on your email account is blocking email messages from your instructor. Check your spam folder or your security restrictions.

Q. Where can I find my final grade?
A. Your final official grade can be found through the My BanWeb system. Login to BanWeb at banweb.kccd.cc.ca.us and click on “Login to Secure Area.” Use your Student ID and PIN and click the Login button. Click on “Student and Financial Aid”, click on “Student Records”, click on “Final Grades”, and then select the term from the drop down list and click the “Submit” button.

Q. What if my computer crashes while I'm taking an online test?
A. You are responsible for submitting tests, quizzes, exams, and assignments on-time. Be prepared for a worst-case scenario and have a back-up plan that ensures you are able to submit work before the deadline. For example, locate a different computer and Internet connection that could be used in the case of an emergency. Always save your work, if possible. Most importantly, don't wait until the very last minute to turn in your work, because if something goes wrong you are left with no time to find a solution.

Porterville College Online Courses Help Desk

Help Desk for Online Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Login Questions

Email Questions

Grades, Assignments and Testing Questions

Answers