Getting started online takes some advance planning and, depending on your comfort with working in the web environment, you may need some practice.  Here is a step-by-step guide to get you going:

Step 1

Take the Self-Paced Online Student Services Orientation.  This self-paced tutorial will provide important information about applying to CR, registering for classes, getting financial aid, using the bookstore, and accessing many student programs that are available to you.

Step 2

Make note of your login information and your official student email account. Once you have been accepted to College of the Redwoods as a student, you will receive a letter or email with the following important information.

• Your webadvisor ID and password.  This is the same ID and password you will use in your online courses.
• Your official student email account (example: mlynch123@mycr.redwoods.edu).  This is the email that all of your online course correspondence will use. 

When you register for an online course, you will automatically be enrolled into the MyCR system.  This means when you login to MyCR you will have your own private, My Workspace area.  You will also see a listing of all your online classes with links in the My Sites tab.

Step 3

Sign up for the two week online learning orientation course.  This is a FREE course that you can take from home on your computer, just like you would any online course.  The total time expected in the course is only 4-6 hours over two weeks.  The course is facilitated by a knowledgeable instructor who will help you learn and practice using all the tools you might need when taking an online course.

You will learn how to participate in discussion forums, submit assignments, take tests and quizzes, participate a webconference. You will also discuss how to do group work online and how to work with your instructor when you never see each other.

Check the Online Learning Orientation link at the left for current dates and times to register for this course. We strongly recommend that you take this course BEFORE your online classes begin in the term, because after classes start you may find yourself already too busy.

Step 4

Go to the bookstore to determine what books are assigned for your courses. All courses and textbook information is listed in the site.  You can easily find your course by the section number, see both the required and optional books and materials, and learn how much they cost.  You can then determine how best for you to purchase your books. To use the bookstore site, you must have a MasterCard or Visa.

Step 5

Log in to MyCR when the term starts.  Your course will not be available to access until the first day of the term.  However, once the term starts you will have access 24/7.  For detailed instructions on how to navigate with MyCR and use its features, check out the the FAQS available in our knowledge base. Look under the heading “MyCR Online Classroom.”

Step 6

Logging Out. To log out of MyCR, click on the logout link on the top right of the screen.  If you are using a computer that is used by others, it is critical that you log out of MyCR each time you are doing working in your course.  If you do not, it means that someone else can sit down at the computer and pretend to be you and will have access to all of your course sites and personal information.

Barry Tucker
Advisor for Online Learners
barry-tucker@redwoods.edu
707-476-4156