Current Distance Education Students

Distance education courses at LCCC are accessed through the College learning management system, Blackboard Learn. Distance education courses are offered in several different modalities and are designated by section numbers that all begin with a '7':

  • 70x = fully-online (asynchronous), where all course instruction and learning activities are completed online
  • 7Hx = hybrid, where at least 20% of a course is conducted in-person at specified dates/times and the remainder is completed online
  • 7Vx = virtual (synchronous), where course instruction is completed via a live video conferencing platform at specified dates/times

Distance education courses utilize electronic textbooks (e-texts/virtual textbooks), online resources, and external publisher/course management system materials - all of which are available through the College Bookstore and are integrated into the learning management system. Note that some e-texts are directly embedded into a course and the cost is included on your bill in addition to tuition and fees.

To help you succeed in this learning environment, we have developed the following guidelines for getting started. Students are also encouraged to review the tips on how to be successful in online classes. This information can be accessed from the Prospective DE Students link found on the main Distance Education page of the College website.

Getting Started with Distance Learning

An LCCC student email account is required for distance education courses. Students can create all their system accounts by visiting the IT Helpdesk link at https://www.luzerne.edu/currentstudents/helpdesk.jsp. Within the "I need help with..." menu, select Email and Network Account. To create an LCCC student email and network account you will need your Student ID, which can be found in your acceptance email (sent to the email address used in your application) and other communications sent from the College. Once your student email account is active, set up Multi Factor Authentication for your LCCC accounts by selecting the authentication option within the same Email and Network Account menu.

Test your computer by running a Browser Check. Blackboard Learn and the associated courseware runs best on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari. Installing Adobe Reader is also recommended.

Find out what materials your course needs, including virtual textbooks (e-texts) and access codes, by going to the LCCC Bookstore. Be sure to select the correct section when ordering.

Some courses utilize "inclusive access" course materials. In this instance, e-texts, access codes, and other course materials are directly integrated into the course and the cost is included on your bill in addition to tuition and fees.

Login to Blackboard Learn several days prior to the first day of class at https://learn.luzerne.edu/.

Your Username for Blackboard Learn is your first/last name initials (lowercase) followed by your 7-digit student ID number. For example, if your student ID number is 0987654 and your name is John Doe, your Blackboard Learn Username would be jd0987654. If this is the first time you are using Blackboard Learn, your password is the same as your Username.

Once logged in, the Institution Page contains several resources and links on how to navigate within Blackboard Learn.

Students can click on their name to complete their profile, change their password, and establish notification settings.

Login to Blackboard Learn and make sure all your distance education classes are listed by selecting Courses from the left navigation panel.

To access a course, click on its name or picture. Note that while your courses may be listed, access to the course content is not available until the 1st day of the semester. Most semesters have several different start dates - ensure you are searching under the correct semester (select from "Terms" at top of Courses page).

All distance education classes are slightly different, but look for the following information: Course Syllabus, Course Outline or Schedule, Instructor Contact Information, and/or Course Requirements, such as quizzes, assignments, tests, discussions, etc.

Many classes require you to complete additional work on another website/learning platform. Follow the directions provided by your instructor in Blackboard Learn to access that site.

Make sure you know how to contact the instructor, either by email, course messages, or by phone.

Review the video Preparing for Your Online Courses.

Access the Blackboard Learn Student Help sites - Quick Start for Blackboard Learn Students, Blackboard Student Help Center or Blackboard for Students YouTube channel.

Add the Blackboard Learn App to work on your courses while on the go! The App's current version is available for both iOS and Android mobile devices.

Discover how to access course content in accessible formats using Blackboard Ally.

Contact the Distance Education Department at distanceeducation@luzerne.edu or 570-740-0335.