SIAST

Online Learning Support



Students who have registered in an online learning course, be sure to:

  • Order all course materials and books from the bookstore

  • Review SIAST and instructor communication sent prior to the course start date by either mail or email

  • Log into your online course via your mySIAST prior to the course start date and become familiar with Blackboard, SIAST's online course management system

Student support for online learning:

Access Your Course and mySIAST

  1. From any SIAST page put your cursor over mySIAST on the top navigation and left click your mouse

  2. The mySIAST login page will open in a new window. At the top right corner in the box beside User Name, type the name that SIAST assigned to you. In the box beside Password type your birthdate as a six digit number with no spaces or other characters. (ie. If you were born on January 9, 1985 you would type 090185) Click Login

  3. You will arrive at the mySIAST Home Page. Click on the Students Tab

  4. Now click on My Courses

  5. Select the term your course is being offered in

  6. A list of courses in which you are currently registered will appear. Clicking on the name of a course (in this example, Applied Mechanics) will open your course

Online courses may be unavailable on the third Saturday of each month between 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. due to scheduled server maintenance.

Access your SIAST email

Follow “Access your course and mySIAST” directions until step 5 to arrive at the mySIAST Home Page. Click on the email icon.

SIAST uses the Outlook email system, which may take a little time to load on your computer. Like all email systems all incoming mail appears in your Inbox. Look there to see if you have a message from your instructor. If so, please reply to let your instructor know that you can access your email and your online course.

Online instructors will not send email to external email accounts such as Hotmail or Yahoo. SIAST’s firewall may prevent your instructor from receiving mail sent from these accounts. Please communicate via the SIAST email system. SIAST’s HelpDesk only accepts incoming email from SIAST accounts.

Email may be unavailable on the third Saturday of each month between 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. due to scheduled server maintenance.

Blackboard orientation

This orientation to the SIAST online course management system is available to all students for free. All students who are new to Online Learning will be enrolled in Comp 1609 – Introduction to Online Learning.

Access the orientation in the my Courses tab of mySIAST.

You will be introduced to the online learning environment, learn about the roles and functions of students and instructors in an online environment and develop skills in accessing and using mySIAST resources, the Internet, email, online conferencing, searching for online resources and navigating within Blackboard.

This course will teach you basic skills to increase your comfort level when you take your first online class. Do not expect to gain all the skills you will need. That will take time and depends on the unique requirements of each course.

When you complete the course you will receive an “attendance” grade. If you do not access the course within the current academic year, the course will be graded as “withdrawn”.  If you wish to access the course in the next academic year, you will need to re-register. To re-register contact Registration Services at any SIAST campus.

Computer and Software Requirements

SIAST recommends you use a Windows or Macintosh computer purchased in the last two years and a high-speed Internet connection.
HelpDesk

Technical Issues

UserID and Password

Your userID is assigned to you by SIAST:

  1. on campus: you will receive your user ID and password at an orientation or from your instructor
  2. off campus: you will receive your user ID and password by mail from Registration Services or your program

If you can’t locate your UserID call 1-866-goSIAST (467-4278) and ask for Registration Services

Your password is your birthdate as a six digit number with no spaces or other characters. (ie. If you were born on January 9, 1985 you would type 090185).