Q: What is the Online Learning Center — and can anyone use it?
A: The Online Learning Center (part of the Resource Center) is hosted by ETR Associates, and is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for National and Community Service to provide training and technical assistance to the field of national and community service. While it is designed with CNCS grantee staff in mind, the website and courses are available for free to any person or organization who wishes to access them.
Q: Do the courses cost money?
A: No. Online Learning Center courses are free to anyone who wishes to register as a user.
Back to topQ: Why won't the system accept my user name or password?
A: First check to be sure that you do actually have an established user account with the Online Learning Center. Have you filled out this form before? Your My AmeriCorps user name and password are not connected to the Online Learning Center system and will not, by default, allow you entry to the Online Learning Center. If you believe you have created an account, but your information is not working, contact technical support and they will re-set your password. If you have not yet created your own new account, proceed with the account creation process and then log in.
Q: Why haven't I received the confirmation e-mail saying that I have created my account?
A: Sometimes the confirmation message gets filtered out into a junk mail folder; this is a good place to check first. If you can't find it, contact our technical support staff and they will confirm your account for you manually.
Q: Why won't my My AmeriCorps password work at the Online Learning Center?
A: My AmeriCorps and the Online Learning Center operate under completely different systems. Before you can log in to the OLC, you must create your own new user account. It is okay to create a user name and password combination for the OLC that is the same as your My AmeriCorps user name and password combination.
Q: Why do I have to create a user account at the OLC?
A: Creating an account with the Online Learning Center gives visitors free access to all courses on the site. It also helps us identify site usage patterns and provide appropriate support for all visitors. Your personal information is not shared with any outside third party.
Q: How do I create a new account?
A: Go to the Online Learning Center log-in page and follow the instructions on the right side.
Q: I created my user account, but I need to change some information that I entered. Can I do that?
A: Yes. To access the information in your user profile, log in to the Online Learning Center with the user name and password you selected. Look in the top-right corner where it says "You are logged in as [your name]" and click on your name. From there, click on the "Edit profile" tab and make the necessary changes; be sure to click the "Update profile" button at the bottom of the page when you are finished.
Q: Can I change my password?
A: Yes. Log in to the Online Learning Center with the user name and password you selected. Look in the top-right corner where it says "You are logged in as [your name]" and click on your name. From the screen that appears, click on the "Profile" tab and then click the "Change password" button. Follow the instructions from there.
Q: Do the courses cost money?
A: No. Online Learning Center courses are free to anyone who wishes to register as a user.
Q: How do you use the personal information I enter when creating my account?
A: Except as might be required by law, we do not share any information we receive, including e-mail addresses, with any outside parties. However, we do periodically examine aggregate user statistics in order to determine site usage and predict future user needs. For more details refer to the OLC security and privacy policy.
Back to topQ: Why do some resources and activities not work for me?
A: If an interactive element of the course is not working for you, check the minimum system requirements to be sure (1) that the OLC supports the browser and version you are using; (2) that your pop-up blocker is turned off; and (3) that you have the necessary applications to run the activity.
Q: What browsers are supported?
A: All resources and activities have been tested to function in Firefox version 3.0 and later, and in Internet Explorer version 6 and later (see the minimum system requirements).
Q: What is Flash Player, and why is it required for courses?
A: Adobe Flash Player is a free software application that plays videos, animations, interactive tutorials, and games. Some of these types of files can only be played with Flash Player. Download or update the Flash Player application.
Q: What are "cookies" and how do I enable them?
A: Cookies are bits of information stored in your Internet browser that remember your activities and preferences for a website. At the Online Learning Center, cookies help the system remember where you are in a course and whether or not you have logged in. For information on enabling cookies in different browsers, go to Google's Enabling Cookies page.
Q: I found a possible error with site functionality or content. How should I report this?
A: Contact us at learningsupport@etr.org to let us know. Be sure to include the name of the course and the exact description of the error you have identified, including the browser name and version you were using and how we can locate or reproduce the error.
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Courses / Learning Environment
Q: What if I can't find the course I'm looking for?
A: Be sure to review our course catalog. If the course you are looking for does not appear there, then it is most likely offered through a different learning center, or it has been discontinued.
Q: Will I be graded on the courses I take?
A: No. Online Learning Center courses do offer quizzes, exercises, and other self-assessment tools that may provide feedback or results based on your responses; however, you will not be graded.
Q: Can I use the courses in the OLC for academic credit?
A: No. Courses offered at the Online Learning Center are not affiliated with outside educational institutions.
Q: I completed a course (or resource, or activity), but I didn't receive any notification that it was complete. Why?
A: Learners are not notified when a course (or resource, or activity) has been completed.
Q: Can I get a certificate that says I completed a course?
A: Certificates of completion are not automatically available. The inclusion of a certificate is at the discretion of each course author. At this time, certificates are not offered for any course in the Online Learning Center.
Q: Can I get a print version of a course?
A: Several types of resources and activities have a print option; look for the "Print" button in the top-right of the course window. If you wish to print something and the "Print" option does not appear in the course window, the keystroke CTRL+P will allow you to print web pages. If you would like a printed copy of an entire course, contact technical support at learningsupport@etr.org or 800-860-2684 x125.
Back to topQ: Are your courses accessible to people with disabilities?
A: Yes. Our online courses are designed to be accessible to people of all abilities. Courses are readable by screen readers; captions or transcripts are provided with audio/visual material; and text-only versions of interactive exercises are provided. If additional accommodations are necessary, please let us know at learningsupport@etr.org or 800-860-2684 x125.
Q: Can I get a print version of a course?
A: Several types of resources and activities have a print option; look for the "Print" button in the top-right of the course window. If you wish to print something and the "Print" option does not appear in the course window, the keystroke CTRL+P will allow you to print web pages. If you would like a printed copy of an entire course, contact technical support at learningsupport@etr.org or 800-860-2684 x125.
Back to topQ: I've asked my staff to complete a course at the Online Learning Center. Can I get a report showing who has completed it?
A: No. The Online Learning Center privacy policy prohibits the reporting of individual student activity or other personal information.
Back to topWe welcome feedback about your experience at the Online Learning Center.