ONS Frequently Asked Questions

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FAQ About Web-based Courses

What website do I use to access ONS Webcourses?
After you have registered for an ONS Webcourse and have received your confirmation letter from ONS, visit http://webcourses.ons.org to log in and access your course. Your username is your email address. Your confirmation letter will contain your temporary password.

If this is the first time you have visited the course, you will be prompted to change your password. Upon logging in, the courses you have registered for will be listed in your Course List.

I forgot my ONS Webcourses password. Where can I get it?
If you have forgotten your ONS Webcourses password, click "Forgot your login information?" located on http://webcourses.ons.org. You will need to provide your email address to have this information sent to you.

I know my username and password are correct, but when I log in, nothing happens. What can I do?
You may have an issue with the Windows Firewall settings on your computer. If you experience this issue, please contact the IT department at your institution.

Will I need any additional downloads or plug-ins to take an ONS Webcourse?
Many ONS Webcourses take advantage of technologies that require the use of downloadable components and plug-ins. It is recommended that you have the latest version of the following components installed on every computer you will use to access your course. Installation of these components may require assistance from your IT department.

Microsoft Internet Explorer
Adobe Flash Player
Adobe Reader
Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer

Is there anything available to help me practice taking a course before signing up for one?
If you are new to taking ONS Webcourses, please consider taking our free "Using ONS Webcourses" practice course. This free course includes a chat, discussion area, and a quiz that will allow you to practice accessing and using these features.

To access this course, visit http://webcourses.ons.org and use the following user name and password:

User name: freecourse
Password: freecourse

How can I make sure the browser I am using will function correctly with the course?
Please check to see if your browser is compatible with the course's features. To do this, go to http://webcourses.ons.org and click the Check Browser link at the top of this window. This will take to a screen that will determine if your browser is compatible.

To help diagnose issues you may be experiencing using the Blackboard Learning System, consult these Blackboard support pages:

Windows – Internet Explorer Tips
Tips and Troubleshooting

Do I need to enable pop-up windows in my browser?
ONS Webcourses take advantage of pop-up windows as a powerful way to deliver content in an organized fashion. You must have pop-up windows enabled or certain parts of your course will not function properly. You must have pop-up windows enabled in order for chats and assessments to work properly.

If you have any questions about enabling pop-ups for the purposes of using ONS Webcourses, please contact your IT department or internet service provider (ISP).

I'm having trouble getting into a course chat. What can I do?
Some ONS Webcourses include live chats that students must participate in to complete the course. You must have pop-up windows enabled for this feature to function properly.

If you are participating in a chat scheduled after 5:00 pm Eastern Time, it is highly recommended that you test the chat during business hours so that you can resolve any issues prior to beginning the chat. See helpful Troubleshooting Chats information below.

Troubleshooting Chats

• If you have been able to access chats in the past and now are having trouble, please verify that you have the correct version of Java installed.  If you receive a message stating that your version of Java is not validated for use with ONS Webcourses (see Java Security Certificate image below), please contact the IT department at your institution or follow these steps to correct the version of Java.
  


• If you can't access a chat from home, you may have a pop-up blocker. Please contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for assistance.
  


• If you try to access a chat or quiz and it takes you to a window that has advertisements, you may have spyware installed. You may need to run a spyware removal program on your computer. If you need assistance with this, please contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
  


• If you are trying to access a chat or quiz from your hospital, health facility, or place of business, there may be a block for security reasons. Please speak to your IT department to gain access (tell them the chat window is a Java Applet).

What is the Java Security Certificate?
After logging in to ONS Webcourses, you will be prompted to accept a Java Security Certificate. You must click Yes or Always to ensure that functionality using Java will work properly in your browser.

The Check Browser link located on the ONS Webcourses login page will help determine if you are running the correct version of Java. If you see a message stating that the version of Java you are running is not compatible with ONS Webcourses (see image below), please contact the IT department at your institution or follow these steps to correct the version of Java.

How do I earn CNE credit for my course?
Please consult your individual course requirements for information about when you will receive your CNE certificate. CNE certificates may be mailed from ONS after successful completion of your course and other activities as outlined in the course requirements.

Some ONS Webcourses offer CNE certificates that can be printed out after completing the course evaluation. If your course includes a printable CNE certificate and you do not print out your certificate when prompted, please contact ONS to request a copy.

I'm clicking on an audio file and can't hear anything. What can I do?
Some courses are enhanced with audio components. If your computer is not playing audio within a course, please ensure that your computer is capable of playing audio. Make sure that your computer volume is not set to "mute" and that your speakers or headphones are properly connected. Please contact the IT department at your institution if you have questions about your computer's ability to play audio files.

How do I print out the course?
You may print course pages using the print button found on every page within a Learning Module. The button is located on the navigation bar, in the upper right hand corner. Clicking on the print button will prompt you to select pages. Simply select the page or pages within that module that you would like to print, then click the continue button in the bottom left. You will be taken to another page with two options, where you may print the selected pages or save the pages to a .zip file to your computer.

How do course assessments work?
Assessments do not have a time limit. You may take as long as you need to complete each quiz, test, or evaluation. However, once you open and begin an assessment, you must finish it. If you mistakenly open an assessment and are unable to finish it, the assessment must be reset.

Some assessments allow multiple attempts. You may get multiple chances to pass the post-test (refer to the information in your specific course for details).

When you complete an assessment, you will see a Finish button at the bottom of the page. If you do not click the Finish button, your grade is recorded, but not updated under the My Grades section. Make sure you always click the Finish button after answering and saving all the assessment questions.

You must have pop-up windows enabled for course assessments to function properly.

How do I view my quiz submissions?
After completing an assessment, click the View Attempt button located on the submission page. If you experience any technical issues when viewing a quiz submission, please view the submitted quiz via the Assessments link located in the Course Menu. On the Assessments page, click View All Submissions to see the results of your Quiz.

My problem still isn't solved. What else can I do?
If you require assistance from ONS to reset an assessment, update your grades, or print a certificate, please email educationcourses@ons.org. If you are participating in the Chemotherapy Renewal or Chemotherapy Update course, please email educationchemo@ons.org.

If you are still having problems, contact ONS Technical Support (techsupport@ons.org, 866-257-4ONS, option 3).

ONS Technical Support is available Monday—Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM Eastern Time. Inquiries received during these hours will be addressed within 4 business hours.

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