Polk > Current Students > Distance Learning > PSC - PAL Instructions

Instructions for Using PAL (Polk Access to Learning)

What is PAL?
PAL (Polk Access to Learning) is PSC’s online course delivery system. PAL is used for all Internet and hybrid courses and for web-based supplemental materials for other classes as well.

The PAL homepage is located at the following address (but you will want to read all of these instructions before going to the PAL homepage):

elearning.polk.edu

Where can I find information about PAL?
You can find instructions for logging in to PAL and beginning an Internet course on this page, as well as in the PAL Student Orientation. General information about Distance Education at PSC as well as PAL can be found in the PSC Guide to Registration, the current Student Handbook, and the Distance Education pages on the PSC Website.

How do I get an account and log in to PAL?
Once you have enrolled in an Internet or hybrid course, a PAL account will be automatically created for you.
Note: during normal registration, your account may take up to one week after registration to be created, as this is not a fully automatic process (but enrollment in PAL will happen daily during late registration and drop/add). You will be able to log in to PAL and access your course(s) no later than one week prior to classes starting. Some instructors may release their courses at an earlier date; contact your specific instructor with any questions related to when you will be to view that course.

To log in to PAL, you will need your username and password, which follow a standard format:

Username Standard Form:

The standard form for any student’s login is "firstname.lastname.mmdd" where “mmdd” represents the two digits of the birth month and the two digits of the birth day. Note that your username is all lowercase.

Username Example:

If your name is Jane Smith and you were born
April 6, your username would be jane.smith.0406

Password Standard Form:

The default password for any student is the student ID (without dashes). This is NOT the Social Security number. Student IDs begin with the first letter of your first name and are followed by a series of numbers. Use your Student ID without dashes. Be sure the first letter of your password is capitalized.

You can find your student ID in Passport. After logging in to Passport, there are two ways to find your Student ID:

1. Click on the Class Schedule button (or My Schedule under the Registration Menu). Then choose the current term and click OK. Your Student ID is partway down the screen under your schedule, listed beside your name in the Fees section.

2. Click on the View Transcript button (or Unofficial Transcript under the Advising Menu). Your Student ID is near the top of your unofficial transcript.

Note: You should change your password as soon as you log in to PAL to one of your choosing. This is accomplished by clicking on "My Password" on the left of the PAL Homepage.

What will I see when I first log in to PAL?
You will see the PAL homepage (also called "My Home"), which will include access to your preferences, email, and events calendar. You will also see campus-wide News items as well as links to any Internet and hybrid courses you are enrolled in under a section titled "My Polk State College Courses."

How do I begin an Internet or hybrid course in PAL?
To begin a course in PAL, you will need to click on the link for your course under the "My Polk State College Courses" area. Once at the course homepage, you should read and follow any instructions found there under the “News” area. In addition, you should click on "Content" in the navigation bar at the top and then read all information found under the "Course Information" module.

Does PAL Provide email for Students?
Every student in PAL has an email account that is created when the student is enrolled in PAL. To use this system, click on "Email" in the navigation bar at the top of any PAL page, or click on the "New Email" update under the "Updates" section found on the left side of any PAL page. Students’ email addresses follow a standard form based on their PAL usernames.

Email Standard Form:	The standard form for any student’s email address is ”username@elearning.polk.edu” where “username” represents the student’s PAL username. (See username information above.)
Email Example:	If your name is Jane Smith and your username is "jane.smith.0406", your PAL email address would be: jane.smith.0406@elearning.polk.edu

Note: Students are required to use their PAL email account for any class-related email. In addition, this account is to be used only for PSC course-related purposes.

What Do I Do if I am Having Trouble Logging in to or Using PAL?
If you are having trouble logging in to PAL, accessing your course(s) in PAL, or need your password reset, call the PAL Student Help Desk at 863-298-6839. Help Desk personnel will be happy to help you. The PAL Student Help Desk is available at the days and times indicated below:

PAL Student Help Desk Hours
Monday -Thursday:	8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday:	8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday:	9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
863-298-6839

You may also email your instructor with any course-specific questions. Should you not be able to locate your instructor’s contact information, you can find all instructors' email addresses on the current term's course index, and all instructors' email addresses and phone extensions in the PSC Phone Directory. Dial 863-297-1010; then enter the desired extension. In addition, you may find the answer to your question in the PAL Student Orientation.

Note: The easiest way for you to email your instructor is by clicking on your course on the PAL homepage; then click on "Classlist" in the course navigation bar. Once in the "Classlist," click on the instructor’s name or email address at the top of the list, and the PAL email program will launch an email window addressed to the instructor.

Students Using America Online: some students who use America Online have reported having problems accessing PAL, in particular after PAL is down for maintenance. Our recommendation is to connect to the Internet with AOL as you have done in the past; then, once connected, minimize America Online (the left-most button of the three in the upper right of any window) and then launch Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other web browser to access PAL. If you have difficulty using PAL, do not hesitate to contact the PAL Student Help Desk at 863-298-6839 or your instructors. They will be glad to help you.

What Do I Do Next?
To begin, go to the PAL Homepage and log in with your username and password as listed above. All of us at PSC are committed to your success and hope you have a great term. Please do not hesitate to contact your instructor, the appropriate College office, or the PAL Student Help Desk if we can help you in any way.