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Programs > The Online Courses Program > FAQ's
You can contact the City Adult Learning Centre to request more information about online course opportunities and one of our staff members will respond to your questions, via email or by phone.
What is online learning?
Online learning is a system through which curriculum is delivered over a wide area network. Over this wide area network, you are able to connect to our CALC site, login to a course in which you are registered, and proceed with your course work. This means that you can work on course material at any time, and from anywhere, provided you have a computer and Internet access.
How to get a free email address?
A lot of Internet sites offer free email service. Visit www.hotmail.com, www.canada.com, www.yahoo.com, or any other site that offers the service. Please note that a valid email address is compulsory for students enrolled in Online courses.
Do online credits count toward my secondary school diploma?
Yes. Online courses are just like the courses offered in a regular Ontario school setting. The City Adult Learning Centre also has a guidance counselor who will be able to assist you with course selections and choices based on both your individual needs and diploma requirements.
What does "Continuous Entry" mean?
All CALC courses run on a continuous entry model. What this essentially means is that once you have completed the registration process, you will be placed into your course(s) immediately and can work at your own speed. We operate on a September - June school year calendar. Some students will want to take the whole school year to complete their courses, while other students will want to move through their courses more quickly. The point is, you will have a choice!
While continuous entry provides our students with a great deal of academic freedom, it does not mean that students don't have to keep up with work during the course. Once you have been admitted to a course, you will be expected to login regularly, work at the material, participate in class chats. Remember, whether you choose to spend a full ten months on the course or to "fast track", you are expected to be active in the course, hand in assignments, take tests.
Because we do operate within a traditional school year calendar, registrations for all courses will be closed on March 1st of each school year to ensure that students have enough time to complete the course material prior to the administration of the final assessment component of their course(s) in June. Students wishing to enroll in courses, but who have not completed the registration process by March 1st, will be placed in classes for the following September.
How are online courses taught?
When you register for an online course within the City Adult Learning Centre, you will be provided with login information such as a username and id. You will also receive an Internet address (URL) to your course. When you login for the first time, you will be given access to the Student Guide which essentially introduces you to the online learning environment. In this guide, you will be provided with a tutorial which teaches you how to operate within the virtual classroom. As well, a Student Handbook is included, which provides important information about everything from diploma requirements to online communication etiquette! Once you have finished the tutorial, you will be required to write a short quiz and when you have successfully passed this quiz, your course will be made available to you.
Once you "arrive" in your course, be sure to look at the course outline, which will outline the course content and describe how the course will be delivered and what is required of you. Although all of the City Adult Learning Centre's online courses look the same, your teacher is ultimately in charge of how the course will run.
What about final examinations?
In cases where an examination is part of the final assessment for a course, the final examination shall be written in the presence of a proctor. Students will be required to make arrangements for the proctor, based on CALC Guidelines which will be provided to the student. In cases where students are unable to find a proctor, students may write their examination at an Toronto District School Board school.
Why offer courses over a network?
Courses delivered in this fashion allow you more flexibility in terms of the courses you are able to take. You must, however, be motivated and focused. If you are motivated and focused, online learning can be rewarding, convenient, and even fun!
Who teaches online courses?
Certified teachers who are employed by the Toronto District School Board deliver online course material for CALC. Our teachers are assigned to both online and regular day school classes. Each teacher receives ongoing training and support so that they are comfortable with the online approach to both teaching and learning.
What about textbooks and other resources?
Textbook resources are NOT available. Students will need to purchase a copy of their textbooks and may do so directly from Nelson Thomson.
Are online courses harder or easier than regular classroom courses?
This very much depends on you and the course you are taking. The curriculum expectations for online courses are identical to the curriculum expectations for courses delivered in a regular classroom setting. Studies have shown that both students and teachers tend to spend more time working on courses delivered online when compared to the same course delivered in the traditional classroom setting.
If you are not, at this time, comfortable with computers, some of your time will be spent figuring out how to carry out different applications on your computer. As a general rule, however, plan on devoting at least as many hours to online courses as you would to regular classroom courses.
Will "attendance" be monitored?
You do need to check-in as required by your teacher and this is monitored. As well, you need to contribute to your classroom conference and communicate with your instructor on a regular basis. Your teacher will be online at specific times of the day (or evening) for scheduled "chats" which may involve guided tutorials, discussions, or perhaps just involve "office hours," where you may bring any questions about course material forward for clarification and/or direction.
Will I benefit from online courses?
In most cases, this form of course delivery works well. Obvious prerequisites include motivation, computer familiarity, and the ability to work independently and meet deadlines. Remember, though, that although there is daily contact with others in the class, there may not be any face to face meetings. For students with some learning styles, taking online courses may not be an appropriate choice.
* Modifications and accommodations for identified, exceptional, (IPRC'd) students accessing CALC courses, is the responsibility of the home school in which the student is registered.
What about privacy and security?
You need to have a stable connection to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Arranging and maintaining an Internet connection is the student's responsibility. For further information on computer requirements see the Computer Requirements page.
Some courses will require specialized hardware and software and these requirements are listed with the courses in the course listing pages.
Are there any fees?
• There is a Registration Fee of $50 per year. Each additional course will cost you $100.
• If you are a current student at CALC, you will have to pay $100 per online course.
• If you are not a resident of Ontario, tuition fees $800 per course will apply.
• Please note that the fees for online credits are non-refundable and non-transferable between the courses.
Math Courses:
The technology surrounding math courses presents an interesting, but often frustrating challenge to our students.
We recommend that students taking math courses have access to a fax machine, for submission of their assignments/course work and tests.
It is "possible" to complete a math course without access to a fax, but that requires a student to complete their work using the Equation Editor feature in either Word or WordPerfect. We cannot provide training or support for this feature.
If a student chooses to use the Equation Editor in a word processor to complete course work and tests, additional time and allowance for use of this technology is not provided.
BEFORE you decide to use Equation Editor, it is suggested that the student spend some time exploring the feature, and assessing their own level of comfort and competence with the feature.
How do I register?
Click here to begin your registration in Online Courses.
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