 Online Course Information
What can I expect from an online course?
Is my Practice Area available online?
How do I log in?
What about textbooks?
How does an online course compare with a lecture course?
How much time can I expect to devote to an online course?
Sample an Online Course
What can you expect from an online course?
Many courses are now available online. View "Course Details" for an annual schedule of online and lecture courses.
Online courses are provided through a secure internet website and and may be accessed from any high-speed computer worldwide. Final exams are provided in the form of a final online assignment or a timed online examination. Be sure to check out the Online Learner Success Express course (OLSE) in "The Zone" at https://my.vcc.ca using your student number.
Always include your email address when registering for any Paralegal course. Registered students receive an email message from the instructor on or before the course start date with logon instructions. At that time, you may log on at https://my.vcc.ca with your student number.
Weekly assignments and discussion forums may be accessed at any time during the week, at the student's convenience. Students are expected to log on and participate in online discussions a minimum of three times per week. All assignments must be submitted in MSWord or PDF format. A high speed internet connection is strongly recommended.
Any student with legal experience and English language facility may elect the online course option to advance their professional education.
Online Practice Area
The only practice area courses currently available for online students are corporations and litigation. Students interested in Family/Estates or Conveyancing/Real Estate courses may contact the Program Coordinator with your request.
Please note that, as with all courses, low registration numbers will sometimes result in the cancellation of online courses. We will make every attempt to run online advanced courses at least once every 2 years, to insure that distance learners may graduate in a timely manner.
What about textbooks?
First, check Course Details and check the right-side column for textbook requirements.
Texts are available for either pick-up or delivery from the VCC City Centre Bookstore, located on the South side of the building at 250 West Pender Street. Paralegal texts are located across from the window, organized by course number, session number, and instructor. If your text is not available, be sure to get your name on the wait list to insure it is re-stocked in a timely manner.
Students wishing text delivery may telephone (604) 871-8363 with a credit card.
The Vancouver Community College City Centre Library offers extensive supplemental materials, both online and in text form. Click here for Library resources.
How does an online course compare to a lecture course?
Online courses include the same learning objectives, texts, and time commitment as lecture style courses in the VCC Paralegal Certificate and Diploma program, and require a high level of student involvement and online participation. They are provided as an alternative for students with unpredictable professional, childcare, or personal demands, or those who reside outside the Vancouver, British Columbia area.
How much time can you expect to devote to an online course?
Lecture courses in the VCC program require about three hours per week of lecture time, plus approximately three hours at home in tutorial assignments, totalling about six hours per week.
Similarly, online courses are designed to require about six hours per week of student time.
Online Learner Success Course
Students are encouraged to complete the Online Learner Success Course - Express (OLSC-E) that can be found in "The Zone" at https://my.vcc.ca. Select "Online Courses" and log in using your student ID.
Scroll down to "the Zone" to select the OLSC-Express course. (You'll be asked to confirm that you wish to enrol. Just say yes.) You only have to do this once, after which the course will be added to your list of courses on the "My Courses" page.
How to Log in to a Registered Course
Prior to the course start date, be sure to log into the Online Learner Success Course- Express to prepare for online learning.
When the first day of your registered course arrives, you will receive an email from the instructor with an Enrolment Key and login information. Using the login procedures above under "Online Learner Success Course," log into the College website at https://my.vcc.ca , then select "Online Courses" and key in the course URL and the Enrolment key provided in the email.
Problems logging in?
If you do not receive an email by noon on Day TWO of the course:
Check your "junk" file for the instructor's email.
Next, confirm that you are registered. Check your receipt if you have one, or log into the College Website ,"Student Services" to view your registration history.
If you are not registered, telephone the registration desk at 604 443 8484 with the course number and ask to register if there are spaces available. If you do not know your student number, they can tell you for future reference. After you have registered, you may email the Program Coordinator to receive a welcome email.
If you DO receive an email, but cannot log into the College website:
If you are unable to log into the College website at https://my.vcc.ca, first consider whether your office firewall may be blocking access to the site.
If the site is accessible but you cannot log in, you may email helpdesk@vcc.ca with your Student Number and name and tell them you are unable to log into the College website at https://access.vcc.ca/. The help desk can NOT help with your course login, only with the College website.
If you CAN log into the College website, but CANNOT log into your course:
If you have received your enrolment key, and can log into the College website at https://my.vcc.ca, but cannot enroll in your specific class, be sure to copy and paste the URL provided by your instructor in the welcome email, and copy/paste the enrollment key for access. If you have further problems, you may email the Program Coordinator for assistance. Include your name, course number and start date.
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