Distance Education
No matter where you live, Distance Learning at NIC provides opportunities for you
to pursue your education where and when you like. From Ucluelet to Port Hardy, North
Island College delivers hundreds of courses in varied formats and with different
scheduling options to help make it easy – in a way that works for you.
Distance Learning courses are structured so you don’t have to be in a classroom
to learn. Instructors and students communicate by telephone, mail, fax and computer.
And while some courses are regularly scheduled, such as ITV classes and science
labs, many courses offer flexible schedules. Distance Learning works to provide
you with diverse course offerings to suit your lifestyle and location.
Please explore this page to find out how Distance Learning can fit your lifestyle.
COURSE OFFERINGS
To browse available Distance Education course offerings by term, please visit NIC CONNECT. Be sure
to select “Distance Education” as the course delivery method in the search window.
To learn about the classroom-based courses the college has to offer, visit the Programs & Courses page.
SCHEDULING OPTIONS
We understand that it’s not always easy to make life fit around school.
We offer two options for working through your course load – in lock-step or flexible
modes – so that school can fit into your life with as little stress as possible.
If you work well with a fixed schedule, the lock-step timeline
may be for you. If you are registered in a lock-step course, you must complete your
exams and assignments within a four-month scheduled term, with deadlines that parallel
the College’s classroom-based academic schedule.
If your life demands a little more flexibility, you may choose to work through the
course material at your own pace. With two intakes per year (fall and winter terms),
the flexible timeline option can be helpful if you are returning
to education after some time out of school, or if you have significant responsibilities
at home or at work that make it impossible for you to complete a course within four
months.
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DELIVERY METHODS
Many courses offer different delivery methods to suit your learning style.
If you don’t have reliable access to the internet, or simply prefer working in a
paper-based format, the textbook-based delivery may suit your needs
best. With this method, students work from texts and student manuals, and either
fax, mail, or hand deliver their course work to their instructors. Courses delivered
in this method may be either flex or lock-step, with optional online components
available for some courses.
The online delivery method is ideal for students who wish to learn
in their own environment using the internet. Online learning allows students to
learn outside of scheduled class time while also connecting with others. All you
need is reliable access to the internet to use course materials, communicate with
peers and instructors, and submit assignments.
Online courses may be either flex or lock-step. The majority of online courses are
offered through BCcampus, an online educational service that connects students and
online courses across British Columbia.
Some online courses require students to order textbooks. Students are encouraged
to enrol in the Online Learner Success (ABT020) course as an introduction to online
learning.
With Interactive Television (ITV) classes, you can participate
in various lectures from your nearest campus. Instructors teach their classes through
a television screen via live-feed from their campus location, but students take
part in that course at any of NIC’s campuses. Just like attending a class on campus,
students can ask questions and discuss course material with their classmates in
real-time. Because students live in different communities all over Vancouver Island,
the varied experiences and perspectives available to the class is a special added
benefit of ITV learning.
There are ITV classrooms at each of NIC’s four campuses. ITV courses are not listed
separately, so it is always a good idea to ask if the course you're registered in
is an ITV section.
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HOW TO APPLY
To learn how to apply for distance education programs, please visit
Steps to Becoming a Distance Student
HOW TO REGISTER
To learn how to register for distance education courses, please visit
Steps to Becoming a Distance Student
Students may register for NIC and other BC post-secondary institution courses through
BCcampus
.
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FINANCIAL AID
Student Advisors are available to work with distance students to discuss financial
aid or educational planning. To learn about the resources available to you, as well
as specific awards and bursaries, please visit the Financial Aid and Awards sections
of this website.
LEARNING RESOURCES
Campus resources are accessible to every student, regardless of where you choose
to study.
Books
Distance Learning students have access to all the resources North Island College
has to offer. If you are far away, we’ll bring it to you. Our Book Search helps
you find out which books you’ll need for your courses, and our bookstores make it
easy for you to have them delivered to you.
Books may be ordered toll-free from the following campus bookstores:
Port Alberni: 1-888-414-8242 ext. 8720
Comox Valley: 1-800-715-0914 ext. 5013
Campbell River: 1-888-293-3177 ext. 9705
Books are not included in your registration package nor are they covered by your
course fees. Shipping charges apply on delivered items.
Library
You can search the entire library collection from the library webpage, and article
indexes are accessible online. Distance students can also request book delivery.
Librarians are available to answer questions and offer advice, and can be reached
by phone or by email.
Toll-free: 1-800-715-0914 ext. 5097
Email: resources@nic.bc.ca
Computer Access
Computer labs are available at all NIC campuses and centres. All you need is your
name and student number to access the facilities. For locations and hours, please
visit Computer Access.
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EXAMS
Distance exams may be written at any NIC campus or centre, but it is also possible
to write your exam at another educational institute if it’s closer to you. To write
an exam at another institute you will need to complete the Off-Campus Exam Application
form and submit it to Assessment Services for approval of your invigilator. Once
your invigilator is approved, permission will be granted for the exam to be released.
Requests should be submitted no later than three weeks before a student hopes to
do an exam. If you cannot attend a North Island College campus or centre, or another
educational institute to write your exam, your exam may be written under the supervision
of an approved invigilator. Please contact the Student Services’ Assessment Office
to learn more about invigilation services.
If, after you have scheduled your exam, something serious or unexpected comes up,
please talk to your instructor immediately about your rescheduling options.
Picture ID and your student number are mandatory for distance exams, so please bring
your student card and a suitable writing instrument (pen or pencil) plus a backup.
When you notify your instructor to arrange your exam, ask them three things:
- What the format of the exam is – multiple choice, essay, open book,
- What materials are allowed – calculator, dictionary, etc, and
- How long the exam is
For more information about exam rules, please visit our
Exam section.
Application Process for On-Campus Exams
It is easy to arrange a distance exam:
- Three weeks ahead of time, notify your instructor that you will soon be ready to
write your exam. Tell them when (your desired test time) and where (which NIC campus
or centre). They will send your exam to that location.
- Two weeks ahead of time, contact Student Services to make the booking at your chosen
location. They will arrange for a test supervisor. It is important at this time
to make sure your exam has arrived from the instructor.
Application Process for Off-Campus Exams
- Complete the Off-Campus Exam
Application
form.
- It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for an invigilator, an appropriate
site, and to pay any associated fees.
- Exams are to be written in a location approved by Assessment Services, NIC. Ideally,
exams are to be written at an accredited, post-secondary institution such as a community
college. Other approved locations include public schools and libraries.
- Exams are to be written under the supervision of an invigilator approved by Assessment
Services of NIC. An approved invigilator must be in a position of responsibility/authority
and must be able to remain objective as far as the student is concerned. Preferred
invigilators would be one of the following: a member of the assessment services
staff of a post-secondary institution, an educator, a librarian, a counsellor, a
police officer, or a court official. Other invigilators would be subject to approval
of the Assessment Services Coordinator.
- The invigilator cannot be a student in the same course or program,
a relative (including by marriage), a friend or reside at the same address as the
student.
- Exams must not be written in the private residence of an invigilator.
- Invigilators must sign the application form.
- North Island College reserves the right to reject proposed invigilators and sites.
- Return the completed application form by one of the methods in the Submission
of Application section along with the required payment (Fees for Service
section).
- When a form has been received and processed and the site and invigilator has been
approved the student and the instructor will receive email notification/confirmation
from the Assessment Services Department.
- The tests will then be sent out to the Test Invigilator who will contact you to
set up a time and place for you to write once the tests have been received.
You will be responsible for any fees for this service at that institution.
- The test invigilator will return the completed tests to North Island College for
marking.
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