Introduction

This course provides all the material, assignments, tools and resources you need to meet the program objectives and to work independently, at your own pace. You will need to agree on your work pace with your instructor or tutor if you have one.

Learning Content

The course content is the online equivalent of a learning guide except that the material is presented in a multimedia environment that allows you to interact with it. You get to choose the pace at which you work through the course material.

Each module is divided into three parts: the Lead-in, the Unit(s) and the Wrap-up.

• The Lead-in provides:
  1. some food for thought on the topic of the unit, connecting it to real-life situations;
  2. an opportunity to show what you already know about the topic;
  3. information on the learning objectives of the module.
• The Units
  We know that you want to be actively involved in your own learning, so the content of each unit is conveyed through interactivities. In fact, every other page is an interactive screen requiring that you identify, link or classify elements. You will also have an opportunity to summarize what you have learned and to save this summary in your Learning Log.
• The Wrap-up provides:
  1. an opportunity to show what you now know about the topic by answering the same questions you were asked in the Lead-in and comparing your new answers with your previous ones. This exercise will help you gauge how much you have learned;
  2. an opportunity to take a stand on a current issue related to the topic;
  3. an end-of-module Quiz to see whether you have attained the learning objectives of the module. Once you have passed the Quiz, you will be able to access subsequent modules.

Remember the following as you work:

• You are free to navigate through each unit as you wish; however, we suggest that you observe the order of the screen pages as this will allow you to attain the objectives more easily.
• You can work at your own pace since the activities are corrected automatically as you complete them.
• You can do the activities as many times as you wish; the system keeps no record of the time you spend online or of your results.
• We suggest you not do the end-of-module Quiz until you feel you have mastered the learning objectives (the system does record each attempt). Remember that you must obtain a mark of 10/10 for the system to consider that you have attained the learning objectives and to unlock the other modules.
• There are ten modules in all. To find out which modules are prerequisites for other modules or for specific assignments, consult the .

Assignments

In this course, you will have eight assignments to complete online. You can do them at your own pace. They will unlock automatically once you have passed the quizzes for the prerequisite modules.

If you have an instructor or tutor, he/she will correct and mark each assignment and provide feedback right in the online environment. The system provides you with an instant overview of your instructor's comments and corrections.

Since the system keeps track of your assignments, you can access your work at all times, from any computer.

You can earn a maximum of 100 marks for the assignments. Although these marks do not count towards your final evaluation, you must obtain an average of 60% on all the assignments in order to receive your instructor's permission to write the examination.

Planner

Your Planner is a key tool designed to help you plan and keep track of your work. You begin by entering your anticipated date of completion for each of the course units and for each assignment. While your Planner indicates the average length of time it takes to complete a module or assignment, it is up to you to set a work pace that is realistic for you.

Every time you open your Planner, you will have an overview of your progress, your instructor's feedback and your marks. As the system automatically records the actual date on which you completed a module or an assignment, you will be able to compare where you are in relation to your initial work plan and make any necessary adjustments.

Related Resources

This course has some very useful features: Communication, a Learning Log and a Self-Evaluation Activity.

• Communication allows you to communicate with the various resource persons quickly via email (e.g. your instructor, technical support, administrative assistance, the project coordinator).
• Your Learning Log is an electronic document in which you can save your entries from certain activities. Thus, at the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive document that you can use to prepare for the self-evaluation activity and the final examination.
• The Self-Evaluation Activity allows you to assess your own learning. It contains a set of questions similar to those likely to be on the final examination. You will be able to access this activity once you have completed all the modules and all the assignments.

You should know that no matter where you are in the course, you will always find a Help button in the top right corner of the screen. If you are experiencing difficulties, click on this button to display the Help page, where you will find a list of the various resources available to you.

Final Examination

To receive certification from the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (i.e. to earn the two credits for this course), you must take a supervised examination at your school board. This final examination will count for 100% of the mark that will appear on your transcript.

FAQ

Where do I begin?

Begin by filling out your Planner. When that is done, it's time to tackle the course content: start by reading the Introduction and then proceed to "The Reproductive System" module. Complete the assignments as they become unlocked.

How long will it take me to complete the course?

That depends. You need to work at the pace you set in your Planner.

Is there only one way to complete the course?

Sometimes you can choose the order in which you do the modules, but the system will not allow you to skip a step. You will always need to complete the prerequisite modules.

Does the system keep track of everything I do?

No, the system keeps track of just a few things: the quizzes that you have passed and your course assignments.

What does my instructor/tutor see?

Your instructor (in class or at a distance) sees your Planner and your Assignments.

What happens if I don't log out of my course?

After a period of inactivity of more than 20 minutes, your work session will shut down automatically. If you wish to resume your work, you will have to access your account and log onto the course again.

Now that you know the ropes, it's time to get to work!

Enjoy the course!