Before registering for a Distance Education course at College of Marin, it is important to determine if online learning is a good fit for you. Here are a few resources to assist you in your decision to take an online course and tips for starting off on the right foot.
Are You Ready for Online Learning?
If you are already enrolled at College of Marin, you can access our free, self-paced Online Learning Readiness course to help you assess if you are suited to distance education. The course also provides tutorials and activities that will help you better understand the skills you need to be a successful online student. To access the course you will need to login to Canvas with your MyCOM username and password.
Join the course to get started: COM Online Learning Orientation.
What is online learning and what will I need to participate in my course?
To learn more about what online learning entails, view the following media presentations created by the California Community Colleges Online Education Initiative to further understand what to expect from an online course and the basic technology skills you will need to be successful in an online course.
Additional online readiness resources and tools can be located on the CCC OEI Online Student Readiness Tutorials Website.
Accessing your Online Course
All courses are located in Canvas, COM's course management system (CMS). Online courses open one week before the semester begins. To access your course, log into the MyCOM Portal. If you have never accessed the MyCOM Portal, follow the portal First Time User Instructions to access your account. You can also use the Canvas Login, link on the left side of this page. Read the FAQs for Students page for more information on accessing and navigating Canvas.
Once you have logged into Canvas, read the syllabus and other information available within the course for important details about your first week in class.
Attendance in Online Classes
It is important that you log into your course on the first day of the semester to ensure your spot in the course is secure. Most instructors have a specific drop policy and require you complete specific tasks within the first week and throughout the semester. Refer to your course syllabus for further information about course requirements. Failure to complete your assigned activities could result in your being dropped from the class.
Your instructor will also send a Course Welcome Letter to your MyCOM email address and post the an announcement in Canvas up to one week before classes start. Read this information carefully for attendance requirements, textbook information, and the amount of time you will be expected to devote to the class each week.
If you have any questions about the course requirements, don't hesitate to contact your instructor.
Online Course Support
Online and in-person help is available for students and faculty using Canvas to access their College of Marin courses. If you need technical assistance with your courses see the Contact/Support information on the left menu of this page or visit Online Support Services.
For additional support services, visit the Student Support Services page.