ON THIS PAGE YOU CAN FIND ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN THE ORDER THEY APPEAR BELOW:

1. How does online study work?

2. If I am already attending an ACE program in a college, can I also take an ACE Distance course?

3. Is there anything I need to do before registering for an ACE Distance course?

4. What is SKILLSMARKER and why do I have to complete it?

5. How are my SKILLSMARKER scores used?

6. What SKILLSMARKER scores are required for each course?

7. Why am I required to complete the 20-hour Learn to Learn (L2L) orientation course?

8. What courses are offered in ACE Distance?

9. How do ACE courses compare with high school courses?

10. When are ACE Distance courses offered?

11. How long does it typically take to complete an ACE Distance course?

12. How long does it take to get assignments marked?

13. Is there a limit to the number of ACE Distance courses I can take?

14. If I'm taking a course that requires a textbook, where do I get this book?

15. What is meant by my “registering college”?

16. Why do I need a course outline?

17. What is the ACE Certificate, and what courses do I need to qualify for it?

18. Do I need to complete all the courses required to achieve the ACE Certificate to get into the college program of my choice?

19. How do I transfer from college-based ACE classroom courses to ACE Distance online \
courses?

20. How do I transfer from ACE Distance to college-based, in-class learning?


1. HOW DOES ONLINE STUDY WORK?

Online learning is a form of teacher-led, flexibility-paced study that offers an alternative to courses
delivered in a traditional classroom setting.

• You need reliable access to a computer with an Internet connection.
• You study from home or anywhere you can access the Internet. Instruction and most tests and assignments are conducted online or via email.
• You upload completed assignments on the course web site.
• Some ACE Distance courses require you to write a supervised (in-person) mid-term and/or final exam.
• Your ACE Distance instructor and academic advisor are available for academic support and
• consultation online. They will respond within 24 hours (on weekdays).
• Technical support is also available to you 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

If you do not have a computer, there are 78 access sites in communities across Ontario where you can use computers at no charge. For more information about locations, go to  http://studyonline.ca/student-services/online-learning-centres 


2. IF I AM ALREADY ATTENDING AN ACE PROGRAM IN A COLLEGE, CAN I ALSO TAKE AN ACE DISTANCE COURSE?

Please see the HOW TO APPLY page for important details about the requirements to register for an
ACE Distance course. Briefly, the steps are as follows:
1. Submit the online application form.
2. Complete the SKILLSMARKER online skills assessments (1 to 2 hours) and meet the required entry scores.
3. Complete the required Learn to Learn introductory course (15 to 20 hours over the course of three weeks).
4. Register for your first ACE Distance course.

• SKILLSMARKER is an online assessment that measures three skills: Reading, Writing, and Numeracy.
• All three of these skills assessments must be completed as part of the application process for ACE Distance.
• You must complete SKILLSMARKER so that we can advise you about whether you’re ready to register and most likely succeed in an ACE Distance course. We do want you to be successful!
• Completing the assessments is also required by our funder (Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities) for access to the free ACE Distance courses.

• Each ACE Distance course has a minimum required score you must achieve on one or more of three skills areas noted above.
• SKILLSMARKER assessments are scored on a 500-point scale known as the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) scale.
• If you score at least 250 on the Reading component, you will be registered automatically into the required Learn to Learn orientation course.
• If you score between 225 and 249 on the Reading component, you will be required to complete the Communications Support course to refresh your skills before you start the Learn to Learn orientation course.
• If you are planning to take a math or science course through ACE Distance, you may be required\ to complete the Numeracy Support course first, depending on your Numeracy score and the course(s) you wish to take.
• Applicants who do not qualify for the Support courses described above are referred to one of our partner programs for upgrading. After completing required upgrading at a partner program, and with approval from the partner program instructor, learners may return for another attempt at completing the SKILLSMARKER assessments.
  

7. WHY AM I REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE 20-HOUR LEARN TO LEARN (L2L)ORIENTATION COURSE?

• determine if you have the necessary personal, computer and academic skills to successfully participate in ACE Distance courses;
• meet your goals by assisting you in developing your own learning plan;
• ensure you are taking the right courses in the right order;
• access support throughout your ACE Distance program with the advice and encouragement of your online instructors.

See the list above for course titles and required SKILLSMARKER scores. For course descriptions, please see our
10. WHEN ARE ACE DISTANCE COURSES OFFERED?

Free courses are available in January, March, April, June, September and November. Before registering for any ACE Distance course, you must have completed the steps listed on the ONLINE LEARNING page. Learn to Learn and the Support courses start on most Tuesdays throughout the year.
11. HOW LONG DOES IT TYPICALLY TAKE TO COMPLETE AN ACE DISTANCE COURSE?

Courses vary from 80 to 120 hours in length.

• You are allowed a maximum of 20 weeks to complete each course.
• You’ll need to devote an average of 10 hours per week to your studies.
• Depending on the number of hours you study each week and your motivation, you may complete in less time.

Assignments are generally marked within five business days, and often more quickly. During high volume times, it may take a little longer for your instructor to mark assignments.

• You can take one course at a time.
• If you complete all the requirements of your first course, and achieve a final grade of at least 70% then you can register in another free course. 
• You may continue to register in free courses, one at a time, as long as you complete each one with at least 70%.
• It is important to choose your courses carefully and be realistic about the time you can devote to your studies.
• In the final module of the required Learn to Learn orientation course, we will help you create your own personalized learning plan to select the course(s) you wish to complete.
  
  

14. IF I'M TAKING A COURSE THAT REQUIRES A TEXTBOOK, WHERE DO I GET THIS BOOK?

• Textbooks are required in some courses and are provided free of charge.
• Once you have completed the application form, online assessments, and the Learn to Learn orientation course, we will send instructions to you about obtaining your text book if one is required.
• We will send it directly to you by courier.
• You don't need the textbook to get started. All courses have been designed to allow you to get started immediately.

• When we’ve confirmed your eligibility to register for your first ACE Distance course, you will be asked which of Ontario’s public colleges you wish to register with.
• We will let the college know that you are eligible to register for the ACE Distance course you’ve requested.
• The registering college will issue you a student number, provide access to the online learning platform (Moodle) for your ACE Distance course, and post your final grade so that it appears on an official college transcript.
  
  

16. WHY DO I NEED A COURSE OUTLINE?

Every ACE Distance course has a course outline that describes the course content, grading scheme, and other information. Often employers and educational institutions want to know the outcomes you have achieved and the material you have covered. You should keep a copy of the course outline for future reference.


17. WHAT IS THE ACE CERTIFICATE, AND WHAT COURSES DO I NEED TO QUALIFY FOR IT?

The ACE Certificate is a grade 12 equivalent certificate offered by Ontario’s public colleges. It is recognized for application to certificate and diploma programs at Ontario’s 24 public colleges and for registration as an apprentice in Ontario. A growing number of employers also recognize ACE for hiring and promotion. To qualify for your ACE Certificate, you need to complete the following courses: