Online Student Resources

Whether you're new to online learning or you've taken classes online courses before, the Online Education department is here to support you! LACC offers fully online and hybrid courses in many departments and divisions to help you reach your academic goals. On this page you can find some resources to help you get started with online learning and to help you thrive in the online environment.

If you're not sure if online learning is for you, read on! Or learn more about Online Readiness here.

We also debunk some of the common myths about online learning in our Online Learning Myths vs. Facts page.

Canvas is Our Learning Management System

Students access Canvas through the SIS PeopleSoft Portal. Login to SIS and choose the Canvas tile.

If you're having trouble with your student portal password, call the Welcome Center Help Desk at 1 (888) 930 - 5222
or email @email
Mon - Thur: 8:00am - 7:00pm
Fri: 8:00am - 4:30pm

For other issues, email: @email from your LACCD email. Please be sure to include your name, Student ID Number, the section number of the class, and a description of the problem.

If you'd like to see a brief overview video of Canvas and its many features, check out this video tutorial.

Zoom Classes

LACCD uses the Zoom video conferencing system to support online classes. Your professor may also use the system for other purposes, such as hosting a guest speaker or holding online office hours.

Your instructor may send you a link for the first class, or you may be able to get to Zoom by clicking on "zoom" in the course menu in Canvas.

  • Zoom will ask you if you would like to download the Zoom application or to use your web browser. You should click “download and Run Zoom” to download the application:
    • After Zoom downloads, follow the directions on your computer or mobile device to install the application.
    • NOTE: You will only need to install the Zoom application once.
  • Once the app is installed, you will be asked to if you want to join the meeting with video. Choose “Join with Video" or "Join without Video". You will need a device with a webcam to join with video.
  • Next, you’ll the be asked if you want to join with audio. Click on the big blue button that says “Join with Computer Audio.” You may also connect to audio via Phone Call. The phone numbers will be provided with the Zoom invitation; you will need to input the Meeting ID number.
  • Tip: If you don’t want to be prompted for this the next time you join, check “Automatically join audio by computer when joining a meeting.”
  • The next time you follow a link to Zoom, you may be prompted to “Open zoom.us app.” Click on “Open zoom.us app." You’ll have to follow the steps again to join your video and audio, and then you’ll be taken to the meeting.

  • Keep yourself muted unless you are speaking
  • Turn your camera on, if possible; seeing your face helps create a sense of community 
  • Choose an appropriate background image or blur your background when you are on camera
  • Do your best to stay engaged and present; avoid multi-tasking
  • Minimize distractions in your work space
  • Make sure your name appears as you want it to appear (add your preferred pronouns if you wish)
  • Use Zoom communication (like raising your hand or asking questions in the Zoom chat) when appropriate

Frequently Asked Questions

In many ways, an online class is similar to an in-person class. You’ll be expected to participate in various ways and interact with the instructor and with your classmates. You’ll have to learn new information and demonstrate this learning through in ways that your instructor feels are appropriate to the subject. These modes of assessment might include assignments, discussions, peer reviews, quizzes, projects, papers, and presentations.

While online classes may seem like less work, they’re not! Regardless of the topic, they require self-direction, academic and technical skills, and more.

You should expect to engage with your online class at least a few times a week. The time commitment of an online class is similar to that of a traditional class. You will probably find that you’ll devote somewhere between 9 and 15 hours a week to each of your online courses.

Basic computer skills are a plus to help you troubleshoot minor issues.

Being self-motivated and organized will help a lot!

Be honest with yourself about your particular learning style. Do you feel comfortable working through material independently (as you would in an asynchronous class), or would you rather be able to hear a lesson in real time (as you can in a synchronous class with regular online meetings)?

Online learning readiness self-check

Registering for an online course is the same process as registering for a traditional course. When you are searching for courses, however, you may choose to filter for courses with online components. Please click the next item for more information.

General information on applying and registering for all classes at LACC.

You can search for different kinds of online classes using the Schedule of Classes.

Under Class Search Type select the type of class that works best for your schedule.

This instructional video on searching for and enrolling in classes has information about adding and dropping courses.

Online courses are conducted entirely online and are asynchronous, which means there are no real-time meetings. Your instructor may use Zoom for office hours, but you will not have zoom class meetings. This does not mean that the course is self-paced; you will have to continually work through the semester or session, meeting deadlines throughout and participating in regular activities.

Online live indicates that a course will have real-time, scheduled zoom meetings. These are required for attendance.

Hybrid indicates that a class has some in-person meetings that are conducted synchronously (at a regular, planned time) as well as other activities which may be completed online.

When you register for a class you will be added automatically to the Canvas shell. However, many instructors will not publish their shells until the first day of class, so the class may not appear on your Canvas dashboard until the semester/session starts.

Note: It can take up to 24 hours after you add a class for your account to become active in Canvas.

Once the course is published, you can use the Canvas messaging system. 

If you need to contact your instructor prior to start of class, use the LACC Employee Directory to find their email address or check the Department webpage.

Please contact the Office of Special Services to talk to specialists who will help you. If you are already registered with OSS, your accommodation letter will automatically be shared with your instructor.

If you want to speak with your instructor about your accommodations, please use the LACC Employee Directory to find their email address or check the Department webpage. Send confidential messages through school email or through the Canvas messaging system.

Remember that online learning is not easy. Your online teacher will demand the same quality of work as they would receive from you in a face-to-face classroom.

A similar number of hours per week will need to be committed for an online course as there would be in a face-to-face course. (Most courses include 3 hours of in class work and at least 2 hours of homework for each hour in class for a total of 9 hours each week. An online course requires 9-15 hours of time each week to be successful).

Good organization and time management skills are very important for online learning, as you will have to work independently much of the time.

Some general tips:

  • Download the Canvas Student app to your phone, tablet, or iPad
  • Enable push notifications so that you’ll be alerted when the instructor adds an announcement, grades an assignment, etc.
  • Use the Canvas messaging system for questions
  • View the Calendar and To Do list in Canvas to stay on top of what’s due
  • Set aside time every week to engage with your class, even if the class never meets in real time
  • Take advantage of your instructor's office hours to get some face time and help if you need it

Online Learning Tutorials:

Below you will find a series of interactive multimedia tutorials that address the real challenges experienced by online students, new and experienced while pursuing success in online classes. Visit the following links to access these tutorials:

Additional Online Readiness Resources:

From: Online Readiness Modules for Students via the CCC Online Education page