Starting your course
We provide "Welcome Letters" in an online mode to help you get started with your distance learning courses. We have several different ways to setup distance learning courses and each DL Course Type will have its own Welcome Letter to give information specific to that type. For more about the different DL Course Types...
Each “Welcome Letter” will have a list of links in a red menu box on the right for topics like: "10 steps to get started", "How to login" steps for the course management system that is use by that course type, a link directly to that online system, a list of the "Current classes" for the quarter, information on where to buy "Textbooks", "Help" resources for technical problems, related "Contact information" and "Key dates" for the start of instruction, etc. You should have received a bookmark when you registered, as well as one mailed to your home mailbox, if you register before classes started, directing you to visit our Web site to find your “Welcome Letters”!
Current Course Manage System is Blackboard - Five of them!!
Please Note: we use several different Blackboard course management systems depending on the DL Course Type. Each
Welcome Letter will direct you to the right one! You just need to know what
type of course you've signed up for!! Here is a listing of the item numbers associated with the two Blackboard systems we use most! The URL's look very similar:
- PCOL/WAOL uses http://waol.blackboard.com
- Most Quarterly Schedule/Continuous Entry courses use http://dl.pierce.ctc.edu
- However, Fire Command Admin. and Occupation Safety and Health use systems at Bates and Edmonds Colleges
- Military Programs use http://pierce.blackboard.com (commonly referred to as CE-6)
How can I find out my class type?
See “What's my DL Course Type” for help identifying your DL Course Type – you'll need to know the item number you used to register! (58xx-59xx, 55xx, 56xx, 57xx, or for Hybrids, the item number used in the main college course listings...)
Links to Welcome Letters
- If you are certain that you know your DL Course Type, use these links (get help...):
- PCOL (Item #s 58xx-59xx)
- WAOL (Item #s 55xx)
- Hybrid (Item #s 2xxx, 4xxx, 7xxx or 8xxx)
- Quarterly Schedule and Occupational Safety and Health Launch Point to EDCC's system (Item #s 56xx)
- Fire Command Administration (contact Pam Caldwell 253-677-1735/pcaldwell@pierce.ctc.edu)
- Continuous Entry (Item #s 56xx)
- Self–support (Item #s 57xx)
- Military Programs WebCT4/CE-6
If your login doesn't work following the procedures in the Welcome Letter you used, double check to be sure you have correctly identified the DL Course Type using the additional information at What's my DL Course Type link under “How do I start/login...?” on the left-hand menu.
Need Assistance?
If you have questions, please contact the Distance Learning office for assistance immediately! You don't want to get behind in your course work, particularly in the week–by–week structured PCOL/WAOL/FCA/OSH courses!