Welcome

To all students:

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the UBC Real Estate Division's education courses that help you toward your goal of becoming licensed in Alberta.

This Student Handbook is intended to serve as an introduction to the Real Estate Division for new students and as a refresher for returning students. This handbook provides you with useful information about your course, your course assignments, the examination, and the course regulations. Please take time to read this information carefully, so that you will have a complete understanding of all course procedures.

In order to enhance your learning experience in this distance education course, I would like to make you aware of the numerous online student resources available on the Real Estate Division's website at www.realestate.ubc.ca. Students have a virtual home during the course at their Course Resources webpage, with access to course tools such as multiple choice assignment submission, assignment and course history, answer guides, and answers to frequently asked questions. All of these features, and more, are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

We always welcome any feedback, be it suggestions on new courses or programs, or on how we can improve our existing courses and programs, and I invite you to send us an email at abinfo@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca or fill out the online course evaluation form if you have any suggestions for your course or for the program in general.

I hope that this Student Handbook and your Course Resources webpage will be of assistance to you and I wish you success in this course.

Yours truly,

Devin Kanhai
Executive Director, Licensing Education

Introduction to Distance Education

Getting Started  

Welcome to the course! The first step in getting started in your course is to explore your Course Resources webpage.

Course Expectations

Our overall goal is to create an effective learning environment. Students can expect the following from the Real Estate Division: a course that is interesting, relevant, and intellectually challenging; well-planned, organized, and comprehensive course materials; clear expectations and unbiased assessment of student work; and staff who are responsive to student needs. In return, we expect the following from students: to put in the time and effort required for success in a challenging course; to complete assigned work on time and in a professional manner; and to ask for clarification when it is required and provide feedback when needed.

Code of Conduct – Respectful Environment for Students, Staff and Visitors

The Real Estate Division envisions a climate in which students, staff and visitors are provided with the best possible conditions for learning, teaching and working, including an environment that is dedicated to excellence, equity and mutual respect. The Real Estate Division is committed to ensuring that all students, staff and visitors are able to study and work in an environment of tolerance and mutual respect that is free from harassment and discrimination. The Real Estate Division strives to realize this vision by establishing employment and educational practices that respect the dignity of individuals and make it possible for everyone to work and study in a positive and supportive environment.

All students, staff and visitors are expected to behave as honest and responsible members of the academic community. At all times, when communicating, it is expected that students, staff and visitors conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with these principles and the Real Estate Division’s Course Regulations. Any conduct on the part of a student that has, or might reasonably be seen to have, an adverse effect on the integrity or the proper functioning of the Real Estate Division, or the health, safety, rights, or property of the Real Estate Division or its staff, students and visitors is subject to non-academic discipline including, but not limited to, suspension from the course. Students must also abide by the Real Estate Council of Alberta’s (“RECA”) Education Code of Conduct for Learners. Please see Course Regulation 5.05 for more information.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

The Real Estate Division's goal is to ensure fair and consistent treatment of all students, including students with a disability, in accordance with their distinct needs and in a manner consistent with academic principles. UBC Centre for Accessibility works in partnership with the Real Estate Division and provides support on issues of accessibility for people with disabilities. Students who may have an on-going disability or medical condition that requires accommodation must contact UBC Centre for Accessibility by telephone: +1 604.822.5844 or email: info.accessibility@ubc.ca.

Study Skills

One of the greatest benefits of a course offered by distance education is the flexibility it offers. Students can study at whatever place or time that is most convenient for them and more effectively balance the demands of work and home life. However, this benefit comes at a price – some students find it difficult to get motivated and maintain enthusiasm without the structure of attending regular classes. To be successful in distance education courses, students must have well-developed study skills. The following study strategies are strategies that our past students have reported to be successful. We offer them here with the hope that they may prove helpful for you as well. The Real Estate Division gratefully acknowledges the input of the Distance Learning division of UBC Continuing Studies in outlining these studying strategies.

Time Management

The Real Estate Division's distance education courses are aimed at working professionals, who lead very busy lives. When there are many immediate demands on your time, it is all too easy to let your studies be put off. However, procrastination builds upon itself and at some point you may find yourself too far behind to be able to catch up. Success in any course is more often the result of good organization than individual brilliance. To be successful, you must be diligent and self-disciplined with respect to devoting regular time to your studies.

Assignment and Examination Scheduling

Many students find it helpful to set up a schedule that outlines in advance when they will study each week. By formalizing this system, the student is forced to be consistent and eventually develops a pattern of regular studying. Do not succumb to common time-wasting issues such as procrastination.

A schedule is most effective if it is written out and posted where you do your studying. Get a calendar with large spaces for each day and write in your assignment due dates and examination date. Note on this calendar all of your planned and foreseeable personal activities for non-work times, then designate days and times for study sessions, ideally at a consistent day and time each week. You could also utilize an electronic calendar or to-do list to ensure that nothing is forgotten about. Set up your electronic calendar with "busy" blocks and reminders. A good starting point is to allocate ten hours per week to studying, and then adjust this time as needed during your course. It is important to be realistic at this point – if your calendar shows that you will not have sufficient time for your studies, you will have to review your planned activities, set some priorities for your time, and possibly put off some activities until your course is over. In setting up your schedule, it is also unreasonable to expect that you will not have to occasionally miss your study times. However, if you do miss study time, you will have to exercise the self-discipline necessary to schedule make-up time later.

This schedule will become your master plan for completing the course work. You should plan out your weekly schedule by assigning activities and goals for each session. Start with a larger task, such as completing your assignment, and break it down into smaller sub-tasks, such as reading the text, creating study notes, submitting your assignment, etc. Plot each of these into your week's study sessions such that you can accomplish your goal by the due date. By scheduling these smaller tasks, you will help fight the urge to daydream or procrastinate, since you will continually be working towards achievable goals (e.g., "finish chapter by 8 pm"), with the knowledge that you have a plan to complete the overall task on time. After your week is over, review the plan to see how well it worked and where adjustment may be needed. If you can get yourself into an established studying pattern, you are well on the way to completing the course successfully.

Creating your own assignment schedule can help determine when you will be ready to write the final examination with the Real Estate Council of Alberta and will help you keep on track with your assignments. For example, you could record the first target completion date as being one week after you receive your materials, and then every week after that (see sample below). You may also want to schedule a one week break for yourself some time during the course. You should also record the actual date you submitted your assignments so you can keep track of your actual progress. If you can get yourself into an established studying pattern, you are well on the way to completing the course successfully. We strongly suggest that you adopt a routine schedule with respect to assignment submissions.

To be eligible to register for and write the final examination for your course with the Real Estate Council of Alberta, all assignments must be submitted within 12 months of your initial registration in the course and all outstanding fees (e.g., resubmission fees for written assignments, if applicable) must be paid.

You must successfully complete your final examination with the Real Estate Council of Alberta within three months after completing the course assignments, and in no more than two attempts. If you do not successfully complete the examination within three months after completing your assignments or after your second examination attempt, you will be required to register in the course again. NOTE: Students are responsible for any changes in course material occurring after their initial course registration. Therefore, you need to view the Course Bulletins that are posted on the Course Resources webpage as testable materials can be added to the course at any time. As well, the courses, examinations and administration of the course and examination can change at any time due to regulatory, legislative, and/or administrative requirements. If you subsequently register for a later course, you will be required to resubmit all assignments (i.e., credit will not be given for assignments completed previously).

Study Environment

You should try to find a consistent place to study as this will help reinforce your designated studying times. You need a quiet, well lit area, with a comfortable chair and temperature, and with as few distractions as possible (e.g., TV, radio, telephone, interruptions by family or friends). When you are studying, if you find that you are not concentrating well, you may want to try doing something else for a few minutes to invigorate yourself – get a cup of coffee, chat to your family or friends for five minutes, walk around the block, etc. When you return, you should be refreshed and able to get to it again. However, if you are still distracted, you are better off to stop studying at that point and deal with whatever issue is keeping your mind off your work – however, make sure you plan for how to make up this lost time later.

Useful Tools

Calculator

Some courses require basic arithmetic calculations which can be solved using any arithmetic or scientific calculator (or using manual "long-hand" processes). There are a variety of calculators on the market, some of which will perform more sophisticated calculations or have greater programming capacity. You may use any calculator for the course and examination, provided it is silent, cordless, handheld and not alphanumeric and/or programmable.

Personal Computing Device/Email

All students must have access to a personal computing device when taking any Real Estate Division course. You will find that a computing device is a very helpful tool in preparing and submitting your assignments, viewing your assignment answer guides, and for creating effective study notes to help you prepare for your examination. Students should also ensure that they have a high-quality printer (e.g., an inkjet or a laser) which will provide clear printouts of information from the Real Estate Division website, or clear printouts for submission to the Real Estate Division.

It is also required that all students arrange for some form of internet access. All Real Estate Division courses include online resources and if you do not have access, you will not be able to take advantage of these resources. Also, email is now an important means of communication within Real Estate Division courses. There are several sources of free email accounts on the internet, and we suggest that you set up an account for yourself. Once you have access to email, you can utilize the resources in this course such as email tutorial assistance and you will receive important information regarding examination deadlines, lectures, etc., from the Real Estate Division. The Real Estate Division's primary method of communicating with students is by email, and therefore it is important that email from the Real Estate Division is not tagged as junk mail or "spam" by your email program. To ensure you receive important emails from the Real Estate Division, please follow the steps outlined on www.realestate.ubc.ca/email.

Student Support Services

We encourage all students to take advantage of the student support services that are included with your course at no extra charge:

• Course Resources containing course bulletins, study materials, and assignment information.
• Tutorial Assistance from our course specialists, by email or toll free by phone. Contact the tutors as many times as you need to.

How to Contact the Real Estate Division

Customer Service

Toll-free: 1.888.776.7733
Email: abinfo@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca

Central Tutor Support Service

Law Topics:

All Other Topics:

Addresses

Mailing Address:
Real Estate Division, RECA Licensing Courses
Sauder School of Business
The University of British Columbia
PO Box 5380 Station Terminal
Vancouver, BC V6B 5N4

Website

www.realestate.ubc.ca/alberta

Course Resources Webpage  

Your "Course Resources" webpage serves as your virtual home during your course. It should be the first place you go to find out what is happening with your course, and to access informative and helpful tools. Follow these steps to access your Course Resources webpage and start exploring the many practical and informative resources available to enhance your course.

1. Login at https://professional.sauder.ubc.ca/realestate/students/login.cfm





2. Select Your Course





3. Explore Your Course Resources Webpage. There are four main tabs and each contain a variety of information: HOME, ORIENTATION, MATERIALS, and EXAM.

The following is a brief description of the various helpful tools and features you can find on your Course Resources webpage.

• HOME –The HOME tab includes a number of Assignment and Course Tools (e.g, assignment submission, answer guides, etc.), information on Tutorial Assistance and very important Course Bulletins. It is critical that you view the Bulletins that are posted for your course – these Bulletins often contain updates and revisions that significantly affect your course material and assignments. You should carefully read and store the information contained in Bulletins. Any revisions described in the Bulletins should be noted in your Course Workbook or Course Manual where appropriate. We try to keep students as well informed as possible and hope to eliminate any potential confusion with this system of communicating with you. Please note that you are responsible for the material contained in any Bulletins posted online for your course and that this information could be tested in assignments or examinations.
• ORIENTATION – The ORIENTATION tab includes a few things to do before you start your course.
• MATERIALS – Your course manual, assignments and practice question book are all available on the MATERIALS tab.
• EXAM – You can find information on examination anxiety and examination registration information with the Real Estate Council of Alberta.

Tutorial Assistance

The Real Estate Division provides tutorial support to help you in working through your course. Tutors will give assistance with the challenging concepts and principles that must be understood in order to complete an assignment correctly.

Tutors can be contacted by phone or email using the following numbers and email addresses:

Law Topics:

Toll-free: 1.888.848.8460
Email: ablawtutor@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca

All Other Topics:

Toll-free: 1.800.848.3050
Email: abtutor@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca

It is preferred that you contact the tutor by email. Email helps you to organize your thoughts and allows the tutor to more effectively and efficiently answer your question.

When you make a request for tutorial assistance, the tutor will attempt to contact you as soon as possible, generally before the end of the next business day. If more than two business days have passed and you have not received a response, please send an email to abinfo@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca so we can immediately assist you.

When you are requesting tutorial assistance, please ensure that you provide:

• your name, student number, course, and assignment number if applicable.
• your phone number with area code. If you provide a toll free number, please be aware that sometimes these numbers are not accessible from outside your province. Please indicate an approximate time that you would prefer the tutor to return your message and the tutor will try to accommodate your schedule.
• a brief description of the material with which you are having difficulty.

For email questions, ensure that your student number and course number are in the "subject" field. Also note that if you are sending an email message, the tutor may wish to answer your message by telephone, so please ensure that you leave the appropriate contact numbers.

In order to have tutorial services available to the largest number of students possible, we have found it necessary to limit each tutorial call to 10 minutes. Please prioritize your questions before you call to gain the most benefit from your time with the tutor.

Finally, please note that the tutorial service will be closed during the Christmas holidays. You may still leave a message for the tutor during this time, but your call will not be returned until the tutorial service reopens in early January. More details will be provided on the tutorial line recording as to the exact dates of the closure.

Change of Student Profile (Address, Email or Phone Number)

If you need to change your address, phone number, or email address in the Real Estate Division's records, you can do so through the "Student Profile" link under "Assignment and Course Tools" on your Course Resources webpage.

Change of Name

If your name changes during the course, you must complete and submit the "Change of Name" form found under "Assignment and Course Tools" on your Course Resources webpage. You must also submit supporting documentation (e.g., marriage certificate) to our office. Please be aware that you may be required to show your change of name documentation at the examination centre on the day of the examination.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal requests must be made through your Course Resources webpage. You can find the withdrawal link under "Assignment and Course Tools". In order to be eligible for a partial refund, students must withdraw no later than 30 days from the registration date. Please see Course Regulation 5.03 for more details.

Transfer

You may not transfer to any other course from your course. You may not transfer your course to another person.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

Collection, use, disclosure and retention of information must comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Collected personal information will only be used by authorized Real Estate Division staff to fulfil the purpose for which it was originally collected or for a use consistent with that purpose. A use consistent with the purpose of collection includes the sharing of course information, marks, personal information, breaches of RECA’s Education Code of Conduct for Learners, and complaints, with the appropriate regulatory authority, the Real Estate Council of Alberta. We do not disclose your information to other public bodies or individuals except as authorized by law or as expressly permitted by the student.

Assignment Information

On your Course Materials webpage, you will find a series of assignments containing questions relating to the material in each lesson. The assignments are designed to serve several purposes. First, they are intended to review the major points in the assigned readings, and encourage further understanding through emphasis. Second, they serve as periodic tests of progress for students, and help to identify areas where further study and review may be desirable. Finally, they constitute a preparation and a review for the examination. Note that the assignments do not test every area of each chapter. You should ensure that you know all of the material for the examination, as the examination will encompass all of the materials that the Real Estate Division has provided you.

Reading and Completing Assignments

Distance education courses typically require a lot of reading and a solid plan of attack will help you to use your time most effectively. You should read the assigned materials thoroughly before attempting to complete the assignment. You may find it helpful to first skim through the reading, looking only at the introduction, conclusion, headings, introductory sentences, etc. This will help you develop a basic understanding of the overall theme which will help you later in reading for details. You should write up a brief outline of the main topics and sub-topics in the reading. Some students like to put this in a list with numerical headings that descend in level of detail (e.g., Topic 1, 1(a), 1(b)(i), etc.). Others prefer a more graphic method, writing the central topic in the middle of a page with main topics flowing from this in all directions, and then sub-topics and details flowing outward. Both of these methods provide an outline or map which will be helpful to follow in your reading and also provide a useful study tool later in your examination review.

To apply your outline or map in guiding your reading, an effective technique is to use your topics and sub-topics as questions that you need to answer in the readings. If you answer these questions in writing, you will have a set of organized notes that effectively summarize the chapter or article. These notes can serve as your review of the readings, which may save you having to re-read them when you are studying for your examination. This note taking/questioning approach may help stimulate deeper understanding and long-term memory.

Some students find it helpful to highlight the readings as they go – you will need to print out the course materials. This can be effective as long as you are only highlighting main points and not highlighting so much that you effectively have to re-read the whole text. In some cases, highlighting can lead to skimming or surface reading. However, if highlighting is an effective study tool for you, that is fine – there is no right or wrong way to study, as we all have different styles of learning.

When you are ready to start on your assignment, it is preferable to read through the entire assignment once before you attempt to answer any questions.

Finally, when you complete an assignment, compare your answers with those in the corresponding online answer guide. If there are differences you do not understand, do more reading to see where you may have gone wrong or contact your tutor for further explanation.

Multiple Choice Assignments: "A How to Guide" for All Courses

1. How to Approach Multiple Choice Assignment Questions

A multiple choice question offers the student a choice of options, all of which may, in some sense, represent a correct answer. One option, however, will require the fewest implicit assumptions and will be the most correct answer supplied. The choice of this correct option requires a mastery of the course material and an ability to differentiate between the available options.

2. How to Submit Multiple Choice Assignments

To submit a multiple choice assignment online, go to your Course Resources home page and click on "Assignment and Course Tools" and then "Assignment Submission". Easy to follow instructions are provided on the Assignment Submission webpage. Be very careful that you select the correct assignment number, as this is a common error. For example, be careful that you are using the assignment number and not the chapter number.

3. How to Check Your Assignment Status Online

In the "Assignment and Course Tools" section of your Course Resources home page you can view each of your assignment submissions to see when the assignment was received and whether the assignment is complete or incomplete.

4. How to View Your Answer Guides Online

Students are able to access the answer guides online. This is available in the "Assignment and Course Tools" section of your Course Resources home page.

Examination Information  

Examination Eligibility

At the end of all Real Estate Division courses, you must write a final examination with the Real Estate Council of Alberta.

To be eligible to register for and write the final examination for your course with the Real Estate Council of Alberta, all assignments must be submitted within 12 months of your initial registration in the course and all outstanding fees (e.g., resubmission fees for written assignments, if applicable) must be paid.

You must successfully complete your final examination with the Real Estate Council of Alberta within three months after completing the course assignments, and in no more than two attempts. If you do not successfully complete the examination within three months after completing your assignments or after your second examination attempt, you will be required to register in the course again. NOTE: Students are responsible for any changes in course material occurring after their initial course registration. Therefore, you need to view the Course Bulletins that are posted on the Course Resources webpage as testable materials can be added to the course at any time. As well, the courses, examinations and administration of the course and examination can change at any time due to regulatory, legislative, and/or administrative requirements. If you subsequently register for a later course, you will be required to resubmit all assignments (i.e., credit will not be given for assignments completed previously).

Examination Preparation. After completing each assignment, you should review and revise your notes, putting them in a systematic and readable form. This will frequently identify areas of uncertainty that may require clarification by tutors or further reading. It is important to have such points cleared up immediately, especially because these courses tend to build in complexity.

When you are getting ready for your examination, you should carry out your review continually and systematically well in advance – do not wait to review until the night before! Decide how much review you think you will need and schedule your review sessions such that you have sufficient time between them to digest the materials and refresh yourself. Some students like to review complex subject matter one step at a time, trying to completely understand each successive point and topic first and leave understanding the "big picture" until later. Others prefer to start with the "big picture" and work downwards to the details. This again reflects individual differences in learning and either method can be effective as long as it is applied systematically.

An important final point on preparing for your examination: on examination day, you will have the most probability of success if you are well-rested, calm, and poised. For most students, this means it is not a good idea to study late the night before the examination or try to "cram" information on the day of the examination itself. If you have prepared methodically and comprehensively well in advance, the best thing you can do on the night before the examination is to put your books down early, do something you find enjoyable, and get a good night's sleep. In the morning, have a nice breakfast and relax – when you sit down to write your exam, you will be rested and alert.

Writing Examinations. When eligible, students should visit www.myreca.ca in order to register for an examination and also familiarize themselves with the Real Estate Council of Alberta’s Exam Rules.

At the end of the examination, if you still have time remaining, review your answers. If you are running out of time and cannot complete your entire exam, do not panic!