I'll answer from my experience, since I don't know any specifics about VCOM.
In OSU, you're paired up with a classmate. The instructor demonstrates a few techniques and then you and your partner practice them on each other. There are other physicians around to help you if you have problems.
Different schools have different ways of going about teaching the techniques. Some teach by region: learn different ways (muscle energy, HVLA. counterstrain, etc) to treat the shoulder, for example. Other schools teach by method, so you learn muscle energy and how to use it at different areas of the body before you move on to another type of technique.