REVIEW OF Ontario Virtual School BY student, Shae Holland

(4.5) Student Experience

I enrolled in SBI3U in February of 2021 at the Ontario Virtual School. I had taken many online courses in the past through my home school, but I decided to try OVS for Grade 11 Biology. This proved to be a great decision, as my time learning with OVS was excellent. I really enjoyed the site format, as it was accessible and easy to navigate. I liked being able to learn and work independently, and having control over when and where I completed the course. Whenever I needed something clarified or emailed my teacher with questions, she answered promptly and thoroughly. Through the lessons, homework questions, practice tests, and teacher support, I always felt confident in my knowledge going into assessments. I was satisfied with my teacher's efficient marking and enjoyed being able to track my progress in the course. Overall, my experience at the Ontario Virtual School was very positive, and I would recommend their courses to my family and friends.

(4.5) School Leadership

I have a large amount of respect for everyone I interacted with from the Ontario Virtual School, including my teacher. She was very knowledgeable in the subject of Biology, which was proven through her detailed lessons and responses to my questions. Through the school leadership at OVS, I feel like I have gotten much more than a credit through taking SBI3U. In addition to learning about the many aspects of Biology, I strengthened my skills in areas such as time management, responsibility, organization, studying, and test-taking. Because of this, I’m very satisfied with my decision to take Biology at OVS.

(5) Teaching

I completed SBI3U over the course of a year, during 2nd semester of Grade 11, through the summer, and 1st semester of Grade 12. Each of these time periods in my life were extremely busy and stressful. However, I never felt any pressure or stress from my teacher at the Ontario Virtual School. Instead, she accommodated me along the way and was always available when I needed help with something. Even if I submitted multiple things in one day, then nothing for the next few months, she always marked my assessments promptly. I really appreciated that she and the rest of the staff I interacted with at OVS seemed as though they genuinely wanted me to succeed. This was proven through their quick reply times and their detailed reminders. Through the teaching support during my time with OVS, I felt accomplished and proud of my success in the course.

(4) Academics

As mentioned previously, I loved being able to work independently and on my own terms. It allowed me to take accountability for my own success, all while still being supported by my teacher. In terms of academics, I definitely found some units more challenging than others. However, the lessons and resources provided by my teacher seemed to solve any issues I had. OVS provides easy ways to get in contact with teachers, and I never found myself waiting around for a response, it was always provided quickly. I tend to thrive in an online learning environment much more than an in-person one, so OVS was a great fit for me. It has also prepared me for the online courses I am taking currently, and will take in the future. I’m currently in my last semester of High School and will be attending University in the fall. I’m very grateful for the skills, tools, and confidence I have gained from taking a course at OVS, and I feel I will be able to have success in my future academic endeavors.

(5) School Life

The Ontario Virtual School is unique as it is run fully online, with no need for in-person interactions. I was even able to complete my exam remotely, proctored by one of my past teachers. The site itself is very well-made and easy to navigate. There are many different pages where you can assess resources, lessons, grade books, track progress, and earn badges for reaching certain milestones. Learning with OVS felt very stress-free, and allowed me to take in content in a new format. I loved the flexibility of learning with the virtual school, as it supported my busy lifestyle. While completing the course, my peers at my home school had many questions about how OVS worked. I explained it to them and showed them the site, and they always seemed very intrigued by the unique learning style it provides. Overall, this school was a great fit for both my learning style and my lifestyle.

(5) Admissions

The admission process was very simple. If I had any questions throughout the process, they were answered promptly by the administration. Before committing to the course, a detailed outline of the content and expectations was given. This made me feel confident and comfortable, as I knew exactly what I was signing myself up for. After applying as a student, I quickly received an email from my teacher, who was very welcoming and explained how to get started. I selected Grade 11 Biology as my course but was excited by a number of the many options that the school provides. It was great to see some courses that my home school does not provide! This makes it a helpful resource for anyone whose home school does not offer courses that they need for prerequisites.