REVIEW OF Ontario Virtual School BY student, Prabhsharan Gill

(5) Student Experience

Ontario Virtual School (OVS) allowed me to study and take tests anywhere, anytime. The lessons were flexible, and so were the tests. I also liked the amount of resources provided, such as the practice questions at the end of the quizzes. The teacher I had was amazing—she responded to my emails very quickly and was really nice! OVS’s staff and admin also communicated very well with me. For example, when I asked them to add my midterm mark to OUAC, they responded within 24 hours. My teacher also replied within 24 hours. The lessons and labs were easy to follow and not too long. The time given for tests and exams was reasonable, which I liked because it allowed me to build my skills. Overall, I had a very good experience.

(5) School Leadership

The guidance counsellors were quick to respond and very helpful. They replied almost immediately whenever I emailed them. The teacher I had was very sweet and supportive. I emailed her several times, and she always replied instantly. Her responses were clear, concise, and easy to follow. She also provided great feedback on the tests I submitted. Overall, she was very nice to work with. I do wish we had more one-on-one sessions, as I believe those would have been even more helpful.

(5) Teaching

I think my teacher had a good balance in what they expected from me. They challenged me enough to help me grow, but also understood that we have other responsibilities and things going on outside of school, especially in an online setting. I usually feel that I understand what they expect from me because they give clear instructions and are open to questions if anything is unclear. When my teachers talk about success, I think they see it as more than just getting high grades. They want us to develop good habits like time management, responsibility, and confidence in our learning. I believe they mean success as becoming a well-rounded, capable person who is ready for whatever comes next, whether that’s further education, a job, or life in general.

(5) Academics

I took Grade 12 Calculus, and it was not an easy course. Often, you really had to practice the material to get it right. Some units were pretty simple to grasp, while others weren’t. I believe the course will be useful in the future since it combines concepts from other courses, such as physics (like the vector unit). Also, I have to take calculus in my first-year university course, so this will definitely be helpful. The course was well-structured and therefore pretty easy to follow. However, I wish more resources were provided with the lessons, such as interactive activities. There were labs like Gizmos, but I believe having more interactive activities and resources would have made learning even more fun.

(5) School Life

The schooling at OVS was entirely online, so I never attended in person. However, if I were asked to give a tour of my online school to a group of visitors, I would start by showing them the main learning platform or dashboard. This is where everything begins, from accessing classes and assignments to communicating with teachers and classmates. It’s like the front door of a traditional school, just digital. I’d start there because it gives visitors a clear understanding of how the school is organized and how students navigate their daily learning. From there, I’d walk them through a typical virtual classroom, the test center tab, and maybe even a sample recorded lesson to help them understand how learning happens in an online environment.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process was pretty simple. You select the course you want to take and then enter your information. Afterward, you pay and submit proof of the prerequisite. I found the process quite straightforward. The only thing that stressed me a bit was getting the prerequisite since you can’t submit your report card and have to provide a transcript, which I had some trouble obtaining. Overall, I felt good about starting the course after completing the admissions process.