Frequently asked questions - Students

Who can take courses with the VLC?

Residents of Ontario are eligible to take online courses at no charge. If you are in full-time attendance at a publically funded Ontario secondary school, you will have to make arrangements with your home school to take courses with the VLC. Because there are costs associated with this program, and because your home school is already collecting the full Ontario grant for your secondary education, your home school must be willing to share a portion of this grant with the VLC. If you live outside of Ontario, you may pay a tuition fee to take courses.

Do my credits count toward my diploma?

Yes, the VLC is fully accredited and operated by Trillium Lakelands District School Board. Like any publically and inspected school in Ontario, we are able to grant credits and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Do credits from other schools and programs count toward my diploma?
This depends. The "equivalency" process is the process of assessing credentials from other jurisdictions and may result in credits being granted as equivalent on the Ontario Report Card. Programs must represent the same standards of achievement as credits granted to students who have taken the courses in Ontario and outlined in the Ministry's Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Policy (http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/129.html). No equivalency credits will be considered in the VLC until students have successfully completed 2 VLC courses. No equivalency will be considered for incomplete courses or courses taken concurrently with the VLC program. Once you begin working toward your diploma, it is expected that Ontario credits will be granted for Ontario curriculum taught in publicly funded or otherwise inspected schools. Do not expect us to assess an English course from Florida where the Ontario version of the course is available to you from the VLC or another Ontario school. If, however, you have moved from another jurisdiction or taken alternative courses from another provider prior to enrolling in the VLC, we will certainly consider granting equivalent credits for placement purposes.
Do I have to attend any classes?

You don't have to come to our location but, yes, our online program requires some  attendance in our web classrooms. You don't need to travel, but you do need a solid internet connection a schedule that provides for real-time connections with other students and your teacher.

Do I need additional course materials such as text books or special programs?

No. In almost all cases, all course material is provided once you login to your course - this includes all support material and special programs. We have made arrangments with software and major publishers to ensure you have legal access to all of the resources you require.

Why offer courses over a network?

Courses delivered in this fashion allow you more flexibility in terms of the courses you are able to take. You must, however, be motivated and focused. If you are motivated and focused, online learning can be rewarding, convenient, and fun.

Do online credits count toward my diploma?

Yes. Online courses are just like the courses offered in the regular Ontario school setting.

Are online courses harder or easier than regular classroom courses?

This very much depends on you and the course you are taking. Studies have shown that both students and teachers tend to spend more time working on courses delivered online when compared to the same course delivered in the traditional classroom setting. If you are not, at this time, comfortable with computers, some of your time will be spent figuring out how to carry out different applications on your computer. As a general rule, however, plan on devoting at least as many hours to online courses as you would to regular classroom courses.

Is there an attendance check?

Yes. You need to contribute to your classroom conference and communicate with your instructor on a regular basis. This will vary depending on the course and the teacher. Your login dates, times and the areas of the course that you visit are logged. Your teacher will clarify what is required of you in terms of course participation.

Can I start courses anytime?

Courses tend to follow the semester system like in a regular school. It is recomended that you make application for fall courses no later than mid August and Winter courses no later than early January.

Are courses self -paced?

Some at the grade 11 and 12 levels will be self paced.

What happens if I have to withdraw?

You need to notify our office in writing should you wish to withdraw from one or all of your courses. If you are under 18, a parent/guardian must provide us with a signed letter of intent.

How are online courses taught?

When you register for an online course within the Virtual Learning Centre, you will be provided with login information such as a username and id. You will also receive an Internet address (URL) to your course. When you login for the first time, an introductory message from your teacher will greet you. This message will outline the course content and describe how the course will be delivered and what is required of you. Although all of the Virtual Learning Centre's online courses look the same, your teacher is ultimately in charge of how the course will run.

What about privacy and security?

You are only able to enter a course with a password and login which is assigned at registration and private to the user. No personal information is accessible to anyone else. Privacy is governed in exactly the same way as it is in the regular day school program.

Who teaches the online courses?

Certified teachers who are employed within the Trillium Lakelands District School Board deliver online course material for the Virtual Learning Centre. Each teacher receives training and support so that they are comfortable with the online approach to both teaching and learning.

Will I benefit from online courses?

In most cases, this form of course delivery works well. Obvious prerequisites include motivation, computer familiarity, and the ability to work independently and meet deadlines. Remember, though, that although there is daily contact with others in the class, there may not be any face to face meetings. For students with some learning styles, taking online courses may not be an appropriate choice.

What equipment is required?

You need to have a stable connection to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Arranging and maintaining an Internet connection is the student's responsibility. In most cases, no special hardware or software is required.  Courses that require additional software provide links to these applications and there is no associated cost.

Are there any fees?

If you are a resident of the Province of Ontario, and not enrolled full-time in a publicly funded institution, you will not be charged tuition. When you apply to take a course, we begin the process of assessing your status in terms of fees.
What if I have taken courses outside of the Province of Ontario?

The Ministry outlines procedures under Ontario Secondary Schools, Grade 9-12 in regard to Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition. It is possible for equivalency credits to be granted at the discretion and under the direction of the Principal.

Where to do I learn more?

Fill out the Virtual Learning Centre contact form to request more information about online course opportunities and one of our staff members will respond to your questions by email or telephone.

In addition, you may wish to review Module I of the General Student Guide to the VLC. This guide presents some of the introductory requirements for success in our program. Visit the Guide