The benefits of learning in an online environment are many.  Successfully completing an online course builds self-knowledge and self-confidence and encourages students to take responsibility for their learning.  Students’ organizational and time management skills are important to successful completion. The skills students develop throughout the course will benefit them in ways which may not be apparent until later in their life/career/education.

Chances are that our students will go onto some form of post-secondary education.  In 2004, 67.1% of Canadians between 25 - 64 years of age had some form of post-secondary education [http://www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/education/].   Post-secondary education takes on many forms such as a college diploma or trade certification, university degree or training at the workplace.  Online courses at college and university are very popular.  Many companies have online training programs encouraging employees to advance their skills.  Internal company training offers employees different career options.

The many skills that students develop through an online course will help them become life-long learners.  These skills will help our students be successful in their future post-secondary education endeavours. 

Please take a few minutes to tell me:

• What do you enjoy about online learning?
• How can we improve our online learning classes?
• If your friend asked you if they should take an online class, what would you tell them?
• Would you take another online class?  Yes/No - please explain.
• Other - any feedback would be appreciated.

You can send your feedback to boulton.jeff@prairiesouth.ca.

We are continually examining ways to improve our courses and to make online learning a better experience for our students.  Student feedback is crucial to how we operate and grow.

Thanks.

Welcome to semester 2! 

Over the next week your online teachers will be in contact with you providing you information on your course.  If you are using a Hotmail email address please check your junk/spam box regularly since many of our emails are delivered to this location.  We suggest you use a Gmail email account since our students have had more success with this email system.

Your online teachers will have due dates for work done in class along with exams.  You MUST follow these due dates!!  Please communicate with your online teacher regularly on the due dates.

Students that are home schooled or not attending a school MUST arrange for a teacher, instructor, Prof or someone from a school division office to proxy/supervise your exams.  Please arrange this as soon as possible and communicate the supervisors contact information to your online teacher.

It will be a little crazy at the start of the semester to get into the online learning mode - communicate with your online teacher as well as your cooperating teachers.  Do not procrastinate - setup a work schedule and stick to it.  Before you know it you will be cruising through the course!

Good luck! 

Over the holidays please think about the work left to do for Semester I. All work must be submitted to your online teacher by Jan 13^th. Setup a schedule to complete your work so that all submitted work is completed. Suggestion: Do work over the holiday everyday in small amounts of time – don’t try to do all the work on the last day of holidays.

Over the Christmas Holidays your online teachers will be on holidays which means they may not be responding to your emails or marking your assignments. Online teachers will be off from Dec 22nd – Jan 3^rd. Please save your questions and work until Jan 4^th.

Note: your online teacher(s) may have assignment due dates which you should have been following throughout the semester. Work not submitted by the due dates (or agreed upon dates) will not be marked.

Final exams can be written in the first two days of your final exam period – please communicate with your online teacher and cooperation teacher to set a time and date.

Have a relaxing and safe holiday!!