UFuture Virtual Academy

” I did Math 31 as a part-time student here and it was great. My teacher, Mrs. Tanya Cole was super helpful and was always willing to explain anything I had difficulty understanding. The timelines and due dates were reasonable if you put in the effort and didn’t slack off. The only thing that others may find a little challenging is probably finding the motivation to do everything as the learning is strictly asynchronous. Other than that, the tests are made well without any surprises (no material we didn’t learn), and overall I had a great experience! “

” Honestly if i could give this online school a 0 I would. I am a grade 12 student who took Math 30-1 in person my first semester of grade 12. I was happy with my course average but my diploma brought it down so i decided to retake it online, assuming I would do better. Vista was recommended by a friend because we thought it would be best with other main courses we had in person. Staying on track was the most CHALLENGING thing ever. The course goes on an extremely fast paste. Oftentimes we assume online courses are easier to take because they line up with other things we have going on but this one course take up ALL your time. The deadlines on assignments are due by 4pm. This deadline is NOT ideal for a student who has school from 8-3:30. If deadlines are missed it is an automatic 0 and teachers will NOT take it in regardless of the reason. Mind you assignments are the only things other than tests for marks. You would assume that’s a good thing, that the quizzes are not for marks. However, the system is set up in a way where you do EXTREMELY challenging quizzes and fairly easy assignments but test that are NOTHING like either. I banked out on almost ever test I wrote because the questions are nothing like diploma questions or anything I’ve done in person. They are really hard. The tests are worth a large large percentage of your grade. One bad mark and your grade will drop down like 20%. the problem here is bringing that grade back up. Assignments are worth nothing compared to the tests. Regardless of 100%’s and 90’s on assignments it will only move your grade up by one precent or sometimes even decimals. I feel as if the final exam in the math 30-1 course is unnecessary. If it was more like a mock diploma i think it is good for students to take it for them to get a feel of the real diploma. However the final exam is NOTHING like the diploma in fact it was HARDER than it. This is also coming from someone who’s written 2 math 30-1 diplomas. If you fail the final exam you automatically fail the course. I find it ABSURD how I’m taking this course for the second time and i have done WORSE than my first time and it takes ALOT for someone to do worse the second time around. Overall please DONT take this course, Its not made to be taught online with a couple words and some practice questions and especially NOT with the grading system this school has. “

” I am a Grade 12 student in the Edmonton Catholic School District about to finish High School, having taken Vista Virtual’s Math 31 program in my second semester to gain an advantage for my Calculus classes at the University of Alberta. This class was not required of me in my admission process and I’m simply trying to get ahead while still doing my best to get a decent mark. I have been taking in-person schooling all my life and this was my first true taste of online school. Vista Virtual School solidified that this learning method was not for me; I prefer classes where I am physically present, communication is much easier with the teacher, and my deadlines align with my other in-person subjects. On top of my already heavy courses, I had to set time during my one spare block and whatever hours at home to study Math 31 on top of completing homework. Unfortunately, I am a slow learner who requires time at school to study the material rather than come home exhausted and performing poorly, and their office hours close as soon as I arrive home. I have no online support 24/7 over the weekends either, leaving me with questions to put off until weekdays. Overall, support was minimal and I had to reach out to my Math teachers at school for help during my lunch hour and even contact a tutor every now and then. Needless to say, I sacrificed a lot of my free time just to do well in Math 31. The deadlines set for Math 31 were ones I could barely reach; even then, I scored a little less than I’d have liked and was unsatisfied. However, I am grateful to my instructor, Tanya Cole and my Marker, Janell Arbour, for being helpful to the best of their abilities. Although now I am certain that my University Calculus course will seem less daunting, this has been a very overwhelming experience. I do not recommend this program to students who are attending in-person school, much less a highly academic school with challenging courses. If you are considering taking Math 31 online but doubt that you will make deadlines or perform well, you are better off putting this off until University where you have fellow students and professors at hand. “

” I had done my bio 30 here, had no problems with the teacher or marker, they were helpful. Signed up for my 30-1 English course thinking that it was the best choice and the teacher (Kerry smith) was welcoming, and when I told her why I was doing English she was honest about what would be the more logical route, and I’m thankful for that! I struggle with English and had so much anxiety, so I’m very thankful to have had her talk with me. “

” My time in grade 11 and 12 was pretty good. The teachers were supportive and workload was manageable. Flexibility was a key factor, it allowed for a good balance with other commitments. I was able to finish high school earlier than expected. Special shoutouts to Ms. Cole and Mr. Acevedo. My counsellor kept me on track and Jordan in the office was always helpful and chill. It’s a solid option for high school without the typical drama of a regular school. “