Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Abbotsford Virtual School

Abbotsford Virtual School is a Distributed Learning school that provides collaborative educational programs for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students or Adults. We provide free courses to any BC resident wanting to upgrade or graduate. Our BC certified teachers actively supports each student in the development of an educational plan, providing resources, regular tutoring and on-going assessment. All programs are fully accredited by the Ministry of Education of B.C. We are located at 33952 Pine Street, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 2P3 Phone: (604) 859-9803 Fax: (604) 854-1463.

A method of instruction that relies primarily on communication at a distance between students and teachers, including internet or other electronic-based delivery, teleconferencing, or correspondence. (see Ministry of Education Policy)

We provide full programs to registered K to 9 students at AVS. We provide free courses to Grade 10 to 12 students regardless of what other school they may be enrolled in and we provide free courses for Adults !

No, all Grade 10 to 12 courses are FREE except for International students. For some courses we require a $100 refundable textbook deposit.

Yes! Courses are FREE for Adult students except for International students. Please call us at 604-859-9803 for more details.

No. Please call us at 604-859-9803 for more details.

Yes, if you are in Grade 10 to 12 OR an Adult student.

Yes. We can help students earn a regular Dogwood or an Adult Dogwood. All of our courses are fully accredited. Phone 604-859-9803 for details.

For Grade 10-12 online courses you must register through our online form. For all of our other programs, parents and students should call us at (604) 859-9803 and set up a time to meet with with us on site.

All courses are FREE for British Columbia students who are resident in British Columbia or temporarily traveling out of the province students (with the exception of students in Kindergarten to Grade 9 who are enrolled in a different school). All resources required for specific courses are supplied on a refundable deposit basis. International students who are taking courses in the Abbotsford School District are also eligible for FREE courses with us.

Our friendly staff are well-trained to work with students to develop a learning plan suited to your needs! We provide many course styles and structures.

PEN is short for Provincial Education Number. This number is provided to each student in British Columbia and is used to identify your student records with the Ministry of Education.

All AVS courses must meet the same Ministry of Education curriculum expectations as regular schools. You should expect the same time commitment as students in regular schools. Teachers follow the same curriculum and assessment practices. There is more flexibility in how you can take AVS courses and we may have some courses that students cannot get in their home school.

Users registered at AVS and using their own computers should have a system capable of running the following:

• PC Users - Windows 2000 or better (Windows XP or Vista preferred). Computers should have at least 1GB of RAM and 250 GB of hard drive space. PCs should have a sound card.
• Mac Users – MacOS 10.2 or better (MacOS 10.5+ preferred). Computers should have at least 1GB of RAM and 250 GB of hard drive space.
• High speed Internet connection is very useful for videos and live meetings (Elluminate).

Abbotsford Virtual School welcomes all students and provides individual programs and supports as provided by the B.C. Ministry of Education.

The actual amount will vary depending upon the course, and will be equivalent to the time you would spend in a face-to-face course plus additional time for studying and homework. However, not all of this time will be online. Your time will be spread between course reading, assignments, and discussion board participation. Your teacher will provide you with specific expectations of daily or weekly assignments that you must complete.

Yes, but your attendance is different in AVS. Your attendance is evidenced by your regular contributions to online discussions or email reflections to your teacher and regular logging into our Learning Management System.

This depends on your course style you choose and the requirements for the course. In our online classes, for example, teachers will hold online meetings but many self-paced courses do not have online meeting expectations.

Online courses start at the beginning of each semester (Early September for Semester 1 and early February for Semester 2). Self-paced courses may be started at any time. Course results are sent to students upon completion of a course. Regular progress reports are also issued for online teacher directed courses. Secondary courses are about 110 to 120 hours.

A complete package of grade and graduation requirements are outlined at our Graduation Info page.

Parents or guardians are expected to provide an email contact and should expect emails from teachers to inform them about how the student is progressing. Parents and guardians can assist students by monitoring time and work completed. Parental help may not be possible in some courses and may not be require but parents play huge role in helping their child be successful. Note that parental and student emails are only used for school purposes.

Distributed learning is not for everyone. Courses require the same amount of work as traditional classes and meet the same course objectives. Some students may actually spend additional time working on a courses taken online because of the amount of reading required to complete assignments. It also takes more self-discipline and dedication to succeed in an online learning environment due to the absence of face-to-face interaction and mandatory physical attendance associated with classroom-based courses. Just like a traditional class, you have to be on top of your studies. You still have to read the textbook and/or other class reading materials; you still have to follow notes, hand in writing assignments on time, and do well on any quizzes or exams you may need to take. In short, virtual learning requires different attitudes, self-motivation, ability to set goals, a degree of experimentation/risk-taking, and time management skills. If you possess these skills, you will do well in a virtual class.

Students Typically Suited To Virtual or Online Learning

• They are self-motivated to learn and succeed.
• They are conscientious as the virtual environment put additional responsibility for learning on the shoulders of the student.
• They are happy not dominating class time. A virtual classroom is more democratic than a traditional classroom. The student who dominates a class from the front row is less happy here.
• They are students who enjoy learning, who like to figure things out, and who enjoy independence and reading.
• They need not be a star student. Someone who learns at a slower-than-average pace can also succeed in virtual classes.
• They are students who need scheduling flexibility so they can complete their work at times convenient for them.

Students Typically Not Suited To Virtual or Online Learning

• The student who doesn't like school for reasons that have to do with learning.
• The student who procrastinates will have difficulty meeting deadlines.
• The student who has a severe disability that hinders reading, for example.
• The student who is placed in an online classroom without wanting to be there will probably fail. In a virtual classroom, the student has to engage and have initiative.
• The student who take a full class load at a traditional school and participates in lots of extra-curricular activities may think a virtual class is an easy way to pick up extra credits. This is not the case.

You need a headset for online courses for Elluminate meetings. Elluminate is an internet-based software that allows participants to hold online meetings. Audio, video and whiteboard sharing makes it possible for a teacher and students to work in "real time" to solve problems and discuss course material. Check it out at http://www.elluminate.com.