Nova Scotia doubles number of online courses for high school students
Posted May 4, 2012 05:00:03 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
High school students in Nova Scotia will have access to more online classes in September.
The Nova Scotia Virtual School is more than doubling its online courses to 46.
Education minister Ramona Jennex explains it’s a good way to deal with declining enrollment.
“Especially in rural communities where there may not be the number to provide a wide variety of programs through the public school programs,” she explains. “Students in math, sciences and other courses are taught by teachers with background and experience in those subjects.”
As many as 800 students could be taking online courses next year, and as many as 1,500 in 2013/2014.
Jennifer is one of the students taking a course this year, and says the online courses have helped prepare her for university.
“You have to motivate yourself to actually complete the assignments,” she says. “There isn’t a teacher standing behind you saying, ‘you need to do this, you need to do that,’ and I really enjoy that.”
Katrina is also enrolled in online courses this year, and says she likes it better than the regular classroom setting.
“The internet is so accessible now and I can just email my teacher whenever I want and I know that even though she hasn’t replied yet, I know it’s there and it’s waiting for her,” says Katrina. “I’m not shy at all now. I’m a lot less self-conscious and it’s really nice.”
The expansion of the online programing will cost $1.7 million.
