vLearn is a public Distributed Learning School serving the province of British Columbia and located in School District 22, Vernon. vLearn focuses on providing high-quality courses delivered in a variety of learning formats. Not all students fit into the traditional school structure or expectations. Some students require greater flexibility in their education so they can pursue their passions.
vLearn respects the different learning needs of all students. Our students are in grades K-12 and take all or some of their courses at vLearn.ca. Students work towards graduation at their own pace, at their own place. Formats include online, onsite as well as some paper-based options. We look forward to helping build a personalized program that will meet your learning style.
vLearn has three programs – Elementary K-7, grade 8-12 Secondary program and the Academy program. In the 2019/20 school year we had 148 full-time K-12 students and serviced 666 part-time/one-off students. 2020/21 school year was a year of exponential growth in vLearn due to the COVID19 pandemic. We had 244 full-time K-12 students, 301 temporary COVID learners and 724 part-time/one-off students. In total, in 2020/21 we supported over 1260 students.
School Mission Statement
To create opportunities for flexible learning and personal growth in safe, inclusive communities.
School Wide Goals/Inquiry
vLearn Elementary Goal: to increase student engagement and build a sense of community in a DL environment using a variety of collective tools and resources.
vLearn Secondary Goal: To increase communication and connection with students in order to increase engagement.
Our programs offer individualized learning plans for our students. This personalization allows for success and for individual students’ needs to be addressed. We aim to provide a space where students can experience the educational process in a supportive and positive environment.
We offer:
*Self-paced instruction through online and paper based (Elementary) curriculum with flexible hours and programs
*Personal growth and individual responsibility is stressed
*Elective opportunities for students to gain graduation credits
*Activities Program: Weekly Wednesdays featuring music, art, P.E., French and field trip programs
*Virtual class meetings and small group opportunities
*Academy Programs in Outdoor Education (Quest), Soccer, SnowSports (Freestyle, Alpine and Nordic Skiing), Baseball, Golf, Hockey, Volleyball, Dance
Overall Areas of Success:
*Blended program options – activity days
*Personalized learning plans to meet individual needs
*Depth of course choice
*Weekly online class meetings
*Multiple options for success based on individual needs (ALT programs have the capacity to make this happen).
How can we increase student engagement? Research points to the need for structure and flexibility in the ‘school’ and self-paced, personalized learning opportunities.
*Open lines of communication with parents
*Student Goal setting at the beginning of Term and reflection on those goals at the end
*Provide structure but allow necessary room for flexibility and individualized education
*Flexibility in projects/assignments created to demonstrate understanding
*Build and develop culturally significant learning opportunities
*Provide scaffolding/instruction
*Time management skill training for students. Help them spread things out and not leave things to last minute.
*Build simple templates for projects, rubric, reflections – share them across our courses
vLearn is a public Distributed Learning School serving the province of British Columbia and located in School District 22, Vernon. vLearn focuses on providing high-quality courses delivered in a variety of learning formats. Not all students fit into the traditional school structure or expectations. Some students require greater flexibility in their education so they can pursue their passions.
vLearn respects the different learning needs of all students. Our students are in grades K-12 and take all or some of their courses at vLearn.ca. Students work towards graduation at their own pace, at their own place. Formats include online, onsite as well as some paper-based options. We look forward to helping build a personalized program that will meet your learning style.
vLearn has three programs – Elementary K-7, grade 8-12 Secondary program and the Academy program. In the 2019/20 school year we had 148 full-time K-12 students and serviced 666 part-time/one-off students. 2020/21 school year was a year of exponential growth in vLearn due to the COVID19 pandemic. We had 244 full-time K-12 students, 301 temporary COVID learners and 724 part-time/one-off students. In total, in 2020/21 we supported over 1260 students.
School Mission Statement
To create opportunities for flexible learning and personal growth in safe, inclusive communities.
School Wide Goals/Inquiry
vLearn Elementary Goal: to increase student engagement and build a sense of community in a DL environment using a variety of collective tools and resources.
vLearn Secondary Goal: To increase communication and connection with students in order to increase engagement.
Our programs offer individualized learning plans for our students. This personalization allows for success and for individual students’ needs to be addressed. We aim to provide a space where students can experience the educational process in a supportive and positive environment.
We offer:
*Self-paced instruction through online and paper based (Elementary) curriculum with flexible hours and programs
*Personal growth and individual responsibility is stressed
*Elective opportunities for students to gain graduation credits
*Activities Program: Weekly Wednesdays featuring music, art, P.E., French and field trip programs
*Virtual class meetings and small group opportunities
*Academy Programs in Outdoor Education (Quest), Soccer, SnowSports (Freestyle, Alpine and Nordic Skiing), Baseball, Golf, Hockey, Volleyball, Dance
Overall Areas of Success:
*Blended program options – activity days
*Personalized learning plans to meet individual needs
*Depth of course choice
*Weekly online class meetings
*Multiple options for success based on individual needs (ALT programs have the capacity to make this happen).
How can we increase student engagement? Research points to the need for structure and flexibility in the ‘school’ and self-paced, personalized learning opportunities.
*Open lines of communication with parents
*Student Goal setting at the beginning of Term and reflection on those goals at the end
*Provide structure but allow necessary room for flexibility and individualized education
*Flexibility in projects/assignments created to demonstrate understanding
*Build and develop culturally significant learning opportunities
*Provide scaffolding/instruction
*Time management skill training for students. Help them spread things out and not leave things to last minute.
*Build simple templates for projects, rubric, reflections – share them across our courses
Checking
Foundational Skills Assessments Gr 4 and 7
Graduation Numeracy Assessment
Literacy Assessment
Checking
Foundational Skills Assessments Gr 4 and 7
Graduation Numeracy Assessment
Literacy Assessment
Scanning
K-9 Parent Survey Results
10-12 Student Survey Results
Academic Achievement
Scanning
K-9 Parent Survey Results
Please see the 2020/21 data from student/parent survey …
K-9 Parent Survey Results (Link here)
“Would like to see more in person opportunities”
“Not sure. Just a bit of freedom is great.
A regular zoom call a few more times a week our teachers did incredible!
10-12 Student Survey Results
10 – 12 Student Survey Results (link here)
Academic Achievement
Courses grade 8-12 (2019-2020 school year):
Activated = 1487
Completed = 1351
91% completion rate
Focusing
We will continue the focus of engagement into the 2021-22 school year.
Focusing
We will continue the focus of engagement into the 2021-22 school year.
Elementary Goal: To increase student engagement and build a sense of community in a DL environment using a variety of collective tools and resources
Secondary Goal: To increase communication and connection with students in order to increase engagement.
Developing a Hunch
How do we target intervention?
Developing a Hunch
How do we target intervention?
Increasing Student Engagement
Research has found that programs that prove to be the most effective include multiple support strategies. The most promising including – case management, mentorship, relationships and a sense of belonging, social and academic engagement strategies, and individualized support
Learning
Engagement
Learning
Engagement
We will continue the focus of engagement into the 2021-22 school year as the COVID pandemic had a an impact on our site accommodations. Many proposed/planned engagement opportunities were not possible under current ECP guidelines.
Taking Action
vLearn Elementary Goal
vLearn Secondary Goal
Taking Action
vLearn Elementary Goal
To increase student engagement and build a sense of community in a DL environment using a variety of collective tools and resources.
*Weekly activities
*Weekly virtual meetings
*PM Benchmarks – online
*Small groups
vLearn Secondary Goal
To increase communication and connection with students in order to increase engagement.