Q. What is this Online School?
A. The edcentre.ca online school is an internet based school serving the people of Northern Saskatchewan.  We have a variety of courses for people needing to access, finish, or upgrade their high school classes.  We also have support staff to help people with Literacy and GED online.

Q. Who can register for edcentre.ca Online School?
A. Any person in northern Saskatchewan who wants to complete their high school education can register. It is possible that arrangements can be made with other people outside the region. There is also online Literacy and GED available. 

Q. How much does it cost?
A. There is a registration fee of $25.00 for all students who enrol in edcentre.ca Online School. Each individual course requires a deposit of $30.00 which is refunded to the student after they successfully complete the course.  Students who are out of the Northern area serviced by edcentre.ca Online School are charged a different tuition rate.  Please call us for specific information and updates on these tuition charges. 

Q. When can students register?
A. edcentre.ca accepts students on a continuous intake throughout the school year (except during the summer holidays).  School based students should register through their schools at the beginning of each semester.  

Q. How do I know what to register for?
A. You can call any edcentre.ca staff member to discuss your goals and they will provide you with the information you need to choose the best course or program for you.  Remember we have Literacy courses, GED, Adult 10 or 12 programs and regular grade 10-12 courses.

Q. If students need help with a course, who do they contact?
A. Students must contact their online teacher on a regular basis.  They can do this by calling toll-free 1-888-299-5680 during office hours.  They can also meet with their teacher in the web conference room that is linked to their online class. If they live in the La Ronge area they can meet with their instructor at the edcentre.ca building.  If they live outside the area they are encouraged to find a support person in their community for after hours and weekends.  

Q. Where can I write my exams?
A. In most cases, exams and quizzes may be accessed from within the online classroom. Arrangements for exams not given online will be made for students to write them in their local community.

Q. How can I find out how I am doing?
A. It is easy to check your grades through the online classrooms. As teachers mark assignments the grades and feedback are automatically posted.  Students can click on the individual assignment or click on the “Grades” link to see their overall average.  Students are only able to see their own grades and feedback.

Q. How long is each course?
A. Each course is approximately 100 hours. Students who work on their courses daily are able to complete the course easily within a ten-week period. 

Q. Are the courses recognized by other schools?
A. All courses through edcentre.ca Online School are recognized by Saskatchewan Learning. Students who successfully complete the requirements for a course receive a course credit through Saskatchewan Learning which is transferable across Western Canada. Students enrolled through Northlands College may work toward an Adult 10 certificate or Adult 12 diploma issued through the College.

Q. Can adults take the courses?
A. Yes, adults can take classes. They follow the same application process as other students.  They can also choose to be in the online Literacy, GED, or Adult 10 / 12 programs.  Some adults just take one class or upgrade some of their classes to help them get into a post-secondary university or program. 

Q. Do I need my own computer?
A. No. Students may use any of the access centres or public libraries in communities throughout Northern Saskatchewan. It is an advantage if you have your own computer and an Internet connection at home.  Active edcentre.ca students can apply for a used computer from us on a first come first serve basis. 

Q. What kind of computer do I need?
A. Apple or Windows machines work equally well for most of the course material.

Q. What kind of software do I need to have on my computer?
A. All the software you need can be downloaded to your computer free of charge. There is a list of software that you need on the front page under Downloads. Basically you will need, a word processing program, Adobe Reader, QuickTime and of course an internet browser (preferably Mozilla Fire Fox).

Q. Is there any other equipment that I need?
A. Yes, in order to receive some of the lessons and to do online instruction with your teachers, you will need a headset with an attached microphone. This headset can be purchased at most electronics stores for around $30.00 or less. You can also get one from the edcentre.ca office.

Q. Where do I get the materials I need for each course?
A. Most of the materials for the courses are available online. Additional resources will be sent to students by mail or you may have to borrow some materials from local school / library.

Q. What kind of computer experience do I need?
A. You should be able to navigate on the Internet, send email with attachments, and should be comfortable with using a word processing program such as Microsoft Word.  If you do not have any computer experience we can still help you out and support your online learning. 

Q. Where can I get computer help?
A. The instructors at edcentre.ca Online School will be able to help you with many of your computer problems. You will learn how to use the computer better as you work on class activities. If you have technical problems with your computer, you may need to take it to a computer service business.

Q. What is Moodle?
A. Moodle is the name of a software package.  It is basically the school website area where teachers and students log in to share and communicate. 
 
Q. Where is the office?
A. The main centre for edcentre.ca School is located in Air Ronge at the Northlands College Administration building (on the highway by the bridge).

Q. How do I get my assignments?
A. You will find your assignments in your online classroom area at the edcentre.ca website. Only enrolled students will receive a username and password to log into this area. Students simply click on the assignments in numerical order, read or view the lesson, do the activity and type and submit their answers.
 
Q. How do I know if a teacher has marked my assignment?
A. When you check your grades in the classroom area you will be able to see if your marks have been posted.  Most classes have check boxes that are either blank, have a timer, or have a check mark for each activity. 

Q. Will I get to meet my teacher?
A. Teachers call all their students at the beginning of each course to meet them through a phone discussion.  They also get to know them through a web conference room in each of their online classes.  Throughout the year the teachers at edcentre.ca travel to several northern communities to meet their students face to face. 
 
Q. Will I get to meet other students?
A. There may be opportunities to meet other students when the teachers travel to communities and gather at central areas.
 
Q. How many students are there in each class?
A. Classes vary in size because of the continuous intake during the entire school year.