In today’s fast-changing world, it’s not just what students know that matters, but how they think, learn, and problem-solve. In fact, the researchers behind the Institute for Habits of Mind have identified 16 habits that form the basis for the behaviours, skills, and dispositions foundational to effective thinkers. This means that students who practice and hone these skills are more likely to be prepared for unfamiliar situations and more resilient in the real world.

Burnout seems to be everywhere – in headlines, blogs and stories with titles and catch phrases scary enough to sound like movie trailers. As a student, it can feel like you’re the main character in a suspense film, standing in front of a door that you feel like you shouldn’t open. You worry that opening the door to completing high school faster, setting bigger goals or staying ambitious will unleash burnout and undo your efforts, but this isn’t how the story has to go. Burnout is real and serious, but it is not inevitable. With the right approach to your studies you don’t have to open the door to burnout to reach your academic goals.

Education is about more than just school subjects and grades; it’s about how we learn, think, and share knowledge and values across generations. At the same time, formal education plays an important role by providing structure, guidance, and opportunities for students to develop essential skills. In Canada, learning has long been highly valued, with a strong emphasis on knowledge, critical thinking, and academic achievement, which are priorities that continue to shape our education system today.

While online learning is often associated with modern technology, its roots go back much further than many realize. In 1959, the University of Illinois created PLATO, a digital computer-based learning system that introduced many principles still used today (University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering, 2020). Over 6 decades later, online education has grown drastically- online high school enrollment in Ontario increased by about 46% between 2018 and 2022 (State of the Nation, 2023). The foundational ideas of systems like PLATO remain relevant in virtual high schools in Ontario because they are effective.

So, after ample research and reading several reviews of current and former Ontario Virtual School (OVS) students you’ve decided to make the move to online learning. Welcome, we are glad you’re here! Our community of online learners and educators have undergone a similar transition and are always here to help!