Read reflections, tips and advice from current & past students
Stephanie, Year 10, Virtual School Victoria
Hello! I’m Steph and I study English, Maths, Science and VCE Legal Studies at Virtual School Victoria.
I started years 7 and 8 at my local high school. During that time, my disability got a lot worse. My school struggled to accommodate me and my learning was declining. So, I decided to enrol at VSV, which offers subtitles and is more accessible.
What are your top three tips to succeed in online learning?
1. Attend online classes or watch the recording if you're not feeling well.
2. Use a study track app to time how long you spend on each subject. This helps to make sure I do the right hours for each of my subjects.
3. Don't be afraid to email your teachers. Arrange an online meeting with them to discuss your feedback.
Jessica, Year 12, Virtual School Victoria
Hey! I’m Jess and I study VCE English, Agriculture and Horticulture, Religion and Society, and Health and Human Development at Virtual School Victoria.
I wouldn't say I chose VSV, as much as it became my only option. Due to my health, I was absent a lot from school and would rely on online resources. After COVID, my school was not willing to work around my needs, so I moved to VSV. It has helped so much - VSV is so much more flexible around appointments and health flares, and I finally feel like I'm not disadvantaged in learning due to my health.
Nyha, Year 10, Virtual School Victoria
Hey! My name is Nyha and I’m in year 10 at VSV.
I enrolled at VSV because I had anxiety and mental health issues.
What are your top three tips to succeed in online learning?
1. Have a calendar so you know when your online lessons start
2. Have apps that can help you (with compressing videos or scanning work to hand in)
3. Always ask for help – there are no dumb questions!
Lee, Year 12, Virtual School Victoria & Victorian School of Languages
Hello! My name is Lee and I study VCE Chemistry and Psychology with VSV and VCE Japanese with VSL. I also study two VCE subjects at my local school, in person.
What are your top three tips to succeed in online learning?
1. Make a schedule/timetable to ensure you can complete all of the work each week
2. Make an assessment calendar (particularly for VCE) so that you can prepare in advance for assessments
3. Message or call your teachers for clarification, even if it’s a small concept! It will help you in the long run. You can also organise a meeting with teachers before SACs or assessments to go through the content and ask questions
Jay, Year 12, Virtual School Victoria
Hi! My name is Jay and I study VCE Physics, English Language, General Maths and Physical Education at Virtual School Victoria.
I started at VSV in Year 11 because I couldn't get a VCE through home schooling. I didn't want to attend a bricks and mortar school.
What advice would you give other students who are planning to study online?
Don't put too much pressure on yourself when you first start online learning. It's a big change from in-person, so allow yourself a few weeks to adjust and figure out what works for you (for example, does a timetable help?, do weekly meetings with teachers help?) Make sure to reach out for support if you're finding it difficult.