Below are answers to some frequently ask questions. For questions and answers regarding Brightspace, Edsby or Proctortrack please scroll to the bottom of the page.
Below are answers to some frequently ask questions. For questions and answers regarding Brightspace, Edsby or Proctortrack please scroll to the bottom of the page.
Yes - We have students from all over the province taking classes with Prairie Land Online Academy.
Currently there are no school fees for students that meet the funding requirements set out by Alberta Education. Mature students, out-of-province students and international students that are not funded are subject to school fees.
All course materials are within our learning management system (LMS), Brightspace, and as such there are no textbooks or workbooks. Novels are also online however if students wish to have a copy of the novel they are studying they can purchase it but most students borrow the book from a local or municipal library system.
Students are required to provide the following:
Computer or Laptop, Webcam & Microphone, Reliable Internet Connection
**A tablet or phone are not acceptable devices for regular use in day to day classes but are welcome as a secondary tool.
School supply lists are available below the timetable for each class division.
Yes - Grades 1-9 students and synchronous high school students are expected to attend classes daily. Attendance is taken and reported to Alberta Education.
Asynchronous high school students do not attend daily classes and as such attendance is not reported.
What role does a parent/guardian play in supporting their child in online learning?
Parent/guardian engagement plays a role in a child's learning success. Parents can log into their Brightspace account to view course progress, learning outcomes and grades and they can log into their Edsby account to view attendance. Daily check-ins to ensure the student is attending classes and completing course work ensures that a student does not fall behind.
When you submit your registration it is reviewed by the office to ensure that you are eligible for enrollment. If you are eligible for enrollment a course selection form will be emailed to you. After your course selection form has been received and reviewed to ensure that the necessary prerequisites have been met for the course(s) you have selected you will receive an email with your enrollment status details and further information. Please note that your registration is not complete until the course selection form has been complete and reviewed.
Yes - Alberta Education requires a registration form, for each year a child is registered at an Alberta school, to be uploaded to their Alberta Education file. To avoid a delay in the registration process please ensure that the registration form is filled out completely and accurately.
No - If you are a semester one student of PLOA you will be sent a link to a semester two course selection form. You will simply need to fill out this form for review.
Students living in Alberta or International students connected to an Alberta school can take up to 10 credits with us through the school year in addition to being a full-time high school (primary) student elsewhere. Be sure you have the time to commit to additional class work.
We follow the Prairie Land Public School Division calendar. Even though you can log in anytime during the semester to access your courses, our staff is only available during our division school days. Please keep this in mind when you are calling or requesting a meeting with your teachers.
Asynchronous students can finish their courses early however we do not upload marks to Alberta Education until the end of the semester.
Yes - If you are 19 years old or younger on September 1 you can take classes free of charge. You must have been registered at an Alberta School by the Alberta count date (September 30) to be eligible for classes in Semester Two.
However if you are 20 or older you are no longer a funded student by the Alberta government and there is a fee for each class that you require. The current cost per credit for Canadian citizens is $140/credit thus a five credit course will cost $700.00.
Please email us at online.academy@plrd.ab.ca or call us at 587-854-6316 if you have further questions.
PLOA does not offer course or credit recovery. Students are welcome to upgrade a course however they must redo the course in its entirety.
No - Whether you are online or in-person your classes will cover the Alberta Curriculum. Some students find it easier to do online classes as they can learn at their own pace and at a time that works for them.
Yes - Marks and credits earned though courses with PLOA are uploaded to Alberta Education at the end of each semester. Students are then able to view the courses, marks and credits earned via their myPass account. Students are encouraged to view their myPass account at the end of each semester to ensure that there are not errors or omissions. If they have any questions they can contact the PLOA office at 587-854-6316 and the inquiry will be reviewed.
Yes - PLOA is a fully accredited Alberta high school. We offer all the courses required to receive an Alberta High School Diploma. We also have a small graduation ceremony for full-time PLOA graduates at the end of Semester Two.
Exams for non-diploma courses will be completed online. Some exams may be supervised by your teacher through Google Meet.
Diploma course regular exams may be supervised by the teacher or via Proctortrack. Alberta Education requires diploma exams to be written in person at an approved testing centre. We offer two writing centres for diploma exams in January, June and August; Calgary and Edmonton. If a student will not be writing at the Calgary or Edmonton site, they will need to contact a local school and ask if the school will allow them permission to write at that location. Registration for diploma exams is done via the student's myPass account. Instructions and dates will be communicated closer to the exam dates. Diploma exams are not optional and must be written to receive a complete mark on your transcript.
**PLOA does not host a writing center for November or April exams and students requesting this must find their own writing center.
Provincial Achievement Tests for grades 6 and 9 students are completed online. Instructions and practice are communicated and completed prior to testing dates.
For instructions on how to register for your Alberta Education myPass account click here for more information.
If something happens that you need to withdraw from a course or from PLOA please reach out to your teacher first. Once you have discussed your request with them they will direct you to contact the office. We will forward you a withdrawal form at that time and upon your completion of it we will withdraw you.