Education, Citizenship and Youth
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Distance Learning
Independent Study Option
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I get an overview of a course?
- How do I order an Independent Study course?
- How much do Independent Study courses cost?
- Where do I get textbooks and how much do they cost?
- How will I be evaluated?
- How long does it take to complete a course?
- What do I do if I am having difficulty with my course(s)?
- Where do I send my work that requires marking?
- Who marks my work?
- Where do I write my exams?
- How do I receive my midterm/final marks?
Where can I get an overview of a course?
You can go to the course descriptions in the Middle Years (Grades 7 and 8) and Senior Years (Grades 9 - 12) sections of this website.
How do I order an Independent Study course?
If you are attending school, contact your school to find out who is responsible for independent study students. This individual will help you select your course(s) and complete the Admission/Registration Form.
If you are not attending
school, telephone the ISO in Winkler at 800-465-9915
for an Admission/Registration
Form or download it (
396
KB).
How much do Independent Study courses cost?
Tuition fees vary. Costs are based on
- Credit value of the required course.
- Middle Years courses versus Grades 9 to 12 courses.
- Being a resident or non-resident of Manitoba.
- Tuition fees are outlined in the Policies and Procedures section that follows.
Where do I get textbooks and how much do they cost?
Textbooks may be obtained from the Independent Study Option (ISO) or the Manitoba Text Book Bureau (MTBB). Cost varies, depending on the subject and the number of texts required. Refer to each specific course description for a list of required resources. Contact the Manitoba Text Book Bureau to order or order online at http://www.mtbb.mb.ca.
Manitoba Text Book Bureau
130 - 1st Avenue West
P.O. Box 910
Souris MB R0K 2C0
Telephone: 204-483-5040
Toll free: 1-866-771-6822
Fax: 204-483-5041
How will I be evaluated?
Most courses consist of modules or sequences. The number of these varies from course to course. Each module covers a section of the course and contains several lessons. At the end of most lessons, there are assignments which ISO students are expected to complete and evaluate. The applicable answer keys are included in the course package.
In some cases, modules contain one or more tests which students must complete on a self-testing basis or which must be sent into the Independent Study Option for evaluation by the course Tutor/Marker. Test keys are included in the package for the tests to be self-evaluated.
Students may be evaluated by a variety of different methods in an ISO course. These include projects, tests, assignments, essays and/or examinations. An explanation regarding the evaluation is found in the course introduction as well as the descriptions in the course guide.
How long does it take to complete a course?
You have one year from the date of registration to complete a course.
In order to understand the time commitment needed to complete an Independent Study Option course, you should know that a one-credit course is designed to take approximately 110 hours of class time.
As a general guideline, you should also count on spending half as much time again for reading textbooks, completing assignments, and studying for tests and exams. Therefore, you may need to spend approximately 165 hours to complete a course. This time is a guideline and will vary according to course, study habits, etc. You should assume that a half-credit course will take half as much time as a one-credit course.
What do I do if I am having difficulty with my course(s)?
Courses are designed for students to be able to work independently. When assistance is required for assignments and/or subject content consider the following options:
If you are attending school, seek help through the Independent Study Option (ISO) facilitator at your school. Frequently additional expertise is available within the school.
If you are not attending school, you should try to find a study partner. A study partner can be a parent, teacher, another student, sibling, relative, or any member of the student's home or community who would be willing to spend time with them. Since a distance learning course does not involve a classroom teacher, a study partner may give a student some good ideas and provide valuable assistance and encouragement.
Upon registration you will be given the name, email and toll free number of a ISO Tutor/Marker. This subject specialist will be available for periodic consultation in regard to clarification required on assignments. There is a time limit that the Tutor/Marker is able to spend with you therefore use this resource only as required.
Where do I send my work that requires marking?
There are clear instructions provided throughout your course with mailing instructions. Please forward the required work to the ISO office located in Winkler, MB. Periodically, student work has not arrived through the mail; therefore, it is recommended that you keep a copy of your work before submitting it for marking.
Who marks my work?
Your assigned Tutor/Marker subject specialist will evaluate your work and mail it back to you with a mark. If you have questions about the mark you received, please contact your Tutur/Marker and/or ISO Consultant for further clarification. All work that requires marking can be redone once to improve the grade.
Where do I write my exams?
All students must write exams in a supervised setting.
Students attending school may write examinations at their respective schools during scheduled examination periods.
Students not attending school, should write their examinations at one of the following locations:
- Winnipeg: 1567 Dublin Avenue. Examination sittings take place on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. However, a large number of examination requests, at any given time, may warrant the scheduling of additional sittings.
- Winkler: the ISO office. Contact the ISO office to arrange an examination sitting during regular office hours, Monday-Friday.
If none of these arrangements are feasible, the student may write under the supervision of an examination proctor. An examination proctor is an individual selected by the student and approved by the ISO Consultant to supervise the writing of the student's examination. This individual may be someone in a professional field (a teacher, retired teacher, university or college professor, pastor, commissioner of oaths, etc.)
A proctor may not be a member of the student's immediate family.
How do I receive my midterm/final marks?
Statements of Standing for midterm and final marks for students attending school will be mailed to the school ISO facilitator. Attending students must request their marks through that individual.
During the summer months, an attending student's Statement of Standing will be mailed to their home address. A duplicate statement will be mailed to the school ISO facilitator during the first week of September.
Statement of Standing for midterm and final marks for students not attending school will be mailed to the student's home address.
Marks will not be given to students by telephone. Students may make a written request to receive their marks by fax or mail.
