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Virtual High School http:// www.govhs.org Technology Presentation. Jessica Royster – LIS 431 .
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Virtual High Schoolhttp://www.govhs.orgTechnology Presentation Jessica Royster – LIS 431
“Imagine classrooms without walls, where students are able to attend their classes 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Imagine students working cooperatively online with others from a wide variety of ethnicities, backgrounds and geographic locations. What you are beginning to imagine is the reality of the Virtual High School, a non-profit organization that offers content-rich, credit-bearing high school courses to students across the country and around the world.” -http://www.govhs.org/Pages/AboutUs-Home
What is Virtual High School? • Virtual High School offers “standards-based and student-centered” online courses for public, private, domestic and international middle and high schools. • Virtual High School does not replace a high school’s curriculum, it simply adds to it. • Virtual High School is a non-profit organization based in Massachusetts and is nationally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Education.
Benefits for Schools • Offer more courses without the cost and space issues of classes in the school building • Student scheduling is no longer an issue with classes that can be taken any time, any place • Offer diverse courses to meet more students interests and needs
Benefits for Teachers • Online professional development training (graduate course credits are available) • Collaborate with teachers across the country and worldwide • Learn new technology and teaching skills
Most importantly, benefits for students… • Students can choose whatever interests them the most from a wide variety of classes • Honors, Advanced Placement, specialized and technical courses are all available • Flexible scheduling • Collaborate and share ideas with students from around the world • Learn and use vital 21st century learning skills every time they log on to their virtual classroom • “VHS students, time after time, share that they feel more comfortable expressing themselves in online VHS class discussions where disability, social status, racial and even gender differences are not as evident as they would be in a traditional classroom.” • http://www.govhs.org/Pages/WhyVHS-Home
Disadvantages of VHS • Technology • All students need access to a reliable internet connection and computer which may be costly for some families. • As we know, technology often fails. • Time management skills are required – students need to balance their online coursework with other classes and outside activities. Some students may not be ready for this. • The online classroom can be isolating for some students – some may thrive in an online classroom, and some may fail completely.