Any student who wants to be part of the Online Learning Program at JHS must contact the Guidance Department. From there, we will consider the current academic setting, grades, and past experiences in online classes the student may have. Both the student and family can expect a follow up with our Counselor. Please email Ms. Merrill to start this process.
To help us get an idea of student's fit for the online program, please include information in this list:
- Include your student's first and last name
- Include a parent/guardian name
- What type of online learning is your student interested in?
- In what ways do you think your student would benefit from online learning?
- What academic strengths and weaknesses does this student have?
To find out if full-time online learning is right for your student, check out the common attributes that make for a successful experience!
Are you right for virtual learning?
- Virtual classes are more demanding of students’ time and skill because they both manage their studying as well as their pace. This allows for students with a strong base of study skills to take ownership of when they learn and how they learn. On the other side of this coin though is a misconception that because there is no face-to-face instruction, coursework is easier and less rigorous. In reality, students choosing to take a virtual course deal with many more responsibilities than a student in a traditional classroom setting.
Not every student succeeds in this type of learning. Take a look at some of the requirements of a virtual learner:
- Persistence
- Persistence is perhaps the biggest key to success in online learning. Students who succeed are those who are willing to tolerate technical problems, seek help when needed, work daily on every class, and persist through challenges.
- When you run into a challenge, keep trying and ask for help.
- Set up a manageable study schedule for yourself and stick to it. Students who succeed are those who log in and make progress every day. This is especially important after the novelty of going to school online starts to wear off!
- Effective Time-Management Skills
- You must be able to manage your time well. There are no set times for classes, only the end of the course window. You need to be able to motivate and manage yourself to get work done.
This flexibility is one of the great benefits of online learning, but it can also be a drawback for a student who procrastinates, is unable to stick to a routine study schedule, or is not able to complete assignments without daily reminders from a teacher.
- Effective and Appropriate Communication Skills
- Communication skills are vital in online learning because students must seek help when they need it. Teachers are willing to help students, but they must be willing to reach out for help themselves before it's too late. Students will need to be able to:
Use their school-provided email. Checking your email for updates and teacher concerns should become a regular part of your day.
Use appropriate style and language for school. When communicating with teachers and other staff, you should write in full, grammatically correct sentences and with a respectful tone. Many students are used to a very informal style of writing in text messages, but this mode of communicating is inappropriate in a school setting.
- Basic Technical Skills
Online learners need basic technical skills to succeed. These include the ability to create new documents, use a word processing program, navigate the Internet, and use email.
- Reading and Writing Skills
- Reading and writing are the main ways you'll communicate in an online class. You should be comfortable reading a lot of documents on a computer screen and able to type.
Some tests and quizzes have multiple choice questions, but many of your assignments will involve writing short or long answers.
If you type less than 25-30 words per minute, it may be worth completing a typing software program before beginning online classes.
- Motivation and Independence
- To be successful, an online student has to want to succeed. Online learning requires independence, internal motivation, responsibility, and a certain level of maturity.
Have you given some thought to your own personal reasons for attending school?
Are you determined and self-motivated to succeed in school?
Source: Minnesota Online High School
While there are many additional things to think about as a virtual learner, there are also many benefits!
- If you are a good candidate, you will enjoy the many advantages of taking a course through our full-time program:
- Schedule flexibility: Students can access their course at any time, from nearly anywhere they can log on. Students only need a computer and Internet access to take online classes.
- Students can work ahead: If the material is easily mastered, students may move through the material more quickly. Students can also work to accommodate certain upcoming time constraints.
- Students can slow the pace: If students find a particular area difficult to understand students can slow the pace of the assignments, taking time to fully grasp the concept. Also, students can spend more time on subject areas that capture their attention or imagination.
- Students can block schedule: Students can complete several lessons in one subject in a day. This allows the student to delve more deeply into a topic they find fascinating or stay with the subject if they’ve hit a study groove and everything is clicking.
- Although full-time virtual learning requires greater independence than traditional schooling, the online program instructors can be reached in a variety of ways and are available for touchpoint assistance when you need them. Additionally, our program instructors and parents will monitor students’ progress to ensure that they remain on track for each course.