Frequently
Asked Questions
 What
is WVS?
Wisconsin
Virtual School is a service provider that partners
with school districts throughout Wisconsin to offer
online education to middle and high school students.
WVS uncomplicates the process of adding virtual courses
to a district's curriculum. It takes care of the details,
providing the content, platform, Wisconsin certified
online teachers, technical support, training, server,
online policy development assistance, and much more. With WVS, districts can offer online
options to their students with minimal cost and time.
Districts retain control of key policy decisions and
the enrollment.
What
Courses are Offered?
WVS
courses range from core curriculum such as English,
science, mathematics and social studies to
success-enhancing courses such as study skills and
career planning to electives such as foreign languages,
technology, business and Advanced Placement. These
courses are designed specifically for Internet delivery
at the learner’s pace. A
course list is available
in PDF format.
Back
to the top
Do
Courses Meet Wisconsin Standards?
Yes,
you can be assured that WVS has taken the necessary
measures to ensure that our courses meet state and
national standards. We use Wisconsin Certified teachers,
specifically trained to meet our rigorous Internet-based
teaching standards.
Back
to the top
 What
are the advantages for school districts using WVS?
Partnering
with WVS allows districts to stretch their resources
and offer additional high-quality educational options
that address specific students' needs with flexibility
and ease. Added advantages include:
- Local
control over your virtual education policies and
procedures
- Low
cost, avoiding the usual "start-up" expenses associated
with beginning an online program
- Ability
to keep and easily enroll students
- Keeping
the enrollment in the district
- Wisconsin
certified teachers, trained in online facilitation
skills, that can attend to the needs of nontraditional
students, with one-on-one instruction
- No
textbooks to buy (some AP courses require texts)
-
Media-rich, middle and high school course content
with easy web-based access
- Expanded
curriculum offerings with consistently high-quality,
interactive courses
- Ability
to recapture or prevent dropouts
- A
solution for expelled students, at-risk youth, and
many other underserved students
- "Any
time, any place, any path, any pace" learning for
students
- Help
with policy creation for online learning
- Training
and technical support- both orientation and ongoing
Back
to the top
How
Does the Student Receive Credit and a Grade for Their
Coursework?
Upon
completion, WVS gives the district notification
of the student’s course completion and percentage
earned. The district determines and issues the letter
grade, along with local credit if applicable.
Back
to the top
 Which
Students Are Viable Candidates for Internet-based
Courses?
Online
courses can be a valuable option for many different
types of students, including:
- College-bound
students in need of advanced or specialized coursework
- Credit
deficient students needing specific courses in order
to graduate
- Students
wanting to improve their skills in specific subject
areas
- Remedial
students who require one-on-one support
- Gifted
or advanced students who want expanded educational
offerings
- Summer
school students
- Students
with scheduling conflicts
- Home
bound students
- Students
who may not otherwise have a particular course offering
available
Take the online survey, "Is Online Learning for Me?"
at the WVS portal
before enrolling.
Back
to the top
What
are the Timelines for Enrolling In and Completing
a Course?
Students
may enroll in a WVS course at any time during the
semester and year, including the summer. (Advanced
Placement courses are an exception) In the spring and
fall terms, we allow a student
up to five months to complete a 1/2 credit
course. The summer term is 8 weeks
only. Students set their own pace in the online
environment, so they may complete a course in less time.
Back
to the top
 What
Are the Technical Requirements for Participating?
Basic
technical requirements include:
- PC
with a Pentium Processor and Windows 2000, ME or
XP or NT,
or Macintosh with MacOS 9 or higher
- 64
MB RAM
- Color
monitor (16 bit, 800 x 600 resolution)
-
DSL or T-1 (preferred) or 56K modem Internet access
-
Sound card and speakers
- Hard
drive with at least 1G free space available
-
A current browser (Netscape® 7.1 or higher or
Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
-
Go to System Specs for more details on technical
requirements.
Back
to the top
What
is it Like to Take an Online Course?
An
Internet-based approach to learning uses interactive
online technology and requires active participation
in each course. There is no "hiding in the back row"
with an online course because communication with the
teacher is one-on-one and it is required in order
to complete assignments. Online courses provide a
rich multimedia environment with engaging, high-quality
content for individualized discovery through the learning
process.
This
dynamic content immerses students in imaginative experiences,
using a myriad of learning tools that are unique to
an Internet–based format. Students engage in dynamic
learning activities and student-selected learning
paths, which are multimedia-enforced. Students are
able to self-monitor their progress and create multimedia
portfolios, in a seamless learning environment, not
bound by time and space.
Back
to the top
How
much do courses cost through WVS?
The cost of each 1/2 credit (semester) Middle School, High School and Advanced Placement course is $325.
Credit Recovery courses are $270 per semester course. If the
school district is paying for the course, WVS will bill the district after a
14 day trial period. If the student is paying
for the course, payment must be received at the time
of enrollment. (See parent information)
Back
to the top
How
Do We Get Started?
The
student and their school district decide which course(s)
to take. The district assigns the student a local
contact person to help monitor the student’s progress
and encourage his/her maintaining a reasonable pace
toward course completion (we refer to this person
as a LEG –Local Education Guide).
The school district enrolls the student
online. Once CESA 9 confirms the student’s enrollment
is approved by the district or paid for by the
parent, the student will receive an email with their
log-in instructions. Students and the LEGs are strongly
encouraged to use the Student Orientation Tutorial prior
to beginning their online course.
Back
to the top
For
more information, call CESA 9 at 715-453-2141
or e-mail us at wvs@wisconsinvirtualschool.org. |
