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 The Greenville County Virtual School (GCVS) allows students to take courses online, anywhere, anytime! Students may enroll to take a course not offered at their current school, to resolve a scheduling conflict, to make up credits from an out of district transfer, or to just get ahead. And � it�s free!
This summer, Greenville County Schools expanded its Virtual School to make courses available for students in grades 8-12 at all 14 high schools. Virtual School courses are taught online by Greenville County educators using Blackboard Course Management software and offer increased flexibility and options for students. Anywhere there is a computer with Internet connections, they can log-on and learn! The pilot for GCVS launched in January of 2006 for a group of about 100 high school students who were preparing to enter the Fine Arts Center and needed to stay on track with coursework to graduate with their class. Each student is required to take a survey administered by his or her counselor to determine if they are a good fit before enrolling in the program. All GCVS teachers are fully certified for the course(s) they teach. Materials are posted for student completion and teachers communicate via chat, email, phone, and discussion boards to answer questions. Quizzes and tests are taken online, and for quality control, students take final exams that are administered at one location by a teacher. Currently, GCVS offers Geometry (CP), Geometry (H), English I (H), English I (CP) and Physical Science (H). Students may also choose course offerings in a similar e-learning program offered through the South Carolina Department of Education called South Carolina Virtual School (SCVS). SCVS' goal is to work in collaboration with the local school districts to provide a statewide supplemental or alternative online program for 9th-12th grade students to assure equitable access to rich and varied learning opportunities. SCVS currently offers over 40 courses. Lael King, a 9th grader at Southside High, chose to take Algebra II from SCVS this summer. �I am attending the Fine Arts Center for dance in the fall,� said Lael. �I am in the IB program and didn�t want to fall behind my coursework and not graduate on time.� Virtual School offers a non-traditional approach that requires self-directed learning, so students who are self-motivated make better candidates. �I think it has some good sides,� said Lael. �I can work at my own pace and there aren�t any distractions from other students like there would be in a classroom.� Lael added that she chose to do her online coursework in the mornings when she can focus better, and so far she has maintained an A average. Interest is rising, and enrollment in the local GCVS has reached 500 students in just two years. Course offerings also continue to grow, and this fall GCVS will be more than doubling its current offerings for a total of 13 courses. �Eventually, we hope to offer all high school courses online,� said Jeff McCoy, Director of Instructional Technology for Greenville County Schools. Students who attend out-of-district or charter schools may enroll in the Virtual School program, but tuition fees apply. The district also hired a GCVS Guidance Counselor, Kenneth Smith, to assist students who are enrolled in the Virtual Schools. For more information on GCVS, please email Ken Smith at [email protected]. (Image provided by Greenville County Schools.)
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