VVa students celebrate final day of National Distance Learning Week

Yunzhe Z., AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics student	Virtual Virginia has definitely helped to widen my knowledge scope and has provided me with a chance to learn about an interesting subject that is not offered at my school. It is like a regular class but with great advantages such as flexibility. There are deadlines for assignments due, but I am able to learn information at my own pace and go back to it for review anytime I need to; the instructional videos can be paused and replayed as much as necessary. It has also helped me to keep in touch with my friends and make new ones. The teachers have been so friendly and helpful, and they are always online so help is always available. I love the lessons accompanied by easy to understand explanations and the fact that I can always get help when I need it; online courses are great sources for education.
Jama R., AP Psychology student	The distance learning program of Virtual Virginia has greatly enhanced my education because it has presented the opportunity to choose from a wider variety of more challenging classes than my school could supply beforehand. Better yet, it is preparing me for the chance to earn college credit. Due to our high school's modest size and prior commitments, such as the IB program, it is limited in traditional Advanced Placement course offerings. Therefore, when Virtual Virginia courses were introduced, many of our students were excited to take advantage of them, including myself. This is my first experience in an online course, and I have been continually impressed with the productivity, organization, and communication of the class. Many of the factors people are weary of when virtual classes are discussed have ceased to be concerns for me during my experience. For example, I have been pleasantly surprised how my teacher is as, if not more, available and personal than my other teachers from the traditional classroom setting. One of my favorite aspects of this learning environment is the independence the class allows. While it is structured, challenging, and time consuming, the class allows for the student to learn in and out of school with all the resources of a classroom. I believe any student with a little self-discipline, time management skills, and a desire to challenge themselves will love the virtual classes!
Kelly V., AP European History and Latin I student	Distance learning has proved very valuable in my education. My school's access to the Virtual Virginia program has allowed me to take two classes that would not, otherwise, be offered, and I have found my online teachers to be easily accessible and helpful resources for other classes I am taking through my school.
Seth A., AP English Language and Composition student	I am taking my first year of Virtual Virginia, and so far I am very impressed. I love that I can complete assignments on my own time (within a time limit of course) and that I can view my grades any time I need to. I also find it easier to talk to my teacher by sending her a message. She usually can get it back to me in a timely manner. I find that I am doing a little better in an AP class than I have done in my regular English class that I took last year.
Austin K., Chinese I student	Distance Learning (Virtual Virginia) has helped my education by allowing me to take Chinese I online, which would never be possible at my school…
Alexandra R., AP Psychology, AP U.S. Government, and AP English Literature and Composition student	The online course allowed for me to take advanced classes that weren't normally offered at my high school. I go to a very small school, consisting only of about 300 people, and it is very difficult for us to keep teachers here...so my only opportunity for higher learning at this junction was Virtual Virginia. I was, at first, very apprehensive about completing an online course, as I usually appreciate a close personal relationship with my instructors, but I was pleasantly surprised. The instructors at Virtual Virginia are extremely involved and helpful--usually responding promptly to any of my e-mails or calls. Though the work is more complex and faster-paced, it has been an enjoyable experience...
Joo Hyun P., AP Human Geography student	I think the Virtual Virginia program gave me a new experience and another approach to education in this world of technology. The ability to express myself in words and to people I cannot see in person made it easy for me to express ideas outwardly without fear of being judged by appearance and age. I feel that in an educational environment set up by my Virtual Virginia class, people have more confidence to speak their thoughts out loud and be professional as well.
Trask P., Latin II student	Latin is a dead Language, and it is not like French or Spanish that if you don't know how to say a word or a grammar law you could just ask someone from that place and your problem is solved. But to do this with Latin you would need a Time Machine, but at this point in time there is no such device. There is one more solution, Elluminate! It is a very helpful tool, especially if you are 100 percent lost in what is going on in the class, you can get your microphone or headset and be basically in the same room as your teacher then you can talk to them. They can talk to you and go over exactly what it is that you don't understand and fix the problem. To anyone that is planning to take an online course I recommend it, in the end it will teach you to be independent, whether you want to or not...

Students share more experiences about their distance learning for National Distance Learning Week

Ryan O., AP Physics and AP European History student	The Virtual Virginia program has allowed me to take a range of advanced classes that my school doesn't offer. I am taking physics, which my school has been unable to find a teacher for; and AP European History, which is something I am very interested in, but my school doesn't offer very many AP courses. I am also applying to take the VASTS online course that is run by NASA Langley, which will be a great opportunity to learn things that I couldn't otherwise learn. Online courses are a great thing that let you do a lot more in a small community.
Natasha B., Latin I student	Virtual Virginia has opened up more opportunities to me because it offers me courses that aren't offered at our school. I am taking Latin online with Virtual Virginia. I now know what it is like to be able to exceed my learning ability by taking a harder course.
Regginae F., Chinese I student	Virtual Virginia has helped my education because it is a great experience. It gives me a chance to be more responsible.
Brittany A., Latin I student	Virtual Virginia has helped me because it's easier to learn through [the program]. I am able to go at my own pace and learn, which is what I need. The only downfall is that a teacher being present is easier to understand, but with the Elluminate, I am able to communicate with them face to face if I wanted.
Quinton A., AP English Literature and Composition, AP Psychology, and AP U.S. Government student	In taking three Virtual Virginia courses at my high school, I have been able to hone skills that I would not have learned otherwise, such as analytical thinking, frequent discussions, and most of all, being very prompt on assignments (i.e., doing them three days before they are due!). I have been able to learn material in an entirely new way, and thus I have begun to think entirely different too, while working at my own pace. I've also met people online that share my same interests and love of learning, so I am not alone in my education. All in all, Virtual Va. has been a great opportunity for me, and I hope to continue to succeed.
Thomas A., AP English Literature and Composition, AP Psychology, and AP U.S. Government student	Distance learning via Virtual Virginia has given me the opportunity to not only take classes that were unavailable at my school and to meet many new friends, but also to attain a higher level of academic confidence. Distance learning offers students a unique opportunity to work at their personal pace... we have the opportunity to share ideas and personal inference without fear of judgment or marginalization. I absolutely love the online program, and believe that it is an excellent tool and application that all Virginia schools should use!
Kirstine P., AP English Language and Composition student	It's helped me because we have to research and learn things a regular English class wouldn't ask. It is more advanced and makes us think harder than a regular class. An average English course class is just teaching students the basics; when taking a distance learning course, you learn things that older students should be learning. This prepares us for college; it shows we have responsibility and teaches us about other things besides English, too. It's a wonderful class to take. You have to pay attention and do everything expected of you, and you'll go very far.
Laurel B., AP Human Geography student	Virtual Virginia has helped me by giving me classes that would not be offered at my school. Not only has it given me the class that is not offered, but it gave me an AP class which my school has none of.

Virtual Virginia students comment about distance learning for National Distance Learning Week

Elizabeth E., Chinese II student	It (distance learning) has helped my education because I can do it wherever and whenever I want to, without being limited or restricted in what I do. I can be flexible and stress-free. Because I am stress-free in my Chinese II virtual class on Virtual Virginia, I do better in my other classes as well as enjoy this class very much.
Tracey A., AP U.S. Government student	Taking this distance learning class has allowed me to more effectively use the "FLEX" period at my school as a class, so that I can take other electives not offered as an online class.
Rachel L., AP Environmental Science student	By taking the online AP Environmental Science course, I was able to fit it into my schedule easier. Taking the class in an online format allows me to be in control more of how well I do in the class, because the materials and assignments are easily accessible. Being able to communicate with people from different areas also provides a different opinion from the majority that is found in my "real" classes. This helps me to look at issues with a new perspective, especially those involving the environment.
Cali L., Chinese I student	Distance education is really one of the best things to come out of the age of computers, I think. I am a student at a tiny rural high school in southwest Virginia, and our school system just is not equipped to provide advanced or non-traditional courses for students. See, over summer 2009, I attended the Governor's Foreign Language Academies and STARTALK programs and began to study Chinese. I fell in love almost instantaneously, but the only language courses my school offers are in Spanish. This is where distance education programs come in. I am able to continue my studies in Chinese, and have plans to expand my language learning by taking Latin next year in addition to Chinese II and Spanish IV. Through these programs, such as Virtual Virginia, students are able to take the advanced or non-traditional courses that they like. And the class materials are not the only thing one can learn from a distance education course. Responsibility, time management, and computer skills are just a few of the skills students can learn from taking DE courses. These courses also can help students gain college credit while still in high school through AP and dual-credit classes, which will help students cut down on the overall cost of a college education, which is not by any means inexpensive. I am currently taking US History through my local community college and love the course. I feel like I am being challenged in ways that I would not have been in a regular US History class. It's these kinds of benefits, I feel, that can help the students of today succeed tomorrow, and I'm so glad that there are programs out there like Virtual Virginia to help. Thank you!
Amanda B., Creative Writing, and AP English Language and Composition student	Virtual Virginia has offered me so many different courses that our school did not offer. Our school is small in a rural community with about 120, give or take a few, in the high school. We offer only one foreign language, Spanish; and just basic English, math, science, agriculture and history classes. When I started foreign languages in eighth grade, I looked at the option in our school, Spanish, and was disappointed. It wasn't until my school counselor let me know that Virtual Virginia was an online school that offered regular and AP classes to schools all over Virginia. Unfortunately, nobody in the school had taken the online language classes, so I was their first "guinea pig." It was an interesting experience, but one that I loved! Virtual Virginia has helped gain more confidence on the computer, and now four out of my seven classes are on the computer -- two of them with Virtual Virginia. I feel more comfortable working at my own pace and independently than in "real" (face-to-face) classes. Last year I took my first AP class and was so impressed with how the course was laid and how my teacher really helped me prepare for the AP Exam. I was well rewarded when the letter came telling me I had gotten a four! This is my fourth year taking online classes through Virtual Virginia, and it will not by my last!
Valerie G., AP Environmental Science student	Many interesting classes are not taught at my high school, and it is so great to be able to access them through Virtual Virginia. Not only am I able to see videos, listen to podcasts, and discuss issues with classmates from all over the world, I am also able to see through technology how the things I am being taught apply to life outside the class.
Rachel D., Chinese II student	I have always loved learning, especially languages. My school did not offer Chinese. I started a Mandarin Chinese course online with my friend through Virtual Virginia. Both of us are very happy with the results. We have a wonderful teacher and I feel like I know my classmates even though I have never seen them. This is my second year of online Chinese, and I know that I have learned a lot. This has been a great experience for me, and I would like to say 谢谢 (thank you) to Virtual Virginia and to my teacher.
Sade H., AP Psychology student	This class has helped my education because I've learned things that I did not know before, and I also take this class in the Distance Learning Lab in my school.

Virtual Virginia students share their distance-learning experiences for National Distance Learning Week

Mallory T., Spanish IV student	I've always loved to learn, and wanted to take as many opportunities as possible. When signing up for classes for my junior year, I realized that my schedule could not fit in a Spanish IV class without bumping a class I did not want to lose! Trying to figure out a solution, my guidance counselor recommended that I take Spanish IV through Virtual Virginia online courses. At first, I was overwhelmed. There was NO English at all in the program. It was several levels above anything offered at my school! I was almost worried that I wouldn't make it in this difficult course, but thanks to hard work, practice, an easily accessible online classroom, and a very supportive instructor, I have become one of the most capable Spanish students in my school. I can write and read and even speak Spanish easily, and Virtual Virginia offers me the chance to practice every day! Because of this year, I am eligible to take the AP Spanish course next year. Thank you, Virtual Virginia!
Sarah C., Chinese II student	Virtual Virginia has helped me do things I never thought I could do. Thanks to VVa, I'm excelling in a subject I love with all my heart. With the help of my classmates and loving teacher, I'm really enjoying this year. Thank you Virtual Virginia, for helping me be the best I can.
Brooke A., AP European History student	Taking an AP class through the Virtual Virginia online program has allowed me to expand the learning boundaries of my high school. I'd taken a couple of AP courses in my junior year that my high school offered; and I am taking two AP classes this year through the school, but I was disappointed that my school did not offer AP European History as a class. However, through the Virtual Virginia program, I'm now enrolled in that class and am satisfied that I can now enjoy the class and will be capable to take the exam in May. It also has exposed me to how an online class works, and I am now familiar with its structure and the requirements, and it encourages me to enroll in future online classes if given the opportunity again.
Ethan W., AP U.S. Government student	I live on a farm with my parents and grandparents where I learned to enjoy the little things in life. I do pretty well in school, but we don't have much where I come from. When I was offered to take a government class online, I decided to try it. I have learned a lot from this class: how to study, how to manage my time, and how to do homework. This class has introduced me to people that I have never met before, and I have learned that there are other ways of life besides the country way. Thanks to this class, I am more educated in the ways of our government and I feel that I will be able to make a well-educated decision when I go to the polls and vote.
Alisha G., AP Psychology and World Mythology student	Online learning with Virtual Virginia has greatly helped me in school. It not only offers more classes that my high school doesn't, but it also has taught me to be a more independent learner. Next year when I go to college, I believe I will be okay because of the study habits I have learned while taking AP Psychology and Mythology. Thanks Virtual Virginia!
Glenna D., Latin I student	The distance learning program has allowed me to take classes that are not normally taught at my school. It opens a wider range of possibilities and allows me to prepare better for my college goals. Virtual Virginia has also allowed me to become friends with students of all ages across the state. It certainly shows me how different we all are. I am glad I am involved with the program and plan to stay with it.
Madonna Y., AP European History student	Distance learning has allowed me to take a class that would not have fit on my schedule. I am taking this class outside school hours, and it has really helped me manage time and improve my writing skills. It has also given me a quality understanding of the topic and will be worth college credit.
Holly J., AP Microeconomics student	Virtual Virginia has helped my education by providing me the resources to take courses that are not offered at my school. Living in Southside, Virginia, a common tone throughout education is that Northern Virginia students are better off because they have more opportunities. I was once told by someone that I wouldn't get into the colleges I wanted to because the NoVa kids would be chosen over me. I feel that Virtual Virginia has given me the opportunity to take the same classes that are offered to the rest of the students in the state. When asked by friends and teachers what my senior schedule is, they are often shocked to find out that I am taking four classes with Virtual Virginia. When they ask me why, my response is that these are things that I'm going to have to study in college, so why not get ahead and go in with a basis for what I'm getting ready to spend at least four years studying?

Virtual Virginia celebrates National Distance Learning Week

This week is National Distance Learning Week. Starting Tuesday, Virtual Virginia will celebrate by sharing student comments about their distance-learning experiences. Come back each day this week to find out how distance learning plays a role in students' lives, and how it has influenced their education and goals.

Learn more about National Distance Learning Week.

Virtual Virginia Student Featured At iNacol E-Learning Forum on Capitol Hill

Virtual Virginia (VVa) was pleased to be invited to Capitol Hill last week to share our successes with online learning. The International Association for K12 Online Learning held an E-Learning Forum on October 9 at the U.S. Capitol. The program started with remarks by experts in the field of online learning and included comments by the former governor of West Virginia, Bob Wise, and several congressional staffers. The event also featured a panel of students enrolled in online courses from around the country.

Frank Miller, a senior at Kecoughtan High School, was Virtual Virginia's representative. Frank has taken AP Physics and AP Spanish Language online with VVa. Regular readers of this blog might remember that Frank earned a Gold Award and was also a "Top Scorer: Level 5” on the National Spanish Examination last year. Frank is currently taking AP English Literature and Composition with Virtual Virginia.

iNACOL President and CEO Susan Patrick asks Frank a followup question

The student panel answered questions and explained how they connected with their teachers in their online courses. Miller reported that his AP Spanish course felt like an immersion language experience due to the amount of communication he had with his instructor in Spanish. (Señora Warnick, his instructor for AP Spanish, joined Frank for the event. It was the first time either of them had heard the other person speak English.) Miller also spoke highly of the Elluminate and Wimba tools that we use to facilitate live conversations between students and their teachers.

Students were also asked about the socialization in an online course. Frank described his ability to interact with his fellow Virtual Virginia classmates who live in other countries -- an experience that has broadened his perspective and has allowed him to socialize with a more diverse community.

After Frank spoke, Virtual Virginia was given some time to showcase its courses. Virtual Virginia instructors including Señora Warnick and Chinese instructor, Kong Laoshi (Susan Cox), helped provide information. Quite a few congressional staffers and parents stopped by to ask about our program.

From left to right: Asst. Instructional Supervisor Scott Cloud, Chinese Instructor Susan Cox, Spanish Instructor Sarah Warnick, Frank Anthony Miller, and Frank Alan Miller (Frank's understandably proud father).

Would you like us to speak to your organization about our program?
Email scott.cloud@virtualvirginia.org or call (866) 650-0024.

Le Grand Concours Results

Virtual Virginia students taking our AP French course recently participated in Le Grand Concours.

Eight of our students ranked in the top 20 students taking this exam in Virginia. Huy-Duc Trung was ranked second in Virginia and seventh nationally. Congratulations! We are proud of you.

Pictures of the awards from the National Spanish Exam

Superintendent's Memo Regarding Registration

Superintendent's Memo #124-09 describes registration for Virtual Virginia courses.

Twitter

You can now follow Virtual Virginia on Twitter at http://twitter.com/virtualva.

AP Exam Review Materials Donations Accepted

Virtual Virginia is gratefully accepting donations of AP exam prep books for the courses we offer in order to help build a lending library for our students. You can send your used exam prep books to:

Virginia Department of Education
Virtual Virginia Program
101 N. 14th Street James Monroe Building, Lower Level
Richmond, VA 23219
Attn: Betsy Gragnani

National Latin Exam Honors

Virtual Virginia students who took the recent National Latin Exam earned the following accolades. 4 students earned the Maxima cum laude honor (silver medal & certificate), 11 students earned Magna cum laude certificate, and 16 earned the Cum laude certificate.

National Spanish Examination

The National Spanish Examination scores are in! Virtual Virginia students earned 2 Gold “Oro” Awards, 2 Silver “Plata” Awards, 3 Bronze “Bronce” Awards, and 2 Honorable Mentions “Premios”. A very special congratulations goes out to Frank Miller (AP Spanish Language), who earned one of the Gold Awards and was also a "Top Scorer: Level 5”. Frank won a medal and $100 savings bond. ¡Bien hecho, estudiantes!

Education for a Lifetime: The Early College Scholars Program

The Early College Scholars Program was established by former Governor Mark Warner as part of his “Education for a Lifetime” initiative. The program was designed to allow and encourage public high school students to complete their diploma and concurrently earn up to 15 transferable college credits.

Students who meet the requirements and enroll in the Early College Scholar program are able to take courses through Virtual Virginia free of charge. Additionally, their AP exam fees are reimbursed to their local district, if reimbursement requests are received on time.

The qualifications for the Early College Scholar program are as follows:

• Be a public school student pursuing an Advanced Studies diploma
• Maintain a “B” average
• Plan to complete the equivalent of 15 transferable college credits

Counselors are encouraged to identify students who meet these qualifications early on in the development of their academic program. Students and Parents must sign the Early College Scholar agreement and the school counselor will keep a copy in the students’ cumulative file. Counselors are reminded to make sure their students ECS status is noted when registering students for Virtual Virginia courses.

Virtual Virginia Is Hiring

We currently have openings for Online Instructors for Summer Session 2009 and for the 2009-2010 Academic Session.

Virtual Virginia AP Exam Policy

Virtual Virginia does not require our students to take an AP exam when they take a VVa course; however, we do ask schools to provide the opportunity to take the AP exam. Local school districts may receive AP Exam reimbursement for Early College Scholars who take the AP course through VVa.

Registration Is Open

Registration for the 2009-2010 school year and Summer Session 2009 is officially open.

SREB Recognized Teacher

Virtual Virginia's Spanish Instructor, Sarah Warnick, has been recognized by the Southern Regional Education Board as one of its High-Quality Online Teachers. Congratulations, Sarah!

Virtual Virginia Teachers Featured in Valley Business Front

Virtual Virginia teachers Alan O'Beirne, Brian Mott, Amy Gabriel, and Tom Landon are featured in the March 2009 edition of the Valley Business Front on pages 57 and 58.

Parents get a handbook too? Yes!

Did you know that Virtual Virginia provides a Student and Parent Handbook for our program? It has all kinds of useful information and forms.

Welcome To Our New Blog!

Please check back regularly for updates. Our goal is to share information about Virtual Virginia that may be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders. If you ever have any questions or comments, feel free to direct them to me at scott.cloud@virtualvirginia.org.