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 | 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 | 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. |
Friday, November 13, 2009
VVa students celebrate final day of National Distance Learning Week
