Online Learning eNews
A Publication of Genesee ISD
Spring has (finally) Sprung!
You will soon find the Summer School catalogs on the GenNET Portal, and will be able to select courses that are adapted for Summer...many with further discounts applied. (For example, most of the Odysseyware courses are only $150, and include a teacher.) In addition, most of our course providers have open enrollment so you will also have their full catalog of course options from which to choose.
Benefits of a Virtual Summer School Program
There are several important features that make virtual Summer School programs attractive to schools.
First, virtual, teacher-led online courses require no advance planning or setup. Teachers are not overloaded trying to plan for Summer school while teaching students during the school year, and schools that provide release time for planning will save money if this is no longer necessary.
Also, the course fee includes the teacher. Many virtual Summer courses are offered at an additional discount, so this is a cost-effective option for any school interested in offering courses over Summer. Keep in mind, too, that a virtual program does not require on-site teachers, administrators, office staff, custodians, etc. The only staff needed is a mentor for the students, who can act as a contact person (via email) and also receive progress and final grade reports.
Finally, because all instruction and grading is included in the course, this is an attractive option for schools that lack the means to offer on-site Summer School for reasons that include teacher shortages or building renovations.
Summer School is Evolving
We have seen many changes with regard to how Summer School is offered, including:
- expansion of course options, to include choices like physical education, health, various electives, etc. in addition to the traditional credit recovery courses
- many schools run a virtual Summer School program using GenNET online courses, which eliminates the requirement of having a building open and staffed through Summer
- schools that charge parents for Summer School are offering the virtual option, and allow parents and students to choose up to two courses, pay in advance, and then we invoice the schools later
- in some cases, a school may have their students taking teacher-led online courses over Summer in classrooms at the school, which allows them to have one staff member in each room (often a classroom teacher, but not required to offer instruction)
As school staff continue to explore ways to enhance or simplify their Summer School programs, GenNET Online Learning staff are here to help!
GenNET Online Learning is also Evolving
We are excited about the new Portal design coming soon for GenNET Online Learning! New features are planned that will simplify the enrollment process, and we'll also be adding some new enhancements (including downloadable teacher PIC reports, for example). In the coming months we will provide updates, but meanwhile we welcome your suggestions. If you have something you'd like to see added or modified on the Portal please send us an email (onlinelearning@geneseeisd.org) or call 888-364-5409. We welcome your ideas!