April 2014

BRANDON SCHOOL DISTRICT-ORTONVILLE, MI

Brandon School District in Ortonville, Michigan offers online classes at school: (article from VHS)

When the Brandon School District opened a virtual school this year, the decision was made to dedicate a computer lab where students could take online classes during the regular school day.

We had done some research of other schools who offer online classes for their students,” said Brandon teacher Brian Moore, who oversees the virtual school. “The general consensus was the students tend to perform better when they have a consistent time and place to take their classes. We have found that to be the case with our students into (the program’s) second semester.”

Most students have a class period built into their schedule for their online classes, Moore said. There are a few outliers who take a class as a seventh hour or at home, but even those students know they have a computer available in the lab if they need it.

Sounds a lot like what we do here at PMHS!

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT through VHS. VLACS or VHS? Alie Wolfe Why did you decide to take an online “I prefer VHS because I enjoy having class? more structured due dates.” Alie is a sophomore at PMHS and is graduating will be graduating in June “I wanted to take an online class of 2016. This year Ali has taken three because it was something new and Do you like your instructors? online classes, Psychology through the school did not offer what I wanted VHS, Physical Science through to take .” “So far I have liked all of my VLACS and Perspectives in Health instructors.” What online program do you prefer, April 2014 Would you be open to taking another sense of independence because I do “My future plans are to attend college online class in the future? them all on my own. in a big city and become a nurse.” “I definitely want to take another “I would be open to taking another Alie is a three-season sport athlete online class because they really allow online class and having the and also maintains a very high GPA. me to go at my own pace and I can experience would make me We hope that Alie will take more go back and look things over and comfortable taking an online class in online classes in the future. over again until I am confident I know college.” the material. They also give me a What are your future plans? Student Biography April 2014