Learning Experiences (classes): Simply put, a learning experience is a grouping of learning targets (standards) and content that a student will work through to receive credit. At Messalonskee, students generally have the option to take two types of learning experiences: Courses & Seminars. Both courses and seminars count toward content-area credit for graduation and both provide varying degrees of rigor based on their makeup.
Course: A course is a grouping of learning targets and learning expectations. Courses are not defined by seat time alone, but do require students to work through learning targets while covering a predetermined amount of content. A student is expected to apply prior learning to the unique context(s) of the course as well as meet the expectations within that course.
Seminar: A seminar is similar to a course in that it is built upon a predetermined set of learning expectations and is not bound by seat time alone for completion. A seminar is generally designed around fewer learning goals, is shorter in expected duration, is built on the principle of integrated learning (cross-content) and is tailored to the needs and interests of students. Some seminars are highly rigorous: ie. Limnology
Credit Value (Although not bound by time, courses and seminars duration & credits generally fall into the following values below)
2 credits: Year Long Course (generally only AP Classes)
1 credit: Semester Course (most MHS classes)
.5 credit: Qtr. Course
.5 credits: Seminar