North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS)
North Carolina Virtual Public School was created to offer students across the state high school courses that their traditional high schools might not be otherwise able to offer. Consequently, all these courses are offered ONLY online. Students must complete an application in order to enroll in NCVPS courses and, of course, must meet eligibility requirements.
All NCVPS online courses will demand self-motivation and organization skills, comfort with technology (in order to download needed information and to upload student work), and ability to communicate with an off-campus instructor (NOT a PHS faculty member) via text, email, or Moodle/ Blackboard.
Consequently, only 11th and 12th graders with a minimum 3.0 GPA OR 10th graders with a minimum 3.5 GPA should apply for these courses. Students must demonstrate success to continue taking online courses.
NCVPS offers AP courses, honors courses, and standard courses.
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY HONORS
Course Offering: Semester for 1 credit
Course Description
This course is designed for the student with a strong background and interest in biological sciences, health care and veterinary medicine. A detailed study of the structure and functioning of the human body provides the framework for this class. Students are expected to complete research and engage in online investigations in this course. Both independent and collaborative anatomy/physiology projects will be expected and will reflect an honors-level. Students should expect to spend a minimum of 1.5 hours per school day during the fall or spring semester or 4 hours per day in the summer session to complete assignments.
Prerequisites
Completion of Honors Biology or Biology (strongly recommend a first-time level 3 or 4 proficiency on the EOC for Biology).
Technical Requirements
Requires access to www.explorelearning.com and Shockwave/Java/Flash for online GIZMO labs; access to www.sasinschools.com and the required plugins (Java, Acrobat Reader, Flash) will be needed. Mozilla Firefox is the preferred browser to avoid technical issues. Also, the computer should be equipped with a media player, Quicktime or VLC to view notes and videos. Headphones are required for notes and other activities if the student is working in a computer lab or group environment. Students should also have access and use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Headset with microphone will be useful (and necessary if in a group environment) for Blackboard Collaborate Classroom sessions and Blackboard IM sessions.
FORENSIC SCIENCE HONORS
Course Offering: Semester for 1 credit
Course Description
Honors Forensic Science is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math focused course that encourages students to apply forensic science techniques to real-world problems. Students utilize 21st Century Learning Skills and technology, to focus on the Grand Challenge of Engineering and the Tools of Scientific Discovery. Forensic science reviews and extends into application several fields of science such as; biology, chemistry, environmental science, anatomy, physiology and physics. The course is rich in exploration and investigation, teaching students to apply the concepts of core science using criminalistics, scientific methodology and technology. This course will focus on the collection and analysis of crime scene evidence (such as serology, toxicology, entomology, odontology and trace evidence), and explore lab analysis techniques (such as chromatography, DNA analysis, fingerprinting, and hair and footprint analysis and facial reconstruction). After successful course completion, students will be able to detect, collect, test, analyze and assess a variety of evidence and explain the significance and science of the evidence to a courtroom.
Prerequisites
Biology and one physical science (chemistry, physical science or physics may be taken concurrently)
Technical Requirements
Forensic Science requires access to www.explorelearning.com and Shockwave/Java/Flash for online GIZMO labs; access to www.sasinschools.com and the required plugins (Java, Acrobat Reader, Flash) will be needed. Students need access to two web browsers: Google Chrome (Windows operating system only, not supporting in Mac OS currently), Internet Explorer, Safari or Mozilla Firefox. Headphones, media player, Quick-time or VLC are required to view videos. Students should also have access to and knowledge in the use of, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint as well as a variety of web tools. Headset with mic needed for Blackboard Collaborate sessions and Blackboard IM App Share.
AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (YEARLONG)
Course Code: 45027X0
Course Level: Advanced Placement
Course Offering: Year-long for 1 credit
Course Description
The purpose of the AP course in Human Geography is to introduce you to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. You will employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. You will also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice. The course aligns with the AP College Board CED for AP Human Geography.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites required for this course, but successful completion of an Honors or AP level Social Studies or English course is recommended. A strong background in Science is also recommended.
JOURNALISM
Course Offering: Semester for 1 credit
Course Description
Journalism students study techniques of journalistic writing, layout, newspaper organization, and American journalistic history. Students also survey the mass media, photography, television, and radio reporting. They are exposed to a variety of articles and genres (features,news, profiles, sports, etc). Because 21st century journalists are entrenched in a multimedia market, we explore a myriad of options for delivering the news.
Course Standards: Because the state of North Carolina did not have standards for Journalism at the time this course was created, this course is aligned to the Indiana Department of Education Journalism Standards. They encompass all information critical for students to successfully mastering an introductory level journalism course. They can be found at http://www.splc.org/jideas/images/indiana_standards.pdf
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, you should be able to do the following:
Identify the contributions of pioneer journalists and will become familiar with the overall history of journalism.
Demonstrate knowledge of the daily newspaper as a news source.
Demonstrate mastery of basic journalistic skills and the terminology of journalism through news writing.
Analyze journalistic devices that influence news makeup and content, such as headlines, photographs, and editorials.
Distinguish between fact and opinion in reporting and in propaganda by comparing articles and editorials.
Identify the limitations and responsibilities of a reporter.
Analyze, criticize, and evaluate all forms of the mass media (newspaper, radio, television, magazines, movies and online media).
Prerequisites
None
LATIN I
Course Offering: Semester and Year-long for 1 credit
Course Description
Latin I is an introduction to the study of the Latin language and Greco-Roman culture. The course encourages students to learn basic functions of the language, become familiar with some elements of the culture, and increase their understanding of English. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills in reading and comprehension of adapted Latin texts. Integration of other disciplines, with special emphasis on English Language Arts, is ongoing throughout the course.
Prerequisites
None
Technical Requirements
Quick-time, Shockwave and Flash need to be installed for videos. Need to have Blackboard Collaborate Rooms setup, Blackboard IM, and a working headset. Firefox is the recommended browser for Mac users.
LATIN II
Course Offering: Semester and Year-long for 1 credit
Course Description
This course continues the study of the Latin language and Greco-Roman culture. Students learn increasingly complex functions of the language, become familiar with an increasing number of elements of the culture, and increase their understanding of English. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills in reading and comprehension of adapted Latin texts. Integration of other disciplines, with special emphasis on English Language Arts, is ongoing throughout the course.
Prerequisites: Latin I or placement test required on school site or with NCVPS world languages instructors (if there is no WL instructor on school site) to evaluate students.
Technical Requirements
Quicktime, Shockwave and Flash need to be installed for videos. Need to have Blackboard Collaborate Rooms setup, Blackboard IM, and a working headset. Firefox is the recommended browser for Mac users.
PSYCHOLOGY
Course Offering: Semester for 1 credit
Course Description
Psychology is designed to engage students in the understanding, articulation, and dissemination of psychology as a science. Students are introduced to psychology with a focus on the scientific study of human development, learning, cognition, biology, society and culture. The course emphasizes the empirical examination of behavior and cognitive processes and offers perspectives that foster students' growth, development, and understanding of cultural diversity. Students of psychology acquire information from a variety of sources, use information as they make decisions and evaluations, solve problems and relate psychology to their personal life.
Prerequisites
None
PSYCHOLOGY HONORS
Course Offering: Semester for 1 credit
Course Description
Psychology is designed to engage students in the understanding, articulation, and dissemination of psychology as a science. Students are introduced to psychology with a focus on the scientific study of human development, learning, cognition, biology, society and culture. The course emphasizes the empirical examination of behavior and cognitive processes and offers perspectives that foster students' growth, development, and understanding of cultural diversity. Students of psychology acquire information from a variety of sources, use information as they make decisions and evaluations,
solve problems and relate psychology to their personal life.
Honors Psychology covers the material in greater complexity, novelty, and pacing. Honors Psychology is distinguished by a difference in the quality of the work expected, not merely an increase in quantity.
Prerequisites
None
AP PSYCHOLOGY
Course Offering: Year-long for 1 credit
Course Description
This is a year-long course that requires a 90-minute daily class amount of time. Also, students need to spend time working at home a minimum of 30 minutes daily on the textbook readings, class discussions, assignments, and tests. Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. It is a science with roots in the fields of biology, philosophy and physiology. The philosophical background causes psychologists to wonder about the behavior and thinking of humans, and the more science-based knowledge allows us to test our hypotheses. This introductory course will expose students to many of the fields of interest within Psychology.
Topics covered will be the more familiar Personality Development, Altered States of Consciousness (sleep, dreams, and hypnosis), Learning, Memory, and Abnormal Behavior. Students will also study the Biological Basis of Behavior, Motivation, Sensation, Perception, Health Psychology and Social Psychology. The methods, including statistics, for completing psychological research will also be introduced in AP Psychology. Students will complete approximately 4 chapters each nine weeks. Assignments will include the completion of study guides, web based simulations, out of class activities, group discussions and experiments. It is expected that the reading and assignments for AP Psychology will take approximately 90 minutes per day, which includes class time. More time will need to be budgeted for special
projects or exams.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisite classes for AP Psychology, though students who have taken regular or Honors Psychology may find themselves slightly more familiar with some topics in AP Psychology. Students must have excellent critical reading skills and a willingness to develop time management strategies. Due to some course material this course may not be suitable for middle school students.
Textbook Recommendations
Course content is built online, and there is no textbook requirement, but it is recommended students have one of the following texts:
Myers’ Psychology - 8th Edition
Myer’s Psychology, 9th AP Edition
Myers' Psychology for AP* - 9th Edition
Myers’ Psychology, 10th Edition
AP Test
Students that take the AP exam for this course are asked to input the NCVPS Code (045) into the ‘Online Provider Code’ found on page 1, item G of the AP answer sheet on the day of testing so that NCVPS may receive a copy of the student's test score results for our records since these scores are needed as part of the accountability piece for NCVPS.