A Westfall Education Wherever You Are
A Westfall Education Wherever You Are
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The Westfall Digital Academy provides an opportunity for students at Westfall High School and Westfall Middle School to receive an online education from highly qualified Westfall teachers using Apex Learning, iCEV, and Google Classroom. By using these familiar platforms, facilitated by our community of teachers, students get a personalized experience in a virtual setting. This flexible option allows for ongoing collaboration, interaction, and consistent feedback at each step of the learning process.
The Westfall Digital Academy provides an opportunity for students at Westfall High School and Westfall Middle School to receive an online education from highly qualified Westfall teachers using Apex Learning, iCEV, and Google Classroom. By using these familiar platforms, facilitated by our community of teachers, students get a personalized experience in a virtual setting. This flexible option allows for ongoing collaboration, interaction, and consistent feedback at each step of the learning process.
All students interested in the Westfall Digital Academy must apply and be approved by the application deadline. Only approved applicants will have access to the online options. Students who are not approved must report to school under the district's attendance policies. Students enrolling full-time in the Westfall Digital Academy are doing so for the full length of the 2021-2022 school year.
All students interested in the Westfall Digital Academy must apply and be approved by the application deadline. Only approved applicants will have access to the online options. Students who are not approved must report to school under the district's attendance policies. Students enrolling full-time in the Westfall Digital Academy are doing so for the full length of the 2021-2022 school year.
All of the courses offered through the Westfall Digital Academy are designed to offer students flexibility and opportunities to decide when and how they learn. Students may elect to take the majority of their core classes online. Students may also opt to only take one online course because it wouldn't fit into their traditional schedule. Students need to keep in mind that the courses are not necessarily written by Westfall staff. Most will be facilitated using Apex Learning's online platform.
It is important for students and parents to understand that the courses are primarily self-directed and self paced. Teachers have dedicated office hours for specific questions and feedback. Students are encouraged to engage in their courses during regular school hours. This will allow them to have as much interaction with teachers and classmates as possible.
Students who elect to enroll in the Westfall Digital Academy will still remain connected to the high school. Support, such as counselors, career advising, extra curriculars, and clubs will be available.
Many courses in grades 6-12 are offered online. However, before making this important decision, be sure to check which classes are offered through the Westfall Digital Academy. Not all in-person classes, such as gifted, high school honors/AP, CCP, and some electives, are offered in the Westfall Digital Academy. You may still be required to take some in-person courses in order to meet graduation requirements.
Is Online the Right Choice?
Is Online the Right Choice?
Online courses offer many benefits to students. These courses offer more flexibility than what can be found in a traditional classroom. The education that students receive in Westfall’s online courses aligns with what they would receive in a classroom since all of our courses are designed and taught by our own high-quality Westfall teachers. Many students experience a great deal of success with online courses. But, online courses are not the best educational fit for every student. Understanding the expectations and commitment required to be successful in an online course are important for any student and parent.
What types of students take online courses?
What types of students take online courses?
Students/families who are…
Looking for an alternative to the classroom environment during the COVID pandemic
In need of a more personalized path with flexible pacing
Independent, interested, and inquisitive
Self-motivated
Coping with physical or mental health issues and need flexibility with attendance. Please note that Westfall will need a script/or confirmation from a licensed medical professional (general practitioner, mental health counselor, etc) stating that it is in the best interest of the student or is part of their treatment plan to complete school work in the least restrictive setting.
Aspiring to be professional athletes, musicians, or artists
Desiring to enter the workforce early
Looking to supplement a full schedule and want to earn additional credits
Interested in learning more about a specific topic (ex: science) to be more prepared in college
Needing to recover credits to stay on track for graduation
Pregnant or who are parents
Planning to graduate early
Traveling
What does it take to be successful as an online student?
What does it take to be successful as an online student?
Two key advantages of online learning are flexibility and convenience. But online learning is a lot more challenging than it may seem.
Are you considering taking some or all of your courses online? Good for you!
But first, make sure you're ready to succeed. Online learning can sound so wonderful that some students start with an unrealistic vision. In reality, online courses require just as much, if not more, time and energy as traditional classroom courses. It also requires specific computer skills and learning strategies in order to succeed.
To see if you're ready, see how many items of the following skills you have:
1. Persistence
1. Persistence
Persistence is perhaps the biggest key to success in online learning. Students who succeed are those who are willing to tolerate technical problems, seek help when needed, work daily on every class, and persist through challenges.
When you run into a challenge, keep trying and ask for help.
Set up a manageable study schedule for yourself and stick to it. Students who succeed are those who log in and make progress every day. This is especially important after the novelty of going to school online starts to wear off!
2. Effective Time-Management Skills
2. Effective Time-Management Skills
You must be able to manage your time well. Most courses are not taught in real time. There are no set times for classes.
This flexibility is one of the great benefits of online learning. It can also be a drawback for a student who procrastinates, is unable to stick to a routine study schedule, or is not able to complete assignments without daily reminders from a teacher.
Effective time-management skills don't just happen. They have to be learned. Once you do, they will benefit you throughout your life. Follow the tips below to develop yours:
Review the syllabus or course outline for each of your courses. Develop a long-term plan for completing your major assignments.
Make a daily "To Do" list. Have fun checking things off the list as you complete them.
It takes time to develop good habits, but you'll gain satisfaction from being well-organized and accomplishing your tasks.
3. Effective and Appropriate Communication Skills
3. Effective and Appropriate Communication Skills
Communication skills are vital in online learning because students must seek help when they need it. Teachers are willing to help students, but they are unable to pick up on non-verbal cues, such as a look of confusion on a student's face. Follow these tips:
Use the tools provided by the school to communicate with your teachers. Many online schools and programs provide several ways for students and/or parents to communicate with teachers and staff. These might include e-mail, discussion groups, chat room office hours, cell phones, and even text messaging. Teachers and staff want to help you to succeed in your classes and will answer your questions. It may feel awkward to talk with your teachers this way, but don't worry. If your teacher has chat room or cell phone office hours, don't be shy about using those tools to communicate with your teacher.
Use appropriate style and language for school. When communicating with teachers and other staff, you should write in full, grammatically correct sentences and with a respectful tone. Many students are used to a very informal style of writing in chat rooms, blogs, text messages, and so forth.
Because of the distance, it's tempting for some students to say things out of anger or frustration that they would never say to a teacher in person. Online teachers are professionals. Treat them with respect and courtesy.
4. Basic Technical Skills
4. Basic Technical Skills
Online learners need basic technical skills to succeed. These include the ability to create new documents, use a word processing program, navigate the Internet, and download software.
Most online schools have new student orientation programs. These teach students how to use the school's learning management system and other online tools, but they typically don't cover the basics.
If you lack basic computer skills, you may want to find an online tutorial.
5. Reading and Writing Skills
5. Reading and Writing Skills
Reading and writing are the main ways you'll communicate in an online class. Although some hard copies of textbooks might be required, you should be comfortable reading a lot of documents on a computer screen and able to type.
Some tests and quizzes have multiple choice questions, but many of your assignments will involve writing short or long answers.
If you type less than 25-30 words per minute, it may be worth completing a typing software program before beginning online classes.
6. Motivation and Independence
6. Motivation and Independence
To be successful, an online student has to want to succeed. Online learning requires independence, internal motivation, responsibility, and a certain level of maturity.
Have you given some thought to your own personal reasons for attending school?
Are you determined and self-motivated to succeed in school?
There are many worthwhile reasons to work hard in school. You might want a greater level of personal satisfaction with your future career. Or perhaps it's personal pride in your accomplishments. Or maybe you are seeking a wider range of opportunities available to you with higher education or a higher income.
7. A Good Study Environment
7. A Good Study Environment
Another critical component of academic success is a good study environment.
Get some peace and quiet. You will need a quiet place to work without distractions from things like television, family, or roommates.
Avoid games. Consider uninstalling any computer games to avoid temptation. Or keep the games on a different computer in the house.
Turn off your cell phone. Let friends and family members know the hours that you will be "at" school.
Beware surfing the black hole of the Internet. It is easy to lose track of the time as you wander from site to site.
Consider ergonomics. Adjust the height of your chair, keyboard, and screen so that you are comfortable. Forearms and thighs should be level and parallel to the floor. Wrists should not be bent while typing.
Set up good lighting and comfortable seating. Lighting in the room should be at least as bright as the computer screen to avoid eye strain.
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