A virtual taste test of new teaching format

There are some new courses being offered at Whitefish High School this year, but you won't find any teacher making new lesson plans. The teachers of these classes are instructing from classrooms anywhere from Cambridge to Kentucky. The classes are virtual.

Virtual High School, or VHS, is a "global consortium" that provides online opportunities for both middle school and high school students. It offers more than 200 full-semester online courses in arts, business, English language arts, foreign language, life skills, mathematics, science, social studies and technology, as well as a number of full-year advanced placement and semester-long pre-AP classes.

Whitefish High School decided to follow Big Fork High School's lead and try out VHS this year. Four seniors are currently enrolled in a VHS class, as well as one student at the middle school, although next semester the high school is looking into making VHS an opportunity for more students.

Hannah Weaver, one of the four currently enrolled, is taking Number Theory.

"It was my fourth choice for a course out of those listed, but it was an area of mathematics that interested me that is not currently offered at our high school," she said. "I do like it, even though it was designed for advanced middle schoolers. It's pretty basic, with a lot of reading. It is definitely a different way of learning."

One important factor about VHS is that it focuses entirely on student responsibility. VHS students are expected to log in to their courses at least three or four times a week, depending on the class, and complete electronic assignments by the specified due date. In VHS, "classroom" participation is necessary for the continuance of the course.

"You learn how to teach yourself," Weaver said. "There isn't somebody in front of the classroom teaching you. You have to be self-motivated."

When asked whether she preferred a normal classroom to VHS, Weaver said, "By far, yes. In VHS, it isn't so hard to communicate with the teacher, but it is hard to depend on classmates. Interaction is harder. There's a lot of waiting for classmates to respond."

Tyler Schiff, also a senior, is enrolled in Engineering Principles.

"I chose this course because engineering might be my career, and it's cool to learn about the basics before digging in to it," he said. "It's really fun and interesting because I get to deal with people from around the nation. There are so many different perspectives and views, especially with model-making and group designs."

When asked which classroom environment he preferred, Schiff remained undecided.

"In an actual classroom, you get a better perspective and view of the teacher," he said. "But with an online class, you can take it whenever you want. Your homework is done for the week once you have it completed."

VHS doesn't require students to be completely on their own, however. Specified site coordinators at the enrolled student's high school frequently check the student's grades online and ensure the student is participating and completing assignments. Whitefish High School's site coordinator is Matt Holloway, a supporter of this new virtual opportunity for students.

Holloway hopes to make VHS available to more students next semester. For now, Whitefish High School's virtual "taste test" has received fairly high marks.

"Our biggest challenge as educators is to give every child what they specifically need at all points in time," Holloway said. "VHS is good in that it allows opportunities for certain students to take specialized classes that can help prepare them for their specific future. It's yet another way to give students what they individually need."