KINGMAN - First Pluto was a planet, then it wasn't. While that may be a problem to correct for classes utilizing textbooks, with Havasuonline it's a simple cut and paste.
The online high school has the flexibility to adapt to the world around it within 24 hours, including its students, said Dodie Gildea, operations manager for Havasuonline.
"There is definitely not a one-size-fits-all for online education," Gildea said.
The Lake Havasu Unified School District member provides a free education for all high school students in Arizona with ongoing enrollment. Lake Havasu City-based institute provides vocational training and preparation for college.
"Basically what we put in their hands is all the tools they need to be successful," Gildea said, "they just have to commit the time."
Students can set their schedules - choosing to finish earlier or taking the maximum 18 weeks.
"Online is not for everyone," Gildea said. "It requires a lot of discipline."
There are more than 80 courses available, with 20 advanced placement classes.
"It definitely creates more flexibility," Gildea said.
To comply with the Arizona Department of Education, each student is required to spend one hour a day for each course Monday through Friday beginning this year. They are also required to submit their hours spent on each course every week for ADE evaluation.
To be considered full-time, students must take at least four classes. The most classes students take during the semester usually is six.
Havasuonline limits each class to 30 people. The fall semester began on Aug. 4, though the online high school has open enrollment.
An average of 10 students a week have been enrolling since August, Gildea said. They provide student orientation every other week.
Straight A's during the year doesn't guarantee a pass in the course, Gildea said. Students must take the final in front of the proctor and have to obtain a 60 percent or higher to pass.
For more about Havasuonline, call (877) 964-7587 or go to www.havasuonlineschool.org.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Article comment by:
Laurel Kornfeld
The real problem here is the blind acceptance of the controversial IAU demotion of Pluto. More than 300 professional astronomers rejected that demotion in a petition that can be found here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/planetprotest/
Teachers and textbooks do students a great disservice by teaching only one point of view in this ongoing debate. What they should be doing, online or off, is teaching the controversy, which includes the fact that many scientists and lay people still view Pluto as a planet, which in fact, it is.
