Kodiak Virtual Learning Academy

2023/24 KVLA Course Description Catalog

Course Catalog is being updated to reflect an accurate listing of courses that will be offered through the Kodiak Virtual Learning Academy at KHS. Programs like the AKTEACH Correspondence Program and Rural Schools KVLA may also use this catalog. The courses are for grades 9-12. Please speak with Nicole Fuerst for information on APEX middle school courses.

So, how do students get started?  

1. Students make sure that their iPad’s operating system is up to date. 
2. Students should be sure they are accessing APEXorEdynamic Learning via the application that is directly on their iPad.  
3. Students should also make sure that their Safari settings in “Privacy and Security” have “Prevent All Cross-Site Tracking” and “Block All Cookies” been toggled off (gray). 
4. Students should make sure that they have cleared their browser history. 
5. Then, students can get into APEX andEdynamicLearning and start working in their courses, contacting kodiakvirtuallearningacademy@kibsd.org when they need a test unlocked or have a question about their course. 

Please contact us at 907-302-5734 or kodiakvirtuallearningacademy@kibsd.org if you have any questions. 

If you choose to take an online course this year, it will be your responsibility to make sure that you have:  

1. Your iPad or computer. 
2. Be sure you have access to the following apps or your devices equivalent to them: Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft One Drive, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Calendar, Microsoft Teams, Clips, Edynamic Learning iPad application, APEX Learning iPad application, Safari web browser, Schoology iPad application, and Notability. 
3. Regular Internet Access.
4. Some courses will require textbooks, novels, or support materials. Those items will be provided when possible by the teacher (either through free online links to readings, textbooks, or class novels). 

In the cases of World Language or AP courses the cost of textbooks and support materials is the responsibility of the student and family.   

Requirements:  

1. Maintain appropriate progress.Log into class and work at least 5 hours per week.
2. Share regular progress with parents. 
3. Follow the district’s policy for academic honesty. 
4. Follow the district’s policy for health and safety. 
5. Use the scheduled time in-class to work on your online course. During remote learning or independent study, schedule daily work time (at least one hour) in your Outlook Calendar and log onto the system and work during that scheduled time.
6. Maintain regular (at least monthly) communication with the teacher via email.
7. Keep your iPad applications and iOS up to date. Contact your teacher and the Technology Department immediately if you are unable to access a course or an application does not work correctly on your district iPad or you cannot access your online course.

Maintain appropriate progress.Log into class and work at least 5 hours per week.
Share regular progress with parents. 
Follow the district’s policy for academic honesty. 
Follow the district’s policy for health and safety. 
Use the scheduled time in-class to work on your online course. During remote learning or independent study, schedule daily work time (at least one hour) in your Outlook Calendar and log onto the system and work during that scheduled time.
Maintain regular (at least monthly) communication with the teacher via email.
Keep your iPad applications and iOS up to date. Contact your teacher and the Technology Department immediately if you are unable to access a course or an application does not work correctly on your district iPad or you cannot access your online course.

We would like to welcome you to Semester 1 of independent learning in the 2021-2022 school year! We are so pleased to have you join us in independent study and learning.

Essential Information:

1. If you have questions or need support, email the KVLA Team at: KodiakVirtualLearningAcademy@kibsd.org
2. 9-12th grade, all work, except finals, is due January 14, 2022. No exceptions.
3. To access your classes, log into the Schoology app that is located on your iPad. Do not use ClassLink, as you will not be able to access your course using that application.
4. Notes are REQUIRED. You will see notes assignments appear in all classes for all units by September 30, 2021.
5. Students are expected to complete an orientation unit in their online course before they are granted access to the content.
6. Content access will begin September 7, 2021.
7. If you wish to challenge a course, the challenge application must be completed by September 14, 2021. You can only challenge courses that are on your grade level and in core content areas of: math, language arts, science, and social studies. Your challenge application must also be approved by the KHS administration.
8. Students are expected to bring a charged iPad and earbuds every day.
9. Students are expected to put their phones in the phone holder every day when attending in-person.
10. Announcements and valuable information can be found in Schoology and via email.
11. Should we go to remote learning: there is no broadcast or Teams meeting for Independent Studies courses. The exception to this is French I and French II. More information will be sent out about that later.
12. You are expected to log on and work in your independent studies classes for a minimum of 5 hours a week for each class. Be sure to schedule time to work on the course daily. Remote learning or not, this is the expectation.
13. If you are extending a class, it will take us a few days to enter your previous progress. We thank you in advance for your patience. Please be sure to remind the KVLA team and your counselors that you are extending a course from Summer or Spring learning.
14. If you plagiarize work, you will receive a 0 and we expect you to redo the assignment. You will receive an email and we will contact your parents. If you are caught plagiarizing a third time, the 0s for the assignments will become permanent. This can significantly impact your ability to pass the course. Cite your sources and demonstrate good academic integrity.

We thank you for your patience as everyone is working to get you scheduled in your classes, we are working to transfer your progress information, and we work to be sure the content in your course is as it should be.

Enjoy this journey of independent learning!

Information you should know about the learning experience this year: 

Self-paced online learning means that the teacher does not deliver any direct instruction and all the learning and information will take place in the online class. Students are responsible for focusing on their work in the course.  

If the KHS in-person experience changes to Remote Learning due to KHS becoming a COVID- 19 High Risk environment, not much changes for Virtual Learning Academy students, as they will still be expected to continue work on their courses and to continue to communicate via email with Ms. Fuerst and Ms. Haig and the VLA team when there are questions or support needs.  

While Ms. Fuerst doesn’t have regular virtual office hours, students can contact Ms. Fuerst via email or phone at 907-302-5734 to schedule video conferences and get questions answered during the hours of 8:30am-4:00pm.  

The Virtual Learning Academy does not provide tutoring services but can help students connect with the Alaska Homework Help tutors online.

Students are expected to work a minimum of 5 hours a week on their online courses.  

Students can work at home on their iPads as long if you have internet. Students can also use any computer at home, as long as you have internet access.  

Students are required to take notes this year and have regular notes assignments..  

Students will be working in either Edynamic Learning or APEX.  

These courses are self-paced but students are expected to complete the work for their course(s) by January 18, 2021 and take their final examination by January 22, 2021. The course completion work date of January 18, 2021 is firm because we do need time to grade the work and provide feedback.  

Students who do not complete their within the expected time frame, students will need to pay a $100.00 course cost to recover the course credit.  

Remember that World Language and AP courses have a $300.00 per 0.5 credit educational service cost and AP courses also have book costs. We can speak with Ms. Wagner about resources to assist with the cost of AP courses.  

Students are expected to follow the district academic honesty policy.  

Students must take the final exam in a proctored environment (that may be in the classroom or online as appropriate).  

Students have the right to challenge a course but they can only take the test once, it is given in a standardized testing environment/proctored environment and students must earn an 80% on the test to earn passing credit and can only take the test once. No notes or aids can be used for the test. Students and parents must also sign a behavior contract for students who are challenging a course. Students must complete the course challenge by October 5, 2020. 

There are no course continuation fees this year for traditional content courses due to the challenges presented in doing independent study via remote learning. 

World Language Course Offerings and Fee Information:ASL1A:

No Fee per 0.5 credit

ASL1B: No Fee per 0.5 credit

ASL2A: No Fee per 0.5 credit

ASL2B: No Fee per 0.5 credit

French I (A & B) : No Fee per 0.5 credit

French II (A & B ): $300.00 per 0.5 credit

AP French Language and Culture: $300.00 per 0.5 credit

Spanish I (A & B) : $300.00 per 0.5 credit

Spanish II (A & B) : $300.00 per 0.5 credit

Spanish III (A & B) : $300.00 per 0.5 credit

AP Spanish Language and Culture: $300.00 per 0.5 credit

Those are the only World Language offerings we have this year via Edynamic Learning and APEX. 

Homeschool Introduction PowerPoint with Video

Getting Into Online Courses on a Laptop

Summer Online Learning Courses

Class Registration Form