Overview
Virtual methods of learning can be great options in many situations:
- When your school doesn't offer the desired course.
- When a course doesn't fit into the schedule.
- When you need an academic challenge.
Watch the video for an overview of what TxVSN is about. (54MB)
MediaPlayer
Get Ready to Start!
1. Explore
It is a good idea to take the "Is Online Learning Right for Me?" survey. This survey is just to help you gauge whether you are a good candidate for online learning. It is for your personal information only.
2. Choose
- Browse the Online Course catalogs.
- Check the course description for important dates.
3. Registration
Contact your Counselor. Your school's Counselor can provide additional information and assistance with the registation procedures and policies for your school.
If the local school is not participating in TxVSN, encourage them to participate. Students should explain that he/she and other students would like to take advantage of the great opportunities afforded by online learning. The local school administrators should be encouraged to visit the Receiver Districts section. Should any questions arise, they should be invited to contact TxVSN.
Start
Improve your chances for success in your online course. Follow these three steps to success!
1. Get oriented.
Take the online orientation tutorial. It will not cover course-specific material; rather it aims at acquainting you with the online instruction process, as well as with possible technological tools used within an TxVSN approved course. This will ensure greater familiarity with what online learning is.
2. Stay organized.
Buy a small binder for your online class and fill it with printouts of your:
- Orientation materials.
- Syllabus.
- Assignments.
- Homework.
- Downloaded reading materials.
3. Ask for help.
Just because your online instructor isn't in the classroom doesn't mean you can't raise your hand. You'll just need to raise it with an email.
General Information
Instructors (Teacher Qualifications):
TxVSN classes are teacher-taught using online tools. Experienced teachers trained within the appropriate field of expertise. Teachers must be certified to teach within the state of Texas. Additionally, TxVSN teachers are required to complete an online professional development course to ensure familiarity with teaching online.
Tuition:
All course fees are paid from the school district directly to TxVSN. TxVSN does not collect fees directly from students or other entities.
Prerequisites for Enrollment:
There is a checklist of prerequisites listed in the course descriptions for each course in the catalog that the student must satisfy prior to enrollment. A student should not enroll in AP Calculus A/B, for example, before he/she has taken Pre-Calculus. Local schools are responsible for checking that course prerequisites have been fulfilled. Check the TxVSN Catalog for course descriptions and prerequisites.
Local Support:
Each participating local school will identify contact people that are responsible for providing TxVSN course services at the local school. TxVSN courses rely on student facilitators to monitor student progress. Student Facilitators are very important to the success of the online student as well as to the communications between the TxVSN instructor, the student and the school.