The goal of this course is to broaden the knowledge of homeschooling (also known as home education), distance learning, independent study, or alternative schooling. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from the textbook, information presented, the articles read, videos, and also from the experiences of others. At the end of the course participants should have a breadth of knowledge and experience to give them a strong foundation in the area of home education in order to then share that knowledge with others and apply it in their own lives and careers in education. The course will also cover topics such as personalized learning approaches, college and career planning, success in high school, learning styles and teaching styles, as well as, learn how to support students through distance learning and align learning with standards.
Number of Units: 3.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours
Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for any teacher who works with homeschooled or alternative/independent study students, program coordinators or directors of alternative education, teachers who are temporarily serving students at home/virtually, homeschool parents, administrators, and anyone who works with the homeschool or alternative education groups.
Course Materials: Text, The Everything Guide to Homeschooling by Sherri Linsenbach available at Amazon.com or your local bookstore
Technical Requirements
Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, which includes directions on how to access the Online Orientation and your online course.
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Online fixed-date courses are delivered virtually but follow a predetermined schedule, requiring students to complete assignments, participate in discussions, and take assessments by specific deadlines—much like a traditional classroom. The key difference is that while traditional courses are conducted in person at set times and locations, online fixed-date courses allow students to engage remotely, offering more flexibility in where they learn while preserving structure and accountability through fixed timelines. (Note: Any scheduled Zoom sessions will be outlined on the class schedule.) These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Instructor feedback is shared along with the graded assignments.
How is the learning structured? Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
• Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
• Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
• Assignments with due dates (which may include: written assignments, journal entries, research, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
• Discussion forum where you answer prompts from the instructor and interact with your classmates.
• Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.
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