Many of today’s students are choosing to complete school online, but how do we ensure success? At GlobalED, we have found that there is a set of skills that is important to a student’s success. The good news is that we can help them develop these skills along the way! Self-motivation Students need to want to be successful to reach that graduation finish line! At GlobalED Solutions, we understand that even the most self-motivated students occasionally need encouragement to set goals and stay on track. This is why each GlobalED student is assigned a life coach to guide and encourage them. Ability to self-advocate Students at all levels are more successful when they are able to self-advocate.  GlobalED coaches encourage students to ask questions, help them to contact teachers, and help them to take advantage of support services. Self-awareness A successful online student is becoming aware of what works best for them.  They have already determined that they would like to work at their own pace, with the flexibility of online classes.  As they continue, they begin to understand what times of day work best for them, what study environment helps them to focus, and the need to take breaks. Commitment to reading thoroughly Reading skills translate to higher grades and greater success!  At GlobalED, each student is assessed in Reading at the beginning of the school year.  If reading intervention is needed, the student is assigned to a reading program and supported by GlobalED teachers. Time management skills One of the benefits students gain from online school is the ability to manage their own time - a skill that will help them in college, on the job, and in life! It turns out that outstanding online students are outstanding individuals!  They are developing important life skills while completing their classes.  GlobalED coaches, teachers, and support staff are here to help them every step of the way!

During the month of April, many students across the nation will be required to complete state mandated testing and/or College Board tests such as SAT/PSAT. For students in online schools, how can families best ensure that their students are prepared for these high-stakes tests? Keep up with grade level coursework State and national tests are aligned to state and national standards for grade level curriculum. This means that one of the best ways students can make sure they are prepared for these assessments is to be consistently working in their grade level curriculum. Online students do have the flexibility to work on their own schedule and focus on one or two classes at a time. However, the schedule they choose should include consistent work in core content areas like English and Math, especially as testing season approaches. Use practice resources Practice resources are readily available online. Students can see they types of questions they will encounter and can practice answering them. They can even take entire “practice tests”. While focusing all learning efforts on test preparation is not recommended, taking time to try out some practice questions will help students to be more at ease on the day of the test. Practicing in advance also gives them time to discuss with their teachers any questions they don’t understand, because once the actual test begins, they will be on their own. Prepare to use testing technology More and more standardized tests are moving online. Even SAT/PSAT has made the shift to a digital platform for the first time in 2024. Online students are already accustomed to using digital systems and platforms to complete daily assignments, so they should feel comfortable taking their high-stakes tests online as well. However, they may need to check to make sure their device is compatible with the test they will be taking. For instance, for SAT/PSAT, their school will install the testing app, and once it is installed, students can use the app to access practice resources as well.  It is a good idea to practice using the app, as well as any other digital resources that are allowed. For instance, will the student be using an embedded online calculator or a hand-held model?  If so, do they know how to use it to solve difficult math problems? If the student uses accommodations such as text-to-speech, are they going to be comfortable using their headset and the allowable technology on test day? Test preparation does not have to involve hours and hours spent with a tutor, drilling questions or being in a classroom where a teacher “teaches to the test”. It can reflect a more well-rounded approach in which students build confidence in their grade level course work, use practice resources to familiarize themselves with specific tests, and become comfortable with the technology they will be using on test day. This way, the test can truly be an accurate measure of how the student is learning and achieving their academic goals.

Home School or Online School?  What are the differences and how parents can make an informed choice between them. With all the options in education, parents might be confused about the differences between attending online school from home and “home schooling”. The main differences between online school and homeschooling are found in the responsibilities of the parent or guardian.  With online schooling, the school is responsible to the state for meeting mandated education requirements.  With homeschooling, it is the parent or guardian who answers to the state. Online school An online school is simply a school that is administered online. GlobalED Solutions (GES) provides online school. Students are afforded flexibility as to where and when they do their lessons, but they are surrounded by a professional support system. Parent responsibilities are to support and guide, but GES chooses the curriculum, designs lessons, proctors tests, and keeps records. Online school providers have already chosen the curriculum and contracted with certified teachers for every subject. GES has staff and programs for social and emotional support. For students who are eligible for advanced courses, concurrent college enrollment, or certificate programs, there are already experts on staff to support and guide students towards these opportunities. Home schooling Homeschooling places the responsibility on the parent or guardian. The parent is considered the teacher and is responsible to the state for meeting education requirements. Even if a family has purchased a curriculum that is provided online, the parent or guardian is in charge of designing lessons, keeping track of attendance, issuing a diploma, and maintaining records. The quality of the education provided by parents can vary greatly, depending on the background of the parent and the amount of time they have to devote to homeschooling. Homeschooling provides flexibility for the student, just as online school does, and it gives parents more control, but this comes with added responsibility. School is never “one size fits all” Each student is an individual and every family must make their own choice.  Options for education help everyone to improve. Students can have a bright future, whether they are enrolled in a traditional school setting, online education, or homeschooled, but not every student thrives in every environment. Parents need to be informed in order to make the right choice for their student.

GlobalED is helping our students to lead the way in the most exciting and growing career fields!  Our CTE (Career and Technical Education) Pathways allow our students to explore and begin working in careers such as IT (Information Technology), Culinary Arts and Hospitality, Early Childhood Education, Nursing, Entrepreneurship and Small Business! Starting as early as middle school, students can enter a pathway and travel as far as they want to go!  Below is an example of a student path: Middle School A middle school student who shows interest in babysitting can take Family and Consumer Science and also the Red Cross CPR and babysitting certification courses.  With these certificates, the student gains the credibility to begin working at something they enjoy! Early High School A student who wants to further explore this career field can take Child Development, where they learn more about caring for young children.  They can earn an Infant/Newborn Care Specialist Certificate and have even more job opportunities! Taking advantage of GlobalED’s concurrent enrollment program, the student may begin Early Childhood Education courses at their local community college.  In just one semester, the student can earn an entry-level certificate which gives them an advantage finding a job at a preschool or daycare center. Early High School A student may choose to continue at the college and stack up more certifications.  Next they may want to explore Entrepreneurship and Small Business, or learn more about specialities such as Childhood Nutrition or Social and Emotional Learning.  All of the certificates they have earned may prepare them to continue their education at a four-year institution or to open their own business.  The possibilities are endless! Our students are able to leave GlobalEd with much more than a high school diploma!

Learning from home is the new normal for many families. The flexibility of online education is great, but students still need structure and organization to be successful. If your family is taking advantage of online education, you can create an organized learning environment at home for your child. First, consider your child’s working habits. Are they in need of solitude and silence, or do they function better when they are in the center of the home, surrounded by familiar sounds and activities? Next, make sure they have everything they need in their study area: Reliable internet Electrical outlets Computer and charger Mouse, headphones/earbuds, etc. Supportive chair Table/work surface at appropriate height Adequate lighting Notebooks, paper, writing utensils and any class-specific school supplies such as a ruler, protractor, etc. Even though your student is working from home, you may want to keep the school backpack.  This provides a place to put your student’s supplies at the end of each “school day”. This is especially useful if your student uses the kitchen table or other multipurpose area for schoolwork. Backpack or not, you will want to keep all school supplies in one place, such as in a tote or bin, where your student can easily find everything they need. Part of organization is time management. Try to set a consistent schedule that works for your family. This means having specific work times and set breaks. For every 2 hours of work time, your student will need 20 minutes of break time. Online education offers families a break from supplies lists, bell schedules and the carpool lane. Your family has the freedom to make education work for you! All it takes to get started is a little time spent setting up an organized at-home learning environment.

Many students and families got a taste of online school during the Covid-19 pandemic. For some, online education was a positive experience. However, depending on how the local district implemented it, for some students, it was more of a mixed experience. Regardless, many students and families came out of the experience with some misconceptions about online education. Established online education providers like GlobalEd Solutions have been creating and using educational solutions that work for their students for years. These schools and their students did not experience the disruption that traditional schools did during the height of the pandemic. They did not have to suddenly produce a new curriculum and establish new norms for their classes. Their methods are tried and true! Below are some common misconceptions about online school that simply are not true of established online schools. Misconception # 1: There is no contact with teachers or other students Many students picture online school as they perhaps experienced it during a quarantine. They were lonely and isolated. This is simply not the case for regular online school! GlobalEd Solutions offers drop-in education zones where students can interact with other students, get help in their coursework, and meet with their learning coaches. Additionally, teachers are only a click away! Most online teachers are available beyond the hours of a traditional classroom teacher. Students can reach out through many different online platforms, can attend live lesson sessions, and receive tutoring and feedback through video conferencing, chats, or emails. Misconception # 2: Quality is lower and courses are easier Though some students who have never taken a fully online course, may think that the quality of an online course is lower than that of a traditional class, nothing could be further from the truth! Online schools create high quality, standards aligned curriculum. In addition, these courses are taught by fully licensed and credentialed teachers. Just because the curriculum is delivered in a new way, does not mean that it is any less rigorous or effective than curriculum delivered in a traditional classroom. Misconception # 3: There is no time limit for completing courses Because students in online school can generally work at their own pace, some students believe that online classes don’t have deadlines and time limits. This is simply not true. While their daily schedule has more flexibility than that of their traditional peers, online students must turn in assignments on time and finish their coursework in a timely manner. Online school is just as rigorous and effective as traditional education. Some students even find they have better focus without the social distractions of a classroom and they have more direct access to teachers, even outside of traditional hours. Students do have deadlines and time

Chances are, you have heard the term “concurrent enrollment” a time or two.  Governor Polis even declared the week of February 15 - 19 as “Concurrent Enrollment Week” in Colorado!  But what is all of the talk about?  What exactly is concurrent enrollment, why is it important, and how might it benefit our students? What is concurrent enrollment? Concurrent Enrollment is an opportunity for qualified students to attend college classes while still in high school.  These students receive both high school and college credit for those classes.  As the students’ high school provider, GlobalED Solutions covers tuition costs for students that meet college entry requirements.   Students are able to earn credits toward their degree or certificate programs before they graduate high school, and have their tuition paid by GobalED! Why is concurrent enrollment important? “We know three out of four jobs in Colorado are going to require some sort of postsecondary education,” Colorado Department of Education’s website quotes Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes. “That’s almost 3 million future jobs. We want to be sure the K-12 system prepares students as early as possible for that changing workforce. And Concurrent Enrollment courses along with other options such as internships and apprenticeships are great ways for students to get ready for their next steps beyond high school.”  (https://www.cde.state.co.us/node/53921) How can concurrent enrollment benefit our students? Concurrent enrollment helps our students by allowing them to earn dual credit for the college classes they take, meaning they receive both high school and college credit at the same time! This saves them time and allows them to streamline their focus toward their personal goals. Concurrent enrollment also offers significant financial benefits, both in saved tuition costs and in higher earnings potential for our graduates.  No wonder everyone is talking about concurrent enrollment!