SOCRATES offers a number of excellent online courses for your high school students facilitated by certified licensed teachers from our region.  Students who want to accelerate their courses or have difficulty arranging a course in their schedule may consider online courses as an alternative. 

State law requires online teachers be licensed in Minnesota in the course they are facilitating.  SOCRATES has trained and certified a group of teachers in most subject areas.  Online courses are available in Business Education, Mathematics, Life and Physical Sciences, Social Studies, and Spanish.  Advanced Placement courses in Biology and American History are also an option.  Teachers of these courses currently work in the Blue Earth, Fairmont, Granada-Huntley-East Chain, or Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial school districts.

The cost of the courses is managed the same as the Interactive Television Program.  A semester course costs $300.  Almost half of that cost pays for the course itself while the remainder pays for the teacher.  Enough students in a course would make it part of the teacher’s work day.

SOCRATES purchases courses from two sources.  Class.com has been marketing courses since 1999.  A list of their courses can be found at class.com .  Apex Learning offers a number of courses including AP Biology and AP American History.  A list of their courses can be found at apexlearning.com.

Students who choose to participate in online courses need to examine their personal skills and aptitudes for taking a class online.  The following attributes will greatly contribute to a student’s success:

• Self-Motivation – Students can direct their own learning environment and methods to fulfill course requirements and achieve individual academic success

• Independent learner – The online environment enables students to learn at their own pace, relieving the stress of feeling rushed or pressured and providing enjoyment in the learning process.

• Computer literate – Although it is not necessary to have advanced computer skills, students should possess a working knowledge of electronic e-mail, the Internet, as well as basic keyboarding skills.

• Time management - Students must be able to organize and plan their best “time to learn.”  There is no one best time for everyone, but the key to learning is to make the time to learn.

• Effective written communication skills – Students must use electronic e-mail and discussion boards

• Personal commitment - Because there are no bells that begin and end classes, students must have a strong desire to learn and achieve knowledge and skills via online courses.  Make a commitment to learn in this manner is a very personal and requires a strong commitment to perform in order to achieve academic success.

For additional information or to order courses, please contact:

Dave Henning, E-Learning Manager, SOCRATES at dhenning@projectsocrates.org or call 507/995-0165.