What is a VHS NetCourse like?

VHS uses a software package called Desire2Learn to design and deliver our NetCourses. Through Desire2Learn, VHS students can access their courses on any computer with an Internet connection and browser. A Desire2Learn course allows students to post assignments, communicate with their teacher (privately or publicly), participate in on-going discussions, and collaborate on group projects. All of this is done asynchronously (any time, any place) vs. synchronously (same time, same place), so that VHS students anywhere in the world can join the class.

VHS courses are challenging, engaging and interactive. Courses are student centered and collaborative and are facilitated by experienced, certified teachers. VHS courses introduce students to important 21st Century skills using Web 2.0 tools. Our standards based curriculum provides students with opportunities to pursue unique areas of interest while gaining critical thinking and communication skills.

Time to Explore

Click one of the links below to explore a demo VHS NetCourse. Once the video has loaded press play to view the demo. After viewing a demo course, close the window to return here. Have fun!

Navigation

All VHS NetCourses have similar areas that students and teachers move through on any given day.

  • Lessons - an area that contains all course assignments and activities.
  • Discussions - a place where students and teachers go to participate in class discussions. The discussions area is also a place where students can ask questions of their classmates or teacher.
  • Media Center - an area that contains all reference materials for the course.
  • Announcements - a place that highlights posted messages for students to view upon entering a course.
  • Grades - a place where students go to view their grades.
  • Private Threads - each VHS student has a special discussion area where he/she can talk privately with his/her teacher.
  • Teams - as VHS NetCourses are collaborative in nature, group work is completed in this area.
  • Classmates - the area that lists all of the students in a single NetCourse.
  • Teacher Info - this is where students learn information about their VHS teacher.
  • Tools - a feature that includes items such as a Student Manual and a Digital Drop Box (this area is not available in the course demo)

    • To view a tour of the tools listed here please view the following video: How to Navigate in the Desire2Learn (D2L) Platform
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