Requirements:

Each Best Practices course is six (6) weeks long and is taken entirely over the Internet. Courses move forward on a weekly schedule and require approximately 7-8 hours per week in class with additional time spent working with new tools and applying these tools to the classroom.

Best Practices courses can be taken independently or in sequence, with the exception of the "Becoming an Online Teacher" capstone course. To take the capstone course, you must first successfully complete the other four courses within the Best Practices course series.

Graduate Credits:

Each Best Practices course is eligible for three graduate credits, for an additional fee, from either Plymouth State University, Framingham State College, or Northwest Nazarene College. If you elect to take the course series as part of the certificate program described below, credits must be taken through Plymouth State University.

Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning:

Virtual High School has partnered with Plymouth State University's College of Graduate Studies to offer a graduate certificate focused on online teaching and learning. The certificate program meets the needs of teachers who are new to integrating technology into the classroom and those who want to incorporate cutting edge technology. The certificate consists of our five Best Practices courses. All candidates earning a certificate in online teaching and learning will be able to use the Internet in instruction efficiently and effectively to develop student-centered, project based learning that supports the development of 21st century skills. This five-course certificate sequence may be incorporated into a self-designed master of education degree at PSU: