Guest Blog Re-Post: Keeping The Faith In Summer School

This guest blog entry was originally posted on the Sevenstar Blog and re-posted here.  I have agreed to periodically post these entries over the course of the summer. Comments have been closed on this entry, but if you want to interact with the author please visit the original entry.  As is the tradition at Virtual School Meanderings, this will be the only entry today (minus of course the EDTECH597 entry posted first thing this morning).

Every schoolópublic or privateówill have students fall behind. It is the schools that recognize the problem and find a solution that truly make a difference in education. Traditionally, when students fail a course they are required to recover their credits in summer school. Credit recovery means a student will not fall behind his or her classmates come fall. For too long, Christian schools have either avoided offering summer school or settled for referring students to non-Christian options for credit recovery. In both cases, Christian schools miss out on the opportunity to fulfill their mission with their current students and reach new families with Christian education. It is understandable; summer school is expensive, summer staffing can be difficult to secure, and of course, there is the question of access to adequate facilities during the summer.

A model for a Christian summer school

Summer school instilled with Christian values is about accountability, opportunity, and ministry.

• Accountability. Summer school provides accountability for when a student’s grades do not reach the school’s academic requirements. Through summer school students are allowed to redeem themselves and recover the failed credit.
• Opportunity. Summer school provides an opportunity for some students to get ahead academically. These courses provide a chance for a student to take required courses outside of the school year and grow academically. A Christian summer school provides an opportunity for growth. A school has the opportunity to increase its value to current families and community members by offering additional academic services to its students. Providing such a service may also attract new students, creating the opportunity to build relationships, and result in new enrollments in the school.
• Ministry. At the core of a Christian education is ministry. A Christian school that frames its summer school program with a Christian teaching staff and Christ-centered curriculum not only extends its ministry of Christian education to current students, but also opens the door to connect with new students seeking options for the summer months. A recent survey of Christian schools who partner with Sevenstar showed that 40 percent of summer school students enroll full-time at their school.

The summer school online solution

The pros outweigh the cons when Christian schools offer an online summer school program. Until now, implementing a summer school program has been challenging for Christian schools. Because of staffing, finances, or space concerns, students often are sent to a public summer school. This gap in a Christian education can be filled with online learning. With online learning, Christian schools have found that they can quickly, easily, and cost-effectively deliver a summer school program that raises the academic bar, improves school competitiveness, and expands the ministry of Christian education.

The benefits of online learning for Christian summer school programs

• Online courses require fewer faculty resources.
• Online classes can be taken whenever a student has free time, at home, during school, or on the road.
• Online credit recovery is adaptable. Students will not waste time reviewing skills they have already mastered.
• Online learning now integrates Christian values. As online learning has emerged to prove its need in the classroom, Christian educators have merged faith with this technology.

A Christian School Educator’s Guide to Summer School Online

Online learning can be used to revive or start a summer school program at a Christian school. Learn more about it in our new white paper, Online Opportunities for Christian Schools. Download this free resource for Christian educators using the link below.

Sevenstar Google+

This guest blog entry was originally posted on the Sevenstar Blog and re-posted here. I have agreed to periodically post these entries over the course of the summer. Comments have been closed on this entry, but if you want to interact with the author please visit the original entry.  As is the tradition at Virtual School Meanderings, this will be the only entry today (minus the EDTECH597 entry posted first thing this morning).

Guest Blog Re-Post: 3 Characteristics of Christian Summer Schools that Work

This guest blog entry was originally posted on the Sevenstar Blog and re-posted here. I have agreed to periodically post these entries over the course of the summer. Comments have been closed on this entry, but if you want to interact with the author please visit the original entry. As is the tradition at Virtual School Meanderings, this will be the only entry today.

For a student that failed a course, summer school provides additional resources to recover the lost credits. Every year, Christian schools face the summer school challenge. Summer school programs require financial resources, additional staffing, and time. Many Christian schools opt to send their students to public or charter schools during the summer. It can be difficult to justify spending money on summer school instruction when only a few students need it.

As a Christian school, you made a promise to the parents that send you their children to not only educate them, but to also remain faithful to their Christian values. A Christian school that provides the summer school option fulfills its mission to students and families. Through online learning, Christian schools are provided the unique opportunity to overcome the challenges of a traditional, brick-and-mortar education. Consider these three characteristics of a successful Christian summer school:

1. Flexible Scheduling

For Christian families, summer is a busy time of year. Between family vacations, mission trips, summer jobs and church, a student can find it tough to focus on school. Summer is intended to be a break from the traditional classroom. Online learning puts the classroom at the student’s fingertips. Day or night, weekend or overseas, online learning enables a student to recover lost credits on his or her time. For your students that spend the summer doing missionary work, online learning means they will not miss out on the valuable faith and life skills that can only be experienced in the field. This flexibility in learning extends to teachers. While many online programs provide their own instructional staff to guide students through courses, the option is also available for your staff to instruct the program. The only thing needed is internet access.

2. Comprehensive Course Catalog

Most Christian schools will only have a handful of students requiring summer school, but creating a summer program that meets diverse needs and finding teachers can be a big administrative challenge. Add to the matter that small-sized, instructor-led classes are not financially sustainable, and it is no surprise that most schools offer a limited summer program, if any at all.

Online learning alleviates these strains because its courses do not depend on size or location. It makes far fewer demands on your space and teaching resources than traditional credit recovery methods. With an online learning program with a provider like Sevenstar, students can take any course over the summer. Whether it is advancement, core, or remediation, your students can start any week of the year and certified teachers are available for every subject in our catalog.

3. A Christ-centered curriculum

Selecting an online learning partner does not mean you are giving up on your Christian values. Your school takes spiritual growth as seriously as academic development. Every online course by Sevenstar is biblically-integrated to teach a Christ-centered worldview. Since students engage with online courses without the live guidance of a teacher in a classroom, they may be more susceptible to false beliefs portrayed as fact. Therefore, biblical integration portraying Godís truth is more critical in online courses.

As you build your summer school program, consider all the options and obstacles. Online learning can be tailored to your school, your students and your financial situation.

A Christian School Educatorís Guide to Summer School

When selecting an online program for your summer school, select a partner that shares your Christian values. Online learning can be used to revive or start your summer school. Learn more about it in our new white paper, ìOnline Opportunities for Christian Schools.î Download this free resource for Christian educators using the link below.

// Sevenstar Google+

This guest blog entry was originally posted on the Sevenstar Blog and re-posted here. I have agreed to periodically post these entries over the course of the summer. Comments have been closed on this entry, but if you want to interact with the author please visit the original entry. As is the tradition at Virtual School Meanderings, this will be the only entry today.

Sevenstar Newsletter ★ Stay Current with New Blog Articles

This appeared in my inbox on Wednesday.  Please note that I will be cross-posting some of the blog entries from Sevenstar‘s blog and will also be contributing to it in the coming weeks and months…

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Newsletter Issue 7, No. 4 May, 2013   Online Learning Blog for Christian Educators Subscribe to our New Blog Now you can stay informed and converse with Christian educators who share your interest in online learning. Our new blog will be bristling with: Informative articles from experts Inspiring editorials from thought leaders New videos and guides for online programs Breaking news coverage Do you want our latest posts on your home page, social networks, or RSS reader? Follow or subscribe here:      The Carousel of Progress: Around or Ahead? Technology promises to revolutionize our current educational systems, or so we think. In a recent issue of Educational Leadership, Marc Prensky stated, “In fact, in the 21st century, technology is the key to thinking about and knowing about the world”. Is this healthy? Is this true? Is this Biblical? Should Christian educators embrace or discard this line of reasoning? Are we moving in circles or are we making progress? Watch now to draw your own conclusions on technology. 2013 iNACOL Blended and Online Learning Symposium The Virtual School Symposium is now called the iNACOL Blended and Online Learning Symposium to more accurately reflect the breadth of tracks, sessions, issues, and people represented at each annual conference. The 2013 iNACOL Blended and Online Learning Symposium includes more than 100 sessions with tracks for K-12 online learning, blended learning, and competency-based pathways. October 27-30, 2013 Job Opening – Director of Product Development Sevenstar is seeking a Director of Product Development to help make Disciples of Christ through a global learning community that glorifies God. The Director of Product Development is accountable for the successful development of Sevenstar products. Scott Bane served in this role for seven years and he will be missed. He touched every area of Sevenstar and we thank God for him! Scott is sure this is God’s will for him and we are sure God already has the person in mind for this position. We are excited for Scott’s new direction and what God has in store for him. Devotional – “Why Finish?” For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2b As we near the finish line, it is easy to begin coasting. We drop the intensity. We relax our gait. We begin relying more and more on past momentum. We begin thinking about the rest and relaxation that will be ours on the other side. We are almost there! As we near the finish line, Jesus is still our example. Jesus accomplished much during His earthly life. Look at the people He healed, the dead He raised, the difference He made. But it was the end of His ministry where He displayed the most intensity. It was the days leading toward and including His final act for mankind where He fought the hardest and endured the most. It was in that final act, His death, burial, and resurrection, that He accomplished the task with the greatest eternal significance. While we may have accomplished much over the past several months or years, perhaps it is the next few days or weeks that our lives can accomplish the greatest eternal good. It could be that God’s full purpose will be accomplished in us and through us in the days ahead. It may be that all we have accomplished so far is only leading us to the pinnacle of God’s plan for us right now. Don’t quit yet. Finish strong! Welcome New Partner Schools Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy (VA, USA) Taipei International Christian Academy (Taiwan) Evangelical Christian School (TN, USA) Hampton Park Christian School (SC, USA) Renton Christian School (WA, USA) Danville Christian Academy (KY, USA) Industry News Braun Bill Allows Private-School Online Courses in Washington State On Monday, April 14, 2013 the Washington State House passed Senate Bill 5496, which gives private schools the same ability as public schools to offer online school programs. Erik Konsmo, Head of Renton Christian School in Washington, was present at the signing and helpful in getting this legislation past. Read more Is K–12 Blended Learning Disruptive? An Introduction of the Theory of Hybrids The Clayton Christensen Institute (formerly Innosight Institute) released a study introducing a fundamentally new concept into the world of disruptive innovation: the theory of hybrids. Read More Share this Newsletter

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Sevenstar Newsletter ★ Confront the Unique Challenges of Christian Education

Also from yesterday’s inbox…

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Newsletter Issue 7, No. 3 April, 2013   Online Opportunities for Christian Schools Three Ways Online Education Can Help Christian Schools Fulfill Their Mission Read about three emergent opportunities for Christian school leaders to increase academic competitiveness, without jeopardizing their financial stewardship or commitment to spiritual growth: Credit Recovery Advanced Placement Out-of-Sequence Courses Download Sevenstar’s free white paper, written with expert advice to help you understand what to look for in an online learning partner and the benefits of choosing a partner that shares your Christian mission. Dual Credit News As schools across the country and around the world expand options for high school Juniors and Seniors, Sevenstar is equipping Christian Schools with even more dual credit options. Here are three exciting new developments: Southern Wesleyan University is now offering thirteen new online summer school courses through Sevenstar. Indiana Wesleyan University will offer one new dual credit course through Sevenstar in June. Colorado Christian University now offers college credits to students who complete Sevenstar AP courses. Read the News Release Increasing High School Readiness Are all of your students ready for the rigors of high school? Watch Bob Kraft, VP Sales of Sevenstar, explain how to use an online program to help 8th graders and freshman: • Develop lagging academic skills • Assess student competencies • Prepare students for the best schools • Cultivate thinking and learning strategies The Carousel of Progress: Around or Ahead? Technology promises to revolutionize our current educational systems, or so we think. In a recent issue of Educational Leadership, Marc Prensky stated, “In fact, in the 21st century, technology is the key to thinking about and knowing about the world”. Is this healthy? Is this true? Is this Biblical? Should Christian educators embrace or discard this line of reasoning? Are we moving in circles or are we making progress? You are invited to join this free webcast of the keynote presentation from the Vancouver Symposium. Wed, May 1, 2013 11am-12:30pm (PT) 12-1:30pm (MT) 1-2:30pm (CT) 2-3:30pm (ET) Devotional: Grace and Tolerance “…Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! …don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” – Romans 12:1-3 “You can’t judge me!” It’s the mantra of our generation. Roughly translated, it means: I should be allowed to do whatever I want, and you should accept me and my actions. Taking a stand for truth as a follower of Jesus Christ and demonstrating God’s grace at the same time can be difficult. That’s exactly what this verse addresses. As a recipient of grace, we must realize that God’s grace is abundant and free to everyone. We are not in a position to withhold it, or even taint it. We cannot be unloving toward someone who is bound by their sin. We should always seek to offer God’s grace to others. At the same time, we must always point others to Jesus Christ and the truth He proclaims. We must value the price He paid to offer grace to us. We will not cheapen it by acting as though there is no such thing as sin. Neither can we act as though there are sins for which Jesus’ blood did not fully pay. We must continue to focus on Jesus the standard of truth and the One who died in order to offer God’s grace. In our challenging times where truth is often exchanged for tolerance, it is still God’s grace that makes the difference. Welcome New Partner Schools Genesis Schools (KS, USA) Excel Christian School (NV, USA) Portland Christian School (OR, USA) Thank You Partner Schools Thank you for participating in our annual partner survey. Our leader team and others are reviewing your feedback. We appreciate your thoughts and invite communication anytime we can do things better. We are encouraged that 83% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that Sevenstar provides outstanding online Christian education. Praise to God for His good work:   “We have been able to offer much better support to our student taking online courses, making the success rate higher than last year.”   “I LOVE my partner coach, he is so knowledgeable, sincere and always emails or calls me right away if I ever need anything….The fact that I can sign up students at any time throughout the year is an added benefit!”   Other News Fast Facts about Online Learning A compilation of the latest data concerning online and blended learning, enrollment, access, and courses. Read More Like this Newsletter? Tell a Friend! Your friend could win an iPad for subscribing to this newsletter. The drawing will be on June 1, for new subscribers only. Use our Contact Us form to enter.

Sevenstar   3630 Park 42 Drive Suite 170F    Cincinnati  OH   45241   USA You received this email because you are subscribed to Marketing Information from Sevenstar.

Webcast for 21st Century Christian Educators

From Monday’s inbox…

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Dear Michael, You are invited to a free webcast of the keynote presentation at The Vancouver Symposium on Christian Education for the 21st Century. The Carousel of Progress: Around or Ahead? Technology promises to revolutionize our current educational systems, or so we think. In a recent issue of Educational Leadership, Marc Prensky stated, “In fact, in the 21st century, technology is the key to thinking about and knowing about the world”. Is this healthy? Is this true? Is this Biblical? Should Christian educators embrace or discard this line of reasoning? Technology is certainly moving at full speed in the 21st century. The question remains, however; are we moving in circles or are we making progress? Register:  http://info.sevenstar.org/carousel_of_progress_webcast Recording: The webcast will be recorded and sent to registrants. The Carousel of Progress: Around or Ahead? Dr. Mitchell Salerno Assistant Superintendent The Master’s Academy Date: Wed, May 1, 2013 Time: 11am-12:30pm (PT) 12-1:30pm (MT) 1-2:30pm (CT) 2-3:30pm (ET)

Sevenstar   3630 Park 42 Drive Suite 170F    Cincinnati  OH   45241   USA You received this email because you are subscribed to Marketing Information from Sevenstar. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive.