Online School Student View - Connections Academy

[@blondieluvsthis]

Thank you for this video..I have 2 girls that have attended Connections Academy..This past weekend, I have a Daughter that Graduated from there..They Have an Amazing ceremony for the kids..it was beautiful

[@candacemichelle8345]

Anita Wagner would you recommend it? I tried k12 & didn’t like it. I want to become a dentist and need to ge through high school. I just want to know if connections will prepare me for college and such?

[@66spells55]

@@candacemichelle8345 I'm in the program, and I can recommend it. It's a lot better than k12 in my opinion, the teachers are really helpful.

[@Viper75065]

Thank you. This is overwhelming. This was a perfect pov video.

[@takouhiejensen6205]

It's a hard transition. You'll want to extend yourself and your child some grace the first couple of months I you go this route.

[@JustRach.S.]

This is extremely informative. And exactly what I have been searching for! Thank you for posting.

[@takjensen]

Absolutely. Changing schools is a huge commitment and it's nice to have at least one perspective other than the commercials!

[@lizb5854]

very well explained. thank you!!

[@tedh1979]

At 11:49 of your video, I see she got a 0/2 on an essay. The teacher remarked, "I need to know how long each tour is." But the question says, "How many tours are there during that time?" SO, why did she get that wrong? If this is what Connections Academy is all about then maybe I'm not interested. The planner and scheduler looks way too complicated, a disaster. I started watching positive videos on Connections Academy but then I watched some negative videos and it seems that tons of students struggle in this system. My child used to attend private school but she was a Christian attending a Catholic school. She started being made fun of and they also refused to let my daughter participate in religious events and certain things. So, I enrolled her in public school. She has a great teacher and good classmates this year, but she is bullied at recess and next year will be middle school and I've been told that middle school is maximum drama and bullying especially for females. I just want what is best for my daughter but I'm not sure this is it.

[@takjensen]

It is rough. Middle school/Intermediate is when my daughter experienced the most harassment. The other kids in her class were prank calling businesses from their cellphones (while in class), and when my daughter told the teacher, the teacher did nothing. The other kids knew my daughter told, and even they they didn't get disciplined, they still cussed her out in the hall between classes every day. Being home for the summer and the first 6 months of school doing Connections was the emotional break my daughter needed to rebuild herself. My daughter went back to public school a lot stronger - both emotionally and spiritually - with realistic expectation of public school, and has been able to ride out any ugliness she's experienced this year. So, there is that. There is no perfect education system that I've found for us, including home school . Connections does have issues, but I think that if you know that going in, it helps. I was a masters student in Instructional Technology, so for my part I had ideas about the potential of an on-line program. This did NOT meet my expectations at all. It could be so much better if it weren't treated like a business first. At any rate, I think people have a better experience if they know the potential pros and cons and still decide it's worth it for them. That was my goal - to give people some information so they don't go in with rose colored glasses and end up disappointed. I don't regret letting my daughters enroll, but we're all happier with public school right now. We know that because we have something to which we can compare public school. The deterioration of kids behavior is such a complex issue, and the schools' ability to address certain behaviors is becoming more and more limited. I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's experience. I truly hope you're able to find an educational body or system that works for you and your daughter.

[@mia2luv]

I go to Connexus, I believe that the person who said "I need to know how long each tour is." was the student. I may be wrong though but the teacher's feedback is always next to the amount of points shown or at least it is now. I went there for 5 years but I don't completely remember how it was in the past. The teacher explains the answer and the reason why she got a 0/2 would probably be because she didn't know how long the tour is without explaining things. I know your comment is old, but I'm saying this because it may be helpful to other people.^^

[@oriahmendoza4541]

Thank you! This was so helpful!

[@EmeraldPath2]

I'm so new to connection academy. My granddaughter is in 4th grade and this is the first time either of us have done online education. I really need to learn their particular platform. How do have my granddaughter do portfolios, what do I use, what does she use. Any recommendations for programs to use to do the lessons, assessments, and portfolios?

[@Gamerrgirl12380]

Okay I got like three questions 😂 . 1) can it still work if your Internet turns off for a few minutes?. 2) is it easy to get grades back up since they can go down pretty fast. 3) what if you can't attend a graduation ceremony?

[@takjensen]

1. Yes, unless you're trying to do one of the virtual classes with the teacher live. In that was, it would keep dropping you out of the class. When you start, they have you run a test on your internet speed, and if you don't have internet fast enough, you're not allowed to enroll. 2. It can be easy to get your grades back up, yes. 3. You don't have to attend any of the ceremonies or field trips. Those are all optional. My daughter got an award when she finished 5th grade. We didn't attend the ceremony; they mailed her the certificate.

[@ashley46821]

I want to know, can you get a diploma with connections academy?

[@takjensen]

Of course. Each Connection Academy school is connected with a local school district. They follow that school's calendar and curriculum, including graduation requirements. For my children, that meant we were not in our zoned school district, but one that was within an hour of us.

[@leahnielson6447]

What is your experience in comparison to the common complaint that Connections teachers don't seem to actually be following the content in the program, and they may not cover content in their live sessions that is actually useful for tests, or they may make their own tests that are not assessing content the student has read in the online material or textbook? How does this happen? Have you experienced it?

[@takjensen]

I would say my greatest complaint with this was the test covering material that wasn't covered in the online discussions. For one teacher in particular, she would have a lecture and the majority of the test material was actually from the text book. I wasn't a fan of that method! If course, like with any school, you're going to see differences between all the classes because of the human element. People make their own personal choices, even teachers. That happens in a brick and mortar school, but it seemed harder in the online setting for some reason. I felt like you really needed to kiss up to some of the teachers.

[@christinalin9221]

Is there video instructions or explanation on lessons materials or pretty much just reading through pages of texts? It seems to be a lot of reading by yourself and self learning from the sample lessons we see on their website. Can you share your experience? We were in 7A math for summer program and didn’t get much teaching. My son was doing mostly self learning through pages on the lessons. I felt it was very inefficient. Are we missing something on the module? After he submitted his assignments, on the To Do List, it would still say #pending lessons approval. Are we doing something not correctly? We still get weekly report from the teacher though. And the teacher doesn’t mention anything wrong with the progress. Thank you so much for your first hand information!

[@takjensen]

I'll tell you what I remember, but it has been two years. Some classes are more self taught than others, and part of that has to do with the school. Online teachers generally get paid less than teachers at a physical school - which is wrong and just corporate greed! - so I wouldn't expect more from them than you would from a regular teacher. Generally, I'd say expect less from online teachers, but if you feel like you need more feedback, then do reach out to his teacher; that's what they're there for. Better to ask than to be in the dark. Lessons are marked as pending until the teacher corrects them and makes notes. They are usually generous with allowing makeup work or extra credit should something go wrong. My child had a lot of online videos to watch for her math class, and a lot of reading to do with her Earth Science class. It varies across school, subject, grade and so on. Hope this helps, and good luck!!

[@christinalin9221]

takjensen Thank you so much for your prompt reply! How old is your daughter now? Is she not doing Connections Academy anymore?

[@alexpropst7363]

This is aamazing I also have a question - where do you make your students acc, we got accepted and made the parent acc but my kid needs to make his own?

[@takjensen]

Sorry. I don't remember. Connections has a tech support number where they should be able to help you with that. I've use tech support before, they're pretty helpful.

[@leahnielson6447]

Can you also explain the portfolio? Some reviewers say there's so much weight on the portfolio that even if the kid did well on tests, they actually failed the course. I'm assuming the portfolio is all the others stuff...assignments, attendance...?

[@takjensen]

I wish I'd gotten this question awhile ago; it's been two years since we were in classes. Going off of what I remember, the portfolio is like any school project. You need to do research, write a longer paper, create a slide show presentation, same as regular school projects, but they call it a portfolio. That was my general experience. It's hard to say that's always how they do it because each class and teacher is different, but I have had classes as a student where the semester project was weighted more heavily than everything else. (i.e. Fail your science fair project, fail the semester). That's how it goes in some of the classes, but not all. Portfolio examples: write a report about the Industrial Revolution and this is the grade sheet so you meet all the criteria. Another have several choices like; write a poem to the character in this book. Write a song about the story we just read, record it and upload it. It was really varied.

[@Exxieann]

I just started with Connections this year with my 7th grader and we have not one clue on how to start her day.....the main teacher said hundreds of parents are calling asking what's with all these classes and she laughed about it and said ask me if you have any questions.....I don't know how to start her day I don't know how much she is supposed to do a day I don't see any amount set aside for her on a daily basis at all.....can you give me any advice at all?????????

[@takjensen]

You really want to make sure you run the scheduler and then focus on her planner. Don't let the grades freak you out; they are all low the first month or so because it's small assignments and students and coaches are still figuring out how to best study for each section - I'm assuming they haven't changed anything. I don't have access right now because none of my kids are taking through Connections this year, but I hope that helps. Check out my video on the Parent's View for running the scheduler, etc. I know how you feel!.: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIWTioNsm5x7pKc

[@sycohypes4566]

Is there a certain time u have to do your work or can u do it anytime through the day

[@takjensen]

Any time. That flexibility is really nice. However, there are lectures you may need to attend and you have 1-3 chances to view that lecture. It will vary by class. I also should say, I only saw 5th and 6th grade classes. Another grade may be different.

[@megan3588]

Does this program offer a laptop for those who don’t have one?

[@takjensen]

I really don't know. You'll need to call them and ask.

[@ezme07]

Can you do videos over saving work and how to put it in Dropbox

[@takjensen]

I don't work for Connections, so I don't really have those answers. You can call their tech support to get answers to those questions for your specific campus. Good luck this year!

[@MonicaLeader]

Thanks so much that helped

[@marshian__mallow2624]

Do you have pre recorded video lessons and then you just watch the videos and complete excersise's I don't get how this works

[@takjensen]

Sometimes the lesson was prerecorded. They also used sites like BrainPop and KZbin videos to teach certain concepts - mostly Brain Pop at this school. You also had live lectures with maybe 70 students in a virtual room (they use Adobe) and two teachers. One teacher tries to monitor the messages from the students while another is teacher the material, then about half way through they class they may or may not switch. Aside from that, they had online lessons that you would read through. There was the text book, if you chose to use it (sometimes it was required) and a workbook depending on the class.

[@marshian__mallow2624]

@@takjensen thanks

[@marshian__mallow2624]

Also is it available I the uk

[@brysonmyers6839]

Can u do school whenever or is there a set in store. Time u have to do it

[@takjensen]

It depends on the class and the teacher. Some have videos all uploaded for the whole year and you watch them when you want. Others have set lecture times. If you miss the time they record the lectures and there's a place on-line you watch them. Problem is, sometimes you get a grade for logging into a live lesson, and not watching it recorded. There's really no one way they do it. Also, they have classes for normal kids, and classes for kids in training - kids who spend 17 hrs a week practicing an instrument or a sport. There's more flexibility for those kids; but you have to declare you're one of those students when you enroll. Not the simplest answer, but that's how it was when my girls were taking their classes.

[@zainaa3039]

does connections academy allow you to work ahead? or better yet, graduate early?

[@takjensen]

My simple answer is mostly no, but a little yes. There are 3 types of schedules. We did the regular school track. Another is for kids who are training to be professionals - sports, music, etc. where they practice 17 hrs per week. The last type of schedule is for students living abroad. I'm not sure how flexible those schedules are for working ahead. For the regular schedule part of the grade was for attending class lectures. You could work ahead, but then you'd have to back tract to work with the class to keep your grade up. Kind of annoying. So, if you're great learning from a book and you're on a more flexible schedule, who knows? Maybe? You could asked them if there's another way. It probably depends on you're specific charter school.

[@rainmaker5056]

That’s how real school drops your grade

[@echosquest]

Yeah i wasnt sure what she was talking about, there is a reason teachers would say "this project / test is 30% of your grade"

[@takjensen]

Sorry it's taking so long to respond. First, in public school you have busy work, practice, that helps you get a concept down, and you're not really graded on it because it counts as so little of your grade. With on-line, pretty much every little practice counts as a grade. How do you know you're not getting the concept? You get on F on your practice. On-line school kept a constant tally of the grade and sometimes you'd even be in "alarm" if your grade was low. So, even if the practices were only weighted at 5% of your total grade, you'd login and see a 37% until you could take a test that was weighted for more. If you did well on the test, you'd see your grade jump up to an 82%. Still, psychologically, it's hard for kids and parents to log in and see that 37% grade day after day until something bigger came along to raise the grade. They don't have to grade those practices, but they do. They don't have to post the grade every day, but they do. That is different than every public school to which I and my children have been.

[@books7674]

@@takjensen You don't know how much that assignment/test is weighted until after it's graded or complete? Thank you

[@jasm1neburks]

Can you pick advanced or honors classes?

[@takjensen]

This functions as a charter school, with local policy regarding who qualifies for advanced classes. I'm sure it will depend on how your grades are on your transcript from your last school.