The Online School for Girls

www.onlineschoolforgirls.org

In 2009, Holton-Arms continued its leadership in technology within the independent school community by co-founding the Online School for Girls, the first and only single-gender online secondary school.  Holton works with great girls' schools around the country to create innovative and thoughtful courses that will challenge students to reach their fullest potential and complement the curriculum offered on campus.

Below, we have included some of the frequently asked questions about the Online School for Girls.  If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact Brad Rathgeber, Holton's Director of Technology and the Online School for Girls President of the Board of Trustees at: brad.rathgeber@holton-arms.edu

Holton-OSG Course Offerings

Holton-OSG Course Registration Form

Why did Holton help to found the Online School for Girls?

With more than one and a half million high school students taking classes online in 2009-2010, we know that online education is an increasing part of the secondary school experience.  But, we did not want to simply offer online classes for its students.  As with the rest of the Holton curriculum, we want our online courses to be best suited to the ways that girls learn best.  There were no schools that were doing this until Holton teamed up with other like-minded schools to create the Online School for Girls.

Holton's membership in the Online School for Girls gives Holton girls a number of advantages:

1)      Expanded Course Offerings.  In the 2010-2011, Holton girls have two more year-long course options and six more semester-long course options through the Online School for Girls; in future years, there will be many more courses available.  In 2010-2011, Holton's curriculum expanded to include the following courses from the Online School for Girls: Genetics, Multivariable Calculus, Graphic Art, Art and Code, AP Computer Science, Women in Art and Literature, Ap Psychology, and Differential Equations.

2)      Expanded Connections.  Holton students will take classes from teachers around the world and with girls around the world with the Online School for Girls.

3)      Increased Flexibility in Scheduling.  Students can take online courses at any time and any place, giving our students more flexibility in their schedules.

4)      Enhanced Learning Opportunities.  With more than four million college students taking classes online, and many masters degree and professional programs online, most (if not all) high school aged students will take an online class in their educational career.  We believe that an outstanding 21^st century education experience should include the ability to take online courses.  Thus, we are proud to offer this innovative and unique experience to our students. 

5)      Targeted Online Learning Experience for Girls.  Unlike other providers of online education, who have created programs for a gender-neutral audience, the Online School for Girls was created for the ways that girls use technology.

What is the philosophy behind the Online School for Girls?

The Online School for Girls inspires girls worldwide to reach their potential by offering exceptional instruction to girls in an online setting. The School aims to challenge girls through vigorous coursework and exposure to new ideas in a fun, engaging, and relevant learning environment.

Guided by current research on how girls learn best, the Online School for Girls has dedicated itself to the following principles:

• Connection: Emphasize connection among participants
• Collaboration: Incorporate collaboration into the learning experience
• Creativity: Inspire and reward creativity
• Application: Engage in real-world problems and applications while having students probe the social and ethical dynamics that define and stretch our global society

What other schools are members in the Online School for Girls?

Westover School (CT), Harpeth Hall School (TN), Laurel School (OH), St. Paul's School for Girls (MD), Hockaday School (TX), St. Mary's Episcopal School (TN), Atlanta Girls' School (GA), and Ellis School (PA).  More schools are affiliated with the Online School for Girls.

Are there any rules for Holton students taking courses with the Online School for Girls?

Holton 11^th and 12^th grade students may take courses as elective courses.  Students who take OSG courses as part of a normal five major course schedule will be able to take the courses covered through their Holton tuition and will have the grade marked on their Holton transcript.  Students who decide to take the course as a sixth major course will have to pay the OSG fee for course enrollment (for 2010-2011, $520 per semester/per course).  If a student applies for and is accepted to take a sixth major course, she will still pay the OSG course fee, but will have the course marked on her Holton transcript.  Students who decide to take a sixth major course through the OSG, but do not get school approval for the course, will have to pay the OSG course fee and will not have the course marked on their transcript (but will receive an additional transcript noting completion of the course from the OSG). 

Are there any special circumstances or guidelines that students and their families should be aware of for Online School for Girls courses?

There are some special circumstances relating to OSG courses that students and parent should be aware of:

• Please note that OSG courses have twenty or fewer students in them, and thus have space limitations.
• Courses are taught by teachers from schools affiliated with the Online School for Girls.  Courses are vetted by administrators from OSG member schools for quality.  The course descriptions below denote the teacher of the course and the “home school” of that teacher. 
• Students are not assigned a “block” in their schedule to complete OSG courses.  Instead, students will have assignments and activities for the online course work to be completed on a weekly basis.
• Because of the nature of the OSG program, there is a separate Student Handbook for students taking OSG courses.  Students and their parents need to read the handbook prior to beginning coursework.
• Because of the number of schools involved, the OSG courses follow a slightly different time-table than other Holton courses.  The fall term begins after Labor Day and ends before winter break (with exams, if there are any) before the break.  The spring term begins mid-January and is completed (including exams) before the AP exams begin in May.
• These courses are best suited for students who are good self-motivators, self-advocates, and work well independently.

What are some of the technologies used by the Online School for Girls for course work?

The School uses the Haiku Learning Management System for coursework, and employs a number of web 2.0 technologies, such as Google Docs, Skype, DimDim, VoiceThread, Youtube, and others.