This fall, the Minnesota Center of Online Learning (MCoOL) will expand its offerings to meet growing demand for high-tech, rigorous virtual education. MCoOL is a free Minnesota public school for grades 7-12 like any other, except for the fact that all classes are conducted online. In fact, it has been "recognized for its reputation as the school of choice for Advanced Placement courses, academic rigor, highly experienced teachers, and commitment to individualized attention to help each student succeed," reports the Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch.
There are many forms of alternative education, virtual classes being only one of them. Offering students other ways to learn is a great idea, but only when executed properly. A quick perusal of the MCoOL website reveals that this particular virtual institution seems well done. And since it offers both full time and part time classes, students can even stay at the traditional school they currently attend but take an AP course that is not offered there. For rural students and others whose schools do not have the resources to provide AP courses or interesting electives, online schools are a great alternative.
Don't try any monkey business, though, since MCoOL makes all its students sign a contract and school work is closely monitored by the staff. To take a look, go here.
