Like college

Our courses run on a traditional semester-based schedule utilizing the type of platform and online format that students might expect to experience in college. They are flexible in design so students can complete their AVLI work around their existing school and extra-curricular schedules.

Here are some important points about the AVLI experience:

We value your time and try to use it well. Our courses require as much time as any other course. If you add up the time you spend in class, doing homework, and studying for any given course, that’s about how much time each week your AVLI course will require. Obviously, higher-level courses like AP courses require more time just like they would in your face-to-face school. Generally, this falls into the range of 5-7 hours per week.

Attendance matters. You can’t skip weeks in an AVLI course just like you can’t skip weeks at your face-to-face school. Teachers monitor attendance and assignment submissions so consistent engagement matters.

Variety in course styles. AVLI courses are largely asynchronous, teacher-led, and cohort-based. These are important distinctions that warrant careful explanation.

• Asynchronous: While each course will offer one synchronous (i.e. “live”) online meeting per week lasting about an hour in length, course tasks and activities are mostly asynchronous. So beyond this one hour of synchronous time, this means that students do not have to be present online at a certain time each day. Courses often use learning activities such as instructional videos, discussion boards, readings, and assignments, students usually complete the majority of these independently with the teacher always available for support.

• Teacher-led and cohort-based: While students often work quite independently, our courses are not considered “independent” or “self-paced” courses. Our teachers design their course materials, set the course schedule, work closely with students to facilitate and monitor their progress, and support the building of a community among the class cohort. Learning tasks are assigned deadlines throughout each week to which students are expected to adhere

You are not alone.

Your classmates will be young men and women from other schools across North America.  It is the shared responsibility of all the class’ participants, both students and teacher, to build a rich learning community. Your support system can extend beyond the course as well, and at AVLI we believe in helping you build and maintain that structure. Because students perform better when their experience occurs as part of a supportive environment, regular communication is sent to students, parents, and schools regarding student progress.