FAQ
- General
- Student Experience
- Course Content
- Grades and Attendance
- Course Offerings
- Scheduling
- Outside of School Day/Summer
- Parents
General
General
- What is iChoose?
- Who teaches the online courses through iChoose?
- What type of device do I need?
- What if I need help with technology?
- How are virtual courses different from remote/blended instruction?
What is iChoose?
iChoose is the district’s virtual alternative for many high school credit courses. iChoose began in 2014 providing online CTE courses and expanded to provide online core content shortly after. iChoose is authorized by the Texas Virtual School Network to provide fully online courses taught by Keller ISD teachers. Students may choose to take these online courses in combination with face-to-face classes, creating flexibility in their schedule.
Who teaches the online courses through iChoose?
Keller ISD instructors teach all courses provided by iChoose. Keller online teachers are highly qualified, certified by TEA in the subject area they teach. In addition, Keller online teachers have earned their online teacher certification through an approved TXVSN professional learning provider and remain current through continued professional development.
What type of device do I need?
Students are expected to provide their own technology including a computer, Internet access and headphones. Students must have consistent access to a desktop or laptop computer. If there is difficulty meeting this requirement, students can check out a chromebook at their home campus. When students are in the iChoose Lab at KCAL, they can check out a device for the day.
What if I need help with technology?
How are virtual courses different from remote/blended instruction?
Online instruction are courses developed with the intention for fully online (asynchronous) delivery. The courses are purposely designed for online teaching, incorporating various instructional strategies and educational technologies. The content is designed to allow students to interact with the course content, instructor and other students. iChoose courses are 100% asynchronous.
Remote instruction is transitioning from a course curriculum to an online platform in time of face-to-face class interruptions. This type of instruction tends to use a blend of live teaching and other preferred technology by the instructor.
Student Experience
Student Experience
- What skills or attributes do I need to be successful in the courses?
- Why would I want to take an online class?
- How many hours a day do I need to work on my course?
- Can I work on my virtual courses anytime and anywhere?
- Do I need to work on my virtual learning class each day?
- Can I still take some of my classes at my home campus or KCAL?
- Can I participate in activities on my home campus?
- How will my instructors communicate with me?
- Do I have to attend live lessons?
What skills or attributes do I need to be successful in the courses?
Students who are successful in virtual learning are:
- Independent learners
- Self‐motivated
- Open to suggestions and recommendations from their instructors, parents and mentors
- Comfortable asking for help
- Receptive and open to feedback
- Willing and able to complete all of the work and assessments in the courses
- Able to meet deadlines
All students are welcome to try virtual learning. However, if, during the first 3-4 weeks of instruction, they are not successful, students may receive a schedule change back to face-to-face learning.
Why would I want to take an online class?
How many hours a day do I need to work on my course?
Can I work on my virtual courses anytime and anywhere?
Do I need to work on my virtual learning class each day?
Online courses give you the flexibility to choose how and when you work on your course, but your course is NOT self-paced. All courses include a calendar pacing guide to help students view upcoming due dates. Students are expected to work weekly on their course to ensure completion by the end of the semester.
Can I still take some of my classes at my home campus or KCAL?
Can I participate in activities on my home campus?
How will my instructors communicate with me?
Do I have to attend live lessons?
Course Content
Course Content
- What is the structure of the courses? (types of lessons, assignments, etc.)
- Do the assignments have deadlines?
- Are the courses accelerated?
- What if I need help with the course content?
What is the structure of the courses? (types of lessons, assignments, etc.)
Do the assignments have deadlines?
Are the courses accelerated?
What if I need help with the course content?
Grades and Attendance
Grades and Attendance
- How does attendance work for the courses?
- Does iChoose have a different grading policy from KISD?
- Will a grade from my course be on my transcript and factored in my GPA?
- What happens if I fall behind?
- Will I need to take any of my exams in person?
- Do the iChoose courses count towards UIL or extracurricular eligibility?
How does attendance work for the courses?
Does iChoose have a different grading policy from KISD?
Will a grade from my course be on my transcript and factored in my GPA?
Yes, all iChoose courses are considered high school credit and follow the Keller ISD’s grading guidelines, just like a regular face-to-face class. All semester grades will be on your transcript and count towards your graduation requirements. All grades earned will factor into your GPA following the Keller ISD Board Policy (EIC Local).
What happens if I fall behind?
Will I need to take any of my exams in person?
Do the iChoose courses count towards UIL or extracurricular eligibility?
Yes,unless otherwise stated by Keller ISD as courses that meet exemption status for UIL or extracurricular eligibility. Please refer to the TEA/UIL Side by Side Handbook and your child's campus counselor for exemption guidelines.
Course Offerings
Course Offerings
- What courses are available for my High school student?
- What courses are available for my middle school students?
- What additional courses are available besides those offered through iChoose?
- Can my 6th grader take an online course?
What courses are available for my High school student?
Please review the Catalog of Virtual Learning Courses for the high school credit courses offered.
What courses are available for my middle school students?
Please review the Catalog of Virtual Learning Courses to view the middle school courses offered.
What additional courses are available besides those offered through iChoose?
Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN) is a District approved external provider. Students may take an online course from TxVSN if a course is not offered by the Keller ISD iChoose department. Prior to enrolling through TxVSN, students must visit their counselor to gain written approval for the course.
Can my 6th grader take an online course?
Scheduling
Scheduling
- How do I register?
- Are all classes in KISD offered virtually?
- How many virtual classes can I take at one time?
- Can I take all of my classes virtually?
- How do I drop a course?
How do I register?
Students need to complete the online registration through their home campus. They will also need to complete this, online request form which is processed by the iChoose department. Students can drop and add virtual courses until the end of the first 3 weeks of each semester.
Are all classes in KISD offered virtually?
No, Keller ISD only offers the courses listed on the Catalog of Virtual Learning Courses virtually.
How many virtual classes can I take at one time?
Currently, the state law limits the total number of online courses a student may take in a single year as part of their regular school schedule. In most cases, you may take up to three credits in a full year without any difficulties. In addition, it is possible to take additional classes outside the school day or inside the school day, depending on the specifics of the student schedule. Please see your counselor or Shannon Bryant for help determining the number of courses you may take this year.
Can I take all of my classes virtually?
How do I drop a course?
To drop a course, the parent or guardian should email iChoose Virtual Learning with the student ID, course to be dropped and first/last name. Requests must be directed to iChoose Virtual Learning, as teachers do not have the ability to drop an iChoose course. Drop requests made by phone will not be honored.
Outside of School Day/Summer
Outside of school day/ summer courses
- Do you offer options for outside of the regular school day and summer?
- How many courses can I take outside of school day/ summer?
- Is there a cost/ scholarships?
Do you offer options for outside of the regular school day and summer?
Yes, we offer courses outside of the regular school day and during the summer. Please review the flyer containing information about these courses.
How many courses can I take outside of school day/ summer?
Is there a cost/ scholarships?
Yes, courses taken outside of the regular school day and during the summer are assessed a fee of $175 per half credit hour. For example, if your student plans on taking English IV A and B, then the cost would be $175 For English IV A plus $175 for English IVB for a total of $350. Fees are reduced for students who are on the Free/Reduced Lunch program.
Parents
Parents
How do I become a parent observer for my students' online courses?
iChoose courses taught by Keller ISD teachers are housed within the Canvas LMS. Parents may create an observer account to monitor their child's progress in a course. Here is the link to Keller ISD’s instructions to create a Parent Observer account.