Online Courses for Acceleration
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Irving ISD offers select courses for credit acceleration to high school students at no charge. If eligible, students may earn initial credit through online instruction with a certified Irving ISD teacher outside of the school day. Courses offered include PE, Government, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, English IV, Art 1, Speech, and Health.
Ideal students for online classes are self motivated and have enough time to devote to the virtual class, usually 4-5 hours per week. Students are limited to one course per semester. If students are interested in taking an online class they should register here. After requesting a course, the school counselor determines if a student is eligible for online classes. If the counselor recommends the student for participation, a student will be enrolled in the course for the semester. All classes begin with an in-person orientation meeting. Classes start in September for the fall semester, January for the spring semester, and June for the summer semester. All students will need to have a permission slip signed by their parent or guardian to be enrolled.
Courses Offered
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Art 1 (1 credit - Fine Arts)
Explore your artistic side as you go hands-on with the basics of traditional art. Try a little of everything, including drawing, painting, clay sculpture, fibers, photography, and digital art. Share
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Foundations of Personal Fitness (1/2 credit)
Your health is important throughout your life. Learn fitness choices that prevent disease and obesity and boost your energy. You'll design a balanced personal fitness plan and use it to exercise 5 hours per week, along with learning to prevent injury and improve nutrition for a healthy, active life. Requirements: Athletic clothing and shoes, access to exercise facility if possible, video and audio recording ability.
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English 4 (Juniors only) (1 credit)
Explore classic and modern literature spanning 1500 years, including drama, poetry, comedy, tragedy, satire, and famous speeches. Discover how recurring themes like social justice and good vs. evil are still relevant to society today. Increase your ability to read and understand the written word, to draw conclusions, and express yourself in writing. Requirements: must be a Junior (11th grade)
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Government (1/2 credit)
How does our nation's government work? How does it affect you, and how can you be an active participant in the process? Learn about different types of government and how ours came to be. As a citizen, it's important to know your legal rights, how laws are created and enforced, and the ways different branches of government are working together all around you. Requirements: completed U.S. History.
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Health (1/2 credit)
Learn to make good decisions that support your physical, mental, and social health. Understand health issues that face our society and strategies to deal with them - from stress and depression to problems like drug abuse and suicide. Explore the role of good nutrition and exercise in preventing disease. Analyze what you eat, conduct interviews, raise awareness of issues, and discuss topics with your peers.
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Professional Communications (1/2 credit)
How well you can communicate affects your academic, professional, and social life. Practice key skills like starting a conversation, listening, persuading, interviewing, and giving presentations. Work solo and in a group. Select business idea from Kickstarter.com and create different types of communication to support it, from print ads to podcasts and more. Requirements: video/audio recording capability.
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Psychology (1/2 credit - elective)
Psychology is a science dedicated to improving people's lives by asking questions like: Why are some people happier than others? Do people ever change, or do they basically stay the same? You'll study consciousness, memory, sleep, dreaming, human development, attitudes, relationships, and anxiety. By the end, you'll better understand why people think, feel, and behave the way they do!
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Sociology (1/2 credit - elective)
Sociology is the study of human society -- groups of people who share a culture. How does the social world around you affect your personal choices? How do people become part of (or deviate from) the culture of their society? Consider issues of social inequality, learn about social institutions (like government, family, religion, and education), and think about how society has changed -- even during your own lifetime. Reliable computer with internet access at home.
