Online Course FAQs: Schools & Educators
Find the answers to common questions from schools and educators below. Find the FAQ for students and parents by clicking here.
If your question isn’t covered, contact us and we’ll be happy to provide you with any information you need. We’re here for you.
Online Course Model
Q. There are a lot of different models for online courses (fully online, blended, etc). How are these courses designed to work?
A: Our courses are student-centric, thus they provide all the content and directions for students to work through them in a fully online model. They have been successfully used by schools in a variety of online and blended ways, for example:
- Students can work completely remote from a teacher or school
- Students can take courses on a computer at school
- Students can split time between online and face-to-face instruction
Q: Are courses synchronous or asynchronous?
A: All courses are designed to be asynchronous, meaning there is no required live class time. A school that is using their own instructors to teach a course may choose to add synchronous (online or face-to-face) class time requirements if they wish.
Q: Are there any courses that can be used as digital resources for teachers and students?
A: Yes! Carone Learning has a digital library of health and PE resources for elementary, middle school, and high school. This libarary is ideal for blended and remote learning and allows teachers to pick and choose the learning objects they want to assign to students. Let us do the heavy lifting by providing a structured health and PE curriculum that includes the content lessons, assignments, assessments, and even age-appropriate physical skills and activities. In addition to having the flexibility to mix and match content, teachers can add their own resources and assignments.
Instruction
Q: Are the courses supposed to have an instructor?
A: Although students can work through each online course on their own, Carone Learning courses are designed to be facilitated by an online instructor who monitors student progress, grades assignments, and provides qualitative, personalized feedback to students.
Q: Are instructional services provided?
A: In addition to quality content, Carone Learning provides the option to utilize our instructional services with our highly qualified, licensed teachers. Our instructors maintain regular communication with the student, monitor tasks, grade assignments, provide timely feedback, and communicate progress with the student’s counselor or mentor.
Q: If a school uses Carone Learning’s instructional services, is there a way for the school to monitor the students’ progress?
A: Yes. We recommend that each school designates a mentor or counselor that our teachers can contact to relay student progress and concerns. This mentor will receive weekly reports, as well as have access to our student management system to view their students’ progress, including information such as grades, time spent in course, and last login.
Q: Can schools use their own instructors?
A: Yes. Schools have the option of just licensing course content and utilizing their own instructors to facilitate the courses. We recommend that instructors are highly qualified, subject matter experts so they can provide appropriate qualitative feedback. (Note: This option requires a minimum of 30 student licenses).
Q: What are the responsibilities of the teacher?
A: While there are some computer graded quizzes and exams, many of the assignments and fitness logs need to be graded by the teacher. There are also participation grades for discussion boards and journal entries that must be assigned by the teacher. In addition to providing grades and feedback for improvement, teachers are encouraged to monitor the progress of students and pro-actively communicate when students are not logging in or performing poorly.
Q: What training or resources are available for schools who are providing their own instructors?
A: Teacher guides with grading recommendations and rubrics are provided complimentary with each course. Online teacher training is provided as a part of our initial course set up package.
Q: If our school is teaching a Carone Learning course, can teachers make edits or changes to the course?
A: Teachers have some abilities to edit, including re-arranging, hiding, or adding activities and content.
Course Set Up
Q: Our school already uses a learning management system (LMS); can we put these courses on our system?
A: Carone Learning courses are designed to be LMS interoperable, so they can be easily transferred or migrated to other systems. We have worked on LMS such as Buzz, Canvas, Schoology, BrightSpace, Blackboard, Moodle, and more. For schools with no LMS, Carone Learning can host the courses on our Buzz site.
Q: Is there a set schedule students have to follow?
A: A recommended pacing guide is provided in each course. However, there is no set schedule and students can work at their own pace. A school that is using their own instructors has the option to assign due dates if they wish.
Q: How long does each course take to complete?
A: Most Carone Learning courses are designed for a 16-week semester (75-90 hours). However, courses can be taken at an accelerated or flexible pace to adjust to various schedules and student needs. Credit recovery courses are designed to be completed in about 6 weeks.
Q: Is there a drop period?
A: Yes. Carone Learning provides an introductory grace period if students enroll and decide the course is not right for them. Contact us for more information about custom pricing and grace periods.
Q: What is the cost?
A: Pricing varies depending on the volume as well as the services a school is interested in receiving. Contact us to receive a custom quote for your school.
Q: What are the technical requirements?
A: In order to view all course elements and complete assignments, students need the following free downloadable programs:
- PDF reader
- Word-processing program
Q: Are the courses iPad, iPhone, tablet, and device accessible?
A: Yes. Carone Learning courses utilize HTML 5 and are browser and device compatible.
Accreditation and Standards
Q: Is Carone Learning an accredited organization?
A: YES! Carone Learning and Carone Learning Academy are accredited through the Cognia (formerly AdvancED).
Q: How can students receive credit for Carone Learning courses?
A: As an accredited supplemental school, Carone Learning’s Carone Learning Academy can provide a transcript that students can transfer back to their diploma-granting school (for courses that we instruct). Carone Learning can also partner with schools to just provide course content and allow the school to teach. In this case, the school would be responsible to provide credit to students.
Q: Can students earn a diploma entirely through Carone Learning or Carone Learning Academy?
A: No. Carone Learning’s Carone Learning Academy is an accredited institution, but we do not grant diplomas. We offer courses in limited subjects, such as health, PE, elective and CTE courses. Credit for an official Carone Learning Academy transcript can be transferred back to a student’s diploma-granting school via a requested transcript. (Note that credit through Carone Learning Academy is only available when our teachers are instructing the courses).
Q: Do courses align to state and national standards?
A: Yes! Carone Learning courses meet national academic and professional standards, as well as academic learning standards for most states. Additionally, courses address common core standards.
Q: How much credit is each course worth?
A: Each course is about 75-90 hours, equal to one semester credit– 0.5 Carnegie units or 0.5 credits in most states (5 units in CA).
Q: Are courses NCAA approved?
A: NCAA approval only applies to CORE courses. Health, PE, and elective courses are not considered CORE courses and do not require NCAA approval, see NCAA links below.
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/eligibility_center/Quick_Reference_Sheet.pdf
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/eligibility_center/CoreCourseInfo/Core_Course_Definition.pdf
Q: Are there certificates that students can receive for completing Carone Learning’s career courses?
A: Carone Learning provides a certificate of completion for each course, which can be beneficial as students look for related work. However, in some areas it is recommended that students seek certification from the nationally recognized certifying agencies for each area, as noted below.
- The Personal Training course was designed based on the American Council on Exercise (ACE) recommendations for personal training and can be used as a preparatory course for students to take the ACE certification exam.
- The Coaching course is based on NASPE’s National Standards for Sport Coaches, although no specific certificate is required in this field.
- The Sports Officiating course is based on professional best practices. Official certification requirements vary by state.
- The Nursing courses are preparatory to students entering an additional nursing education program or taking a CNA exam (generally some additional hands-on experience is required).
Course Requirements
Q: Are there any textbooks or other materials required?
A: No. Our courses are textbook free! All of the necessary content and information needed to complete a Carone Learning course is included in the course itself. Optional equipment may be purchased for PE courses, such as resistance equipment or fitness tracking watches.
Q: What types of tasks and assignments are required in a Carone Learning course?
A: Within a course, students watch relevant content videos, engage in threaded discussion boards, complete meaningful assignments and journal entries, and participate in tailored physical activity (for PE classes). Additionally, students have section quizzes, unit exams, and comprehensive final exams.
Q: How do the credit recovery courses work?
A: The credit recovery courses were designed for students that have previously taken a course and failed. These courses include all of the same standards-based information. However, they are reduced-workload classes in which students learn or review the necessary information and demonstrate mastery. The PE courses require at least 6 weeks of physical activity as well. The credit recovery courses are designed to be completed in about 6 weeks.
Q: Is there a recommended sequencing for the career courses?
A: Although courses can be taken in any order, we do have a recommended sequencing available here.
Q: How are the Carone Learning courses appropriate for a variety of learners?
A: The Carone Learning courses were designed using sound instructional theory. They are user friendly, easily navigable, and very consistent throughout. In addition, multimedia lessons combine text, pictures, video, and audio to greatly enhance understanding and cater to a variety of learning styles. In addition to aid from a dedicated instructor, students can review the course information as many times as they need. Printable handouts are also available for students.
PE Courses
Q: How does the physical activity component work in the PE courses?
A: Although Carone Learning physical education courses are delivered online, the physical activity required in these courses is anything but virtual! Fitness levels and activity for courses are measured with various pre- and post- fitness assessments. Students are required to keep a detailed log of their weekly fitness activities and to evaluate their progress through periodic evaluations or “Fitness Checkpoints.” Typically, students must complete at least three hours of physical activity per week, including components of cardio, strength, and flexibility training.
In addition to their weekly self-chosen activities, some of the courses include skills assignments in which students practice specific physical skills, then submit video assignments so that the instructor can provide feedback and evaluate competency.
Q: How do you verify that students are actually exercising?
A: Several cross-checks are in place to help verify student activity. Students record their physical activity and heart rate on exercise logs. The instructor communicates with the student regularly to monitor progress. Weekly personal progress reflections and fitness assessments are also used to gauge the accuracy of a student’s fitness log. In addition, the courses require at least one form of external verification. This verification may be provided by a parent, guardian, or supervising adult OR through online-syncing hardware devices, such as Polar Heart Rate Monitors or MOVband activity monitors.
Q: What equipment is required? Do students need to have access to a gym?
A: There are no additional textbooks or equipment required for students to complete the Carone Learning courses. We do recommend that students have access to some exercise equipment when taking a PE course, although it is not required.
With each PE course students have complimentary access to Carone Learning’s Exercise Library resource. Within the library there are dozens of exercises to choose from that require no equipment.
Q: How do students know what exercises to perform in the PE courses?
A: Students are required to participate in a variety of exercises, including cardio, strength, and flexibility (at the high school level). However, within those requirements, students can choose their own exercises. Students looking for further options and instruction can consult the complimentary Carone Learning Exercise Library, which provides instruction, pictures, and video of almost 300 different exercises involving weights, exercise bands, or no equipment whatsoever.
Elementary school students and parents receive access to Carone Learning’s Activity Library, which includes pictures, videos, and instructions for age-appropriate skills, activities, and games.
In some courses (such as group, individual, and dual sports), students may have opportunities to try a variety of activities as specified in the course and complete a corresponding skills assignment and/or report on their experience.
Q: Which physical fitness assessment does Carone Learning use?
A: Carone Learning uses the Presidential Fitness assessment measures as a basis for the required fitness assessments within the PE courses.
Q: Can the Carone Learning courses accommodate students with physical limitations?
A: Because exercise programs can be tailored to meet the needs of each student, the Carone Learning courses are ideal for students of all fitness levels and abilities. Although any of our PE courses can be modified to meet special needs, our Adaptive PE course is designed specifically for students with physical limitations.