How does an online course work?

Students are guided through their courses by certified instructors. Students can work at their own pace at any hour of the day. Instructors evaluate student work, and provide feedback and grades for essays and/or projects, etc. Students and instructors also communicate by phone to check on progress or answer questions.

A few courses are offered as "self-paced" and are designed so a student may move through without the assistance of an instructor. Contact OCPS Virtual Center (see "contact" link above) if you have more questions about the structure of your course.

When do courses start?

Many of our online courses have an open entry/open exit policy which means that a student may enter or leave at any time. Others have a set start and end date. Please see the course information for more details.

Who can take an OCPS course?

OCPS is pleased to welcome and admit students 16 years of age and over of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all classes. Students under the age of 18 will be permitted only with prior consent of a counselor, instructor, and OCPS Virtual staff.

How long do I have to complete a course?

In some courses there is a “Pace” chart which shows a student how many assignments must be done in a certain period of time to complete the course in a semester or year. Other courses are based on the number of hours needed to complete a course. If a student cannot complete a course in a reasonable amount of time, he/she must contact the instructor or school administrator to discuss enrollment options.

How will I know when my course begins?

A student receives a welcome letter by email with the information needed to begin the class. In our instructor-led courses, a teacher may follow-up with a phone call to the student to discuss course details including expectations and any course requirements.

How can I drop a course after I have registered for it?

If you cannot participate in a course, you may receive a tuition refund or transfer to another class if you have not have accessed the class and informed OCPS in writing within 5 business days of the first class meeting. If books and/or material fees are required, they are refunded at the discretion of the vendors.

Credits may be applied toward the cost of any future OCPS Virtual Center course within the same school year as the date of issue. Refunds or transfers will be granted if OCPS Virtual must cancel a class. Refunds are processed the last day of the month only. Sorry, no exceptions.

What Internet Service Provider (ISP) should I use?

High-speed cable access such as “RoadRunner” or “Comcast” is best. As long as you have Internet access, you can take our courses. While it is possible to take courses with dial-up connectivity, it will take a little longer for pages to load. You might want to print a few lessons and work offline. You can then save and upload work when you are finished. If you have questions or need help, please contact eddlemj@ocps.net. Here is a URL to a site listing ISP’s:  http://thelist.internet.com/

What are the hardware and software requirements for OCPS Virtual Center?

PC Requirements:

ü       Pentium II (233 MHz minimum, higher recommended)

ü       Minimum of 3 gig free HDD space

ü       128k Internet connection but a broadband connection is recommended.

ü       Windows 2000, NT, XP

ü       Microsoft Office

ü       256 MB Ram

ü       12x CD-ROM (CD/DVD recommended)

ü       Display setting 1024x768 resolution

ü       Printer required

ü       Internet Explorer (web browsing software); version 6.0 or higher

ü       Flash 7 player

ü       Students need a method to save work to a removable disk

ü       Audio:  Sound card with speakers, microphone or headset (needed in some courses)

ü       NOTE: American Online and KOL are not recommended.

Browser Plug-ins:

ü       Sun Java 1.4.2 JRE or higher

ü       Sun Java 3D 1.3 or higher – Required in some courses

ü       Flash 7.0 or higher

ü       Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher

Macintosh Requirements:

ü       Power Mac G3

ü       OSX

ü       Microsoft Office

ü       Students need a method to save work to a removable disk.

ü       128 MB Ram

ü       Minimum of 3 gig free HDD space

ü       12x CD ROM (CD/DVD recommended)

ü       128k internet connection but a broadband connection is recommended.

ü       Display setting 1024x768 resolution

ü       Printer required

ü       Safari browser

ü       Flash 7 player

ü       Audio: Speakers and microphone or headset (needed in some courses)

ü       NOTE:  American Online and KOL are not recommended.

I am on AOL user. What adjustments will I need to make for my course?

You may need to adjust your AOL settings before registering and taking OCPS courses. After you connect to the Internet, minimize the AOL window before launching Internet Explore 6.0 or higher to access our site. The AOL browser will not work.

Who do I contact about problems?

If you have questions about the content in your course or problems with your computer, contact your instructor.

I live outside the state of Florida. How do I register for OCPS Virtual Center?

Non-Florida residents can enroll in our technical classes but may be required to pay an out-of-state tuition fee. For the GED Preparation course or any of the adult high school credit courses, contact http://www.flvs.net.

I am an Orange County resident; how do I enroll in the OCPS Virtual Center?

For most courses, students should follow the instructions found on the HOME page. For the GED course, students must visit one of our four technical centers (see locations on reinventme.net) to complete an application form and take a test called the TABE. The scores are then faxed to the instructor who will program your studies for maximum success on the GED test.

Where do classes meet?

Classes meet online or in one of our technical or adult education community centers (ACE).