Quick links Frequently Asked QuestionsGetting HelpHow do I get help from DESK teachers with my studies if I need it?What is the role of the teacher in DESK's program?What is the role of the parent in DESK's program?What is the role of the student in DESK's program?Student LifeHow long does it usually take to complete a DESK course?What are some ‘helpful hints’ to successfully completing my DESK program?Won’t I get lonely if I don’t go to school everyday?EnrollingCan I start a DESK course anytime during the school year?Does it cost money to take DESK courses?Can I still do DESK courses if I am going to school at my neighborhood school?Can I do some of my DESK courses “on line”?What are some advantages of enrolling at DESK for me?Courses and CreditsWhat about my elective classes?Do I write Provincial Exams if I take courses through DESK?AnswersGetting HelpHow do I get help from DESK teachers with my studies if I need it?DESK has many options available for our students when they need help or direction with their academic program. First, there is our toll-free telephone number that is supplied to every DESK student when they register. Students often use this number to call to get in touch with their teachers during the school day. You can also leave them voice messages if you need to call outside school hours. Secondly, if you sign up for a full program with DESK, you receive an email account from DESK that you can use to contact your teachers at a moments notice! This email account contains the contact email accounts for all of your DESK teachers, is private and used often to ask specific (what does this mean on p.27?) or general (have you marked my section 2 assignment) questions. Many DESK students use this email connection everyday. Lastly, DESK teachers mark your academic assignments very thoroughly giving you tons of feedback, examples and suggestions about how to improve your skills in your courses. What is the role of the teacher in DESK's program?DESK teachers have years of distributed learning experience and excellent communication skills. Their role is to to ensure regular communication with the student and home facilitator, where appropriate and provide feedback to enhance student progress. Teachers also assess student progress through the marking of assignments and tests, and report regularly to students and parents through formal and informal reporting process. In many cases, teachers also provide opportunities for student participation in group activities, both online and in face to face settings. What is the role of the parent in DESK's program?Parents can help ensure their child is successful by ensuring a quiet space is provided and helping the student to establish a learning schedule and routine for regular completion and submission of assignments. Particularly for younger students, it is also helpful to guide the lessons daily, clarify directions, and encourage good work habits. In activities involving writing, it is useful to reinforce the importance of the process of creating drafts, editing, and proofreading rather than the final product. What is the role of the student in DESK's program?Successful DESK students of any age understand the importance of education and the role of their parents and teachers in their learning. Younger students, of course, have a greater reliance on their parents than do older students, but in ideal scenarios, all students find ways to access support of the adults in their lives. It is very helpful for students to be independent and self-directed, but these are not requirements for success. For older students in particular, it is also helpful to have good reading skills and a facility with computer technology. Student LifeHow long does it usually take to complete a DESK course?Student registration is good for a year and the average time to finish a course, depending on the course, is 90 to 120 hours. This may be 'spread out' as the student sees fit. If more time is needed a course may be extended. Your DESK teachers may direct you towards a 'best practices' appraoch and may suggest a schedule for you. One of the benefits of completing course work through DESK is flexible time lines to fit your schedule. You can work as quickly or slowly as you need, to understand the course content, possibly pursue a passion, and achieve the grades you want. What are some ‘helpful hints’ to successfully completing my DESK program?The most successful DESK students have a daily study schedule that they stick with to achieve their own, personal educational goals over the long run. They motivate themselves, with the help of their parents and DESK teachers, to consistently complete their assignments and send work in on a regular basis. They make both short term (“I will complete module 2 by Friday”) and long term (“I will complete my Spanish course by Christmas break”) goals and frequently write these goals down on a schedule so they can easily chart their progress towards them. Successful DESK students have the maturity and ‘drive’ to overcome all of the ‘temptations’ of working at home (the telephone, TV, chat rooms and such) and stay focused on completing their education. They know and use the many supports (e-mails and telephone contact with their DESK teachers, helpline phone calls, asking a friend/parent for help, etc,) at their disposal to quickly solve problems or ask for help if/when they get ‘stuck’ in a section of their work so that they don’t lose the motivation to keep working! Won’t I get lonely if I don’t go to school everyday?Successful DESK students have a variety of community supports and activities that they keep involved in so that they can see friends and make new ones! They are, for example, taking karate or singing in a community choir. DESK students ‘socialize’ in their communities and stay connected to friends outside of the regular school building on a regular basis. DESK teachers also organize ‘school events’, such as ski days and get-togethers in your area so that you can meet other DESK classmates as well. Your DESK teachers will give you a schedule of these events so you may attend them. Many students are now connecting through the internet DESK 'chat rooms' and have a 'provincial community'. EnrollingCan I start a DESK course anytime during the school year?Yes! DESK programs may be started at any time during the year, even during the summer! For elementary (K-7)and junior secondary students (grades 8-9), in conjunction with their school, and senior secondary students (grades 10-12), you can ‘pick up’ courses when your personal schedule allows you to do so. You have an entire year to finish them. Does it cost money to take DESK courses?No! DESK courses are FREE to any resident of British Columbia, be they in school, out of school, graduated or not. K-9 students' schools will pay a fee. REFUNDABLE deposits for resources and materials may be required and may vary from course to course. When you finish your course work, return the resources, and receive the deposits back in full! Can I still do DESK courses if I am going to school at my neighborhood school?Yes! You may choose to complete courses through DESK at any time, for many reasons. Maybe your school doesn’t offer the course you want to take or perhaps you: * want to take a course offered in your school, but can’t fit it into your timetable. *just want to work more quickly or slowly through a course and want the flexibility to do so. * have a conflict with a teacher * are traveling * want to take a course not offered by your school * other ...? Students, already attending their neighborhood school, need to ask your school counselor or Principal to register you with DESK (after you have talked to your parents) in the course(s) you wish to take. This applies through K up to the end of grade 9. (A fee may be applied to the school) Note: Some students may want to take senior high school courses while attending their neighbourhood elementary school. Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 may take DESK courses at any time. It is polite to inform your school that you are doing so but it is not required. All DESK courses are free to all students! If you require resources/books from DESK for your course(s) you may need to pay a refundable deposit. Can I do some of my DESK courses “on line”?Yes! More and more DESK courses for all grades are available on-line or are CD-ROM based courses. Check this website or phone or email a DESK teacher/counselor today to find out which courses are available to you electronically. What are some advantages of enrolling at DESK for me?One of the most often quoted (from students like you!) advantages of enrolling in DESK is the ability to do school work on your own schedule at your own pace. DESK students enjoy the flexibility of setting their own school hours based upon their own knowledge of when and how they study best! Some like to start ‘school’ at noon, while others work early in the morning. Some students work on specific subjects in the morning and different ones in the evening. Other students set a date for when they want to complete one subject, and only work on that subject until it is completed. There really is no 'wrong' way for you to schedule your academic studies with DESK, as long as you are getting your assignments in! At DESK, when you work is really up to you! Related to this freedom, is a DESK student’s ability to work as slowly or as quickly as they need to in their academic assignments. Individually paced learning is a powerful way to learn, because it is you, the student, that can either take more time and ask for more help to complete an assignment, or it is you who knows the material in that assignment and can complete it quickly on your own so you can move on to the next one!. Either way, the individual student is in charge of their own learning; not a class of students or a teacher, and can work at their studies at a pace that makes sense for them! Courses and CreditsWhat about my elective classes?Elective courses in the areas of art, technology, languages and music, to name some, are all available through DESK. Senior elective offerings also include courses like History, Chemistry, English Literature and Western Civilization. You can achieve all needed credits towards a BC Dogwood graduation through DESK. NOTE: If you enroll in a full program of study through DESK, you will be able to access Community Connections monies that will allow you to register for learning opportunities in your local community. An example of this could be completing some of your P.E. requirements at your community recreation center. Call or email a DESK counselor to get more information about this unique support from DESK! Do I write Provincial Exams if I take courses through DESK?Yes! All DESK curriculum meets the B.C. Ministry of Education requirements. You do the same course work. This means that you will need to write Provincial Exams in the same course areas as you would in a neighborhood school. |
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