SW/WC Online Learning Community Courses
Fall and Spring Course Descriptions
***All students who wish to enroll in one or more online courses must complete an enrollment packet. For more information on any of our online courses or to obtain an enrollment packet please go to our website at www.swsc.org/distancelearning or contact Courtney Smith at 507-537-2259.
Language Arts
Creative Writing (.5 credits)
Karla Olson, Minneota Public Schools
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisites: Successfully complete Language Arts 10 with an A or B
Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Course Description: Creative Writing will cover a variety of writing forms, including poetry of various formats, prose, fiction and dialogue, journaling, and various storytelling forms and genres. The spirit of the course will be collaborative so that students get feedback from others and writing exercises will run from short prompts to longer full pieces of work suitable for publishing. Various readings will also be included in the course.
60’s Literature and Writing Workshop (.5 credits)
Toni Bladholm, Marshall Public Schools
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisites: B average in previous English course, Keyboarding I OR Word Processing and a commitment to work hard
Semester Offered: Fall 2010 (2nd Quarter)
Course Description: This one term workshop takes a thematic approach to the study of literature and history, concentrating on essays, short stories and poetry of the 1960’s in the United States. Students will learn and practice reading strategies, writing techniques/styles, performance projects and presentations (PowerPoint sharing). The students will read different genres to discuss elements of literature and demonstrate understanding through various forms of assessment. They will be required to write about the literature that they read. All reading and writing assignments must be completed on 1960’s topics.
Science
Forensics (.5 credits)
TBA, Minneota Public Schools
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisites: None
Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Course Description: Forensics is the study and application of science to matters of law. Topics include fingerprints, hair, fibers, drugs, toxicology, blood, DNA analysis, human remains and more. This class is research and lab based and you will use a portfolio to present what you have learned. This class will use research and the scientific method to learn about a wide range of science.
Anatomy (.5 credits)
MCC Schools
Grade Level 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Math
Accounting (1 credit)
Donna Krueger, Comfrey Public School
Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet application
Semester Offered: Full year course
Course Description: Students learn how to keep financial records of different types of businesses, how to make and interpret different financial reports as well as gain skills in the use of a checking account, reconciliation of bank statements and payroll records. There is a possibility of earning Tech Prep College Credit.
*This course can be run on a period or block schedule. Please specify which one you would like to enroll in when registering.
Business
Personal Money Management (.5 credits)
Jan Timmerman, Marshall Public Schools
Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisites: Keyboarding 1 OR Word Processing
Semester Offered: Spring 2011 (4th Quarter)
Course Description: While focusing on the student’s role as citizen, student, family member, consumer and active participant in the business world, this course will help inform students of their various financial responsibilities. Students discover ways to maximize their earning potential, develop strategies for managing their resources and gain insight into ways to invest money. Student interest will be held by focusing on current trends and issues consumers face in the marketplace.
Medical Office Practices (.5 credits)
Dawn Nicol, JCC Schools
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisites: Computer Applications OR Word Processing
Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Course Description: This course provides medical office career information, as well as practical application in medical receptionist activities including medical records, filing, billing, and basic office practices. Students will discover the role medical ethics and professional liability play in the medical field.
Computer Science
Web Authoring (.5 credits)
Brenda Kellen, Marshall Public Schools
Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester Offered: Spring 2011 (3rd Quarter)
Course Description: A collection of graphical “pages”, the Internet has quickly become a powerful medium for creating, presenting, and exchanging information. The World Wide Web Authoring Class will teach students how to create and maintain these pages using current techniques and software packages.
Introduction to Computer Science Using Visual Basic.net (.5 credits)
Marcia Ivers, Marshall Public Schools
Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisites: Algebra I, Keyboarding 1 OR Word Processing
Semester Offered: Fall 2010 (1st Quarter)
Course Description: This course will cover the fundamentals of programming using the Visual Basic programming language. This is an introductory course with hands-on exposure to structured programming. Students will study the relationship between hardware and software and learn how to develop programs for problem solving. Guided computer activities and exercises will provide the student an opportunity to develop a foundation in programming using the Visual Basic programming language. Projects will progress from the simple to the complex and will be based on writing programs for Windows applications.
Computer Applications: Microsoft Word 2007 (.5 credits)
Donna Krueger, Comfrey Public Schools
Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Course Description: Students learn the basic skills of word processing through the more advanced features that Microsoft Word has to offer. Some areas covered include: character, paragraph, and page formatting, tabs, tables, templates and wizards, list and outlines, source/citations, group editing, objects and mail merge. These features are taught by producing various business documents. Students will also learn to format business letters, memorandums, agendas, itineraries, minutes, expense reports, as well as learning to key in a resume and cover letter. There is a possibility of earning Tech Prep College Credit.
Computer Applications: Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint 2007 (.5 credits)
Donna Krueger, Comfrey Public Schools
Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Course Description: Students learn the basic skills of spreadsheets and presentation software through the more advanced features that Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint have to offer. In Excel we will cover how to apply and modify cell formats, absolute and relative references in a formula, functions, templates, sort and filters, modify spreadsheets, working among multiple spreadsheets and creating a spreadsheet as a webpage. All of this will be done as the student designs business documents such as: invoices, timesheets, payroll register, accounting journals, expense reports and more. Student will use PowerPoint to create informative, marketing and persuasive presentations. They will also learn how to collaborate with others and deliver presentations. There is a possibility of earning Tech Prep College Credit.
General Electives
Teen and Family Issues (.5 credits)
Kaia Bergeson, Yellow Medicine East
Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Course Description: This course will focus on researching health areas that will allow students to make informed decisions to enhance their own health. Students will also look at issues that will affect their lives as they prepare to live on their own. Major units include: drug issues, sexuality issues, mental health/depression issues, abuse issues and living on your own.
Child Development (.5 credits)
Kaia Bergeson, Yellow Medicine East
Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Course Description: This course will deal with pregnancy, pre-natal development, birth and the development of a child until age 6. Topics include reproduction, conception, heredity issues, prenatal development, prenatal care, birth defects, labor and delivery. The development of the child includes the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Health and safety as well as parenting will be discussed.
Food and Nutrition (.5 credits)
Kaia Bergeson, Yellow Medicine East
Grade Level: 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Course Description: This class will concentrate on applying decision making techniques to food safety, dietary recommendations, food practices on preparation, and eating patterns to establish for healthy adult eating. Units will include: The Nutrients You Need, Food Choices and Healthy Living, Planning Daily Food Choices, Kitchen Principles, Planning Meals, Preparation of a Variety of Foods
Central Minnesota Online Learning Courses
Fall and Spring Courses
Additional courses are available through a cooperative agreement with the CMOL Program. To enroll in any of these courses you will need to fill out an application packet from Central Minnesota Online Learning. These courses are available at the same cost as the SW/WC Online Learning Community, but may require additional supply costs. For more information on these courses please go to our website at www. swsc.org/distanceleaning
Science
Natural Resource Science II (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Business
Intro to Business – Part A (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Intro to Business – Part B (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Introduction to Business – College Level; Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Intro to Office 2007 (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Advanced Office 2007 (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Fall 2010, Spring 2011
Video Productions I (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Introduction to Computer Applications – College Level; Semester Offered: Spring 2011
English
Media Literacy (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Intro to Communication Skills (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Introduction to Literature – College Level; Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Health/PE
Fitness and Wellness (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Electives
Teaching Young Children (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Fall 2010
Careers with Children (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Medical Terminology – College Level; Semester Offered: Spring 2011
Medical Careers (.5 credits); Semester Offered: Fall 2010
*For course discriptions and requirements for the courses listed here for Central Minneota Onine Learning please click here.