MCPS summer school question -- Foundations of Technology, Health classes

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experience with the summer school offerings for Foundations in Technology and Health? Is the online class/three face-to-face meetings adequate for something like Foundations in Technology (I don't know much about what that class does)? Is there any disadvantage to not taking these classes in person during the school year? Does a kid have to be super independently motivated to do an online summer school?

Thanks in advance for any anecdotes/advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any experience with the summer school offerings for Foundations in Technology and Health? Is the online class/three face-to-face meetings adequate for something like Foundations in Technology (I don't know much about what that class does)? Is there any disadvantage to not taking these classes in person during the school year? Does a kid have to be super independently motivated to do an online summer school?

Thanks in advance for any anecdotes/advice.

The online registration system is almost laughably over-complicated involving multiple steps.

If you are going to sign up, be sure to start the process THE DAY registration opens. Classes fill up rocket fast.

[Anonymous]

They fill up rocket fast because it allows your child to take a real class- such as another AP. All of these classes are only 1/2 a year (1 semester.) There are limited choices as to what other classes are only offered for 1 semester, such as Choir, PE or Philosophy.

[Anonymous]

I know health involves going in person 2x..the first and last class.

[Anonymous]

Also,,honors health is not offered over the summer if it matters.

[Anonymous]

I made my magnet HS kid take this during the school year. I wanted to make sure that he had one "easy" class in the schedule. He did fine and is in college now. I felt that the HS load was crazy enough. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Is the Foundations of Technology class easy? The online course FAQs say expect to spend 4-5 hours a day on it -- yikes! I was thinking this could be a fun summer activity for a couple of hours a day for a math/science/computer-oriented kid (rising 9th grader) but no way he's going to be happy spending 4-5 hours a day on a class over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Your kids should ALWAYS take health and FOT over the summer. It eats up schedule time where they could be taking real courses.

[Anonymous]

^^ also, don't let your child's counselor convince you to register for FOT in freshman year. Do it in the summer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ also, don't let your child's counselor convince you to register for FOT in freshman year. Do it in the summer!

summer before or after 9th grade?

[Anonymous]

Some do tech before and health after. Other kids do both the same summer between 9th and 10th

[Anonymous]

Can you take them as arising 9thgrader?

[Anonymous]

Just looked..must already be ib9th grade

[Anonymous]

There also in an intro to computer class that is easier than foundations of tech and counts as the tech credit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also,,honors health is not offered over the summer if it matters.

Wrong, my DC took Honors health (with bump in GPA) over the summer at B-CC