Blue Ridge Virtual Governor's School
Encyclopedia
The Blue Ridge Virtual Governor's School ("BRVGS") is a Virginia "Academic Year Governor's School" available to public high school students enrolled in the counties of Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson and Orange in central Virginia. BRVGS emphasizes technology, science, mathematics and the development of skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, communication, ethics and the effective use of technology.
BRVGS students take all BRVGS courses at their own local high school, but collaborate with their fellow students in other schools on projects, debates, experiments and field trips. In the early days of the program, instructional collaboration was accomplished through videoconferencing. Today, most collaboration between students (and teachers) is accomplished through the Google Apps for Education platform, which provides students with shared online documents, chat and email to accomplish their learning.
The BRVGS program allots 15 slots per school per year. Students from participating counties normally apply as eighth graders, through a multi-faceted application process that includes testing, interviews, writing and review of past grade performance and accomplishments. The top fifteen applications are selected for that governors school class. One applicants have been accepted to the BRVGS program, they generally remain in BRVGS through their entire high school education. Students must maintain high grades and good disciplinary records at their local
Blue Ridge Virtual Governors School students take a different BRVGS course in each year of high school, in most cases. Freshmen normally take World History I and II, with an emphasis on technology in history. Sophomores take Biotechnology. Juniors take an online computer programming course called Computer Math. Seniors participate in a highly individualized internship, research and community service project.
BRVGS students also have access to college elective courses, such as "Intro to Engineering" and "Digital Technology and Communication" through the University of Virginia.
BRVGS is administered by a Joint Board, consisting of superintendents and board members from each participating county. The program's Director is Marc Carraway, whose educational experience includes service as a high school history teacher and principal. The program's Instructional Technology Resource Specialist is Ms. Sallie Hill, a former high school science teacher and school technology resource teacher. Ms. Hill holds the distinction of being the first Google-Certified Teacher in Virginia.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/academic_year/index.shtml
BRVGS students take all BRVGS courses at their own local high school, but collaborate with their fellow students in other schools on projects, debates, experiments and field trips. In the early days of the program, instructional collaboration was accomplished through videoconferencing. Today, most collaboration between students (and teachers) is accomplished through the Google Apps for Education platform, which provides students with shared online documents, chat and email to accomplish their learning.
The BRVGS program allots 15 slots per school per year. Students from participating counties normally apply as eighth graders, through a multi-faceted application process that includes testing, interviews, writing and review of past grade performance and accomplishments. The top fifteen applications are selected for that governors school class. One applicants have been accepted to the BRVGS program, they generally remain in BRVGS through their entire high school education. Students must maintain high grades and good disciplinary records at their local
Blue Ridge Virtual Governors School students take a different BRVGS course in each year of high school, in most cases. Freshmen normally take World History I and II, with an emphasis on technology in history. Sophomores take Biotechnology. Juniors take an online computer programming course called Computer Math. Seniors participate in a highly individualized internship, research and community service project.
BRVGS students also have access to college elective courses, such as "Intro to Engineering" and "Digital Technology and Communication" through the University of Virginia.
BRVGS is administered by a Joint Board, consisting of superintendents and board members from each participating county. The program's Director is Marc Carraway, whose educational experience includes service as a high school history teacher and principal. The program's Instructional Technology Resource Specialist is Ms. Sallie Hill, a former high school science teacher and school technology resource teacher. Ms. Hill holds the distinction of being the first Google-Certified Teacher in Virginia.
External links
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/academic_year/index.shtml