VLA Student Blog

Friday, October 24, 2025

Social & Emotional Learning Courses (10/17/25)

Jefferson County ESC

Virtual Learning Academy

Did you Know?

The JCESC Virtual Learning Academy offers Social & Emotional Learning Courses!

Social and Emotional Learning courses teach students how to make healthy choices before problems like substance abuse, mental health crises, or bullying escalate.

Early education builds resilience and awareness!

VLA SEL Personal Wellness Course

This 9-unit mental health course offers students a comprehensive understanding of mental well-being through nine structured units. It covers key topics such as recognizing mental health challenges, developing coping strategies, building support systems, and managing crises.

Students learn how to care for their mental health during uncertain times, create personal wellness plans, and promote overall emotional resilience. The course empowers students with practical tools and knowledge to support themselves and others, helping reduce stigma and encourage a proactive approach to mental wellness.

VLA SEL Honor Code Course

The Honor Code Course is a social-emotional learning (SEL) program designed to help students build strong personal values, promote positive behavior, and develop skills to stand up against bullying. Through 9 engaging units, students explore key concepts like resilience, leadership, courage, and community.

The course emphasizes personal responsibility, ethical decision-making, and the power of taking action to create a respectful and supportive school culture.

Questions? Contact Us!

📧 vla@jcesc.org | ☎️ (740) 283-3347

For more information, click the video below!

In case you missed it!

Below are links to view previous webinars:

December, "Current Events": https://edpuzzle.com/media/6769a7e1c67105b88e3b7cfd

January, "Conservation Science": https://edpuzzle.com/media/6793d7543faeb7b5954a4b4a

February, "VLA Review of OETC '25": https://edpuzzle.com/media/67c1f48417e65ab15aa932b6

March, "What is VLA?": https://edpuzzle.com/media/67e6f330c454d1e13e26b2fe

April, "VLA in Full Bloom": https://edpuzzle.com/media/680bb04afbad2de94d4871c4

August, "NextUp Interview": https://edpuzzle.com/media/68b07b48b17b8bdffa8782e1

September, "Ideastream-NewsDepth Interview": https://edpuzzle.com/media/68d568d36cd30abd4d75c875

Career Clusters Course (10/10/25)

Jefferson County ESC

Virtual Learning Academy

Did you Know?

The JCESC Virtual Learning Academy offers a Career Clusters I & II course!

🎓 Help Your Students Make Smarter Choices About Their Future! Career exploration starts early—and with the right tools, students can make confident, informed decisions. That's where Career Clusters I & II come in.

📘 Career Clusters I introduces students to a wide range of career fields and industry sectors. Students explore the skills, education pathways, and opportunities available across 18 engaging units.

📗 Career Clusters II builds on this foundation, allowing students to dive deeper into specific industries and understand what it takes to succeed in various career paths.

Each cluster includes:

1. An Introduction to the industry

2. Exploration of real career pathways

3. Focus on key skills and job readiness

These courses are designed to:

- Spark interest and curiosity

- Connect classroom learning to real-world careers

- Support long-term academic and career planning

Why Encourage Enrollment?

Gives students a broader view of the world of work. Supports early career decision-making. Encourages goal setting and self-discovery. Helps align high school courses with future goals.

🧭 Whether students are college-bound, career-focused, or still figuring things out—Career Clusters I & II provide a strong roadmap. Let's help them plan for success!

Questions? Contact Us!

📧 vla@jcesc.org | ☎️ (740) 283-3347

In case you missed it!

Below are links to view previous webinars:

December, "Current Events": https://edpuzzle.com/media/6769a7e1c67105b88e3b7cfd

January, "Conservation Science": https://edpuzzle.com/media/6793d7543faeb7b5954a4b4a

February, "VLA Review of OETC '25": https://edpuzzle.com/media/67c1f48417e65ab15aa932b6

March, "What is VLA?": https://edpuzzle.com/media/67e6f330c454d1e13e26b2fe

April, "VLA in Full Bloom": https://edpuzzle.com/media/680bb04afbad2de94d4871c4

August, "NextUp Interview": https://edpuzzle.com/media/68b07b48b17b8bdffa8782e1

September, "Ideastream-NewsDepth Interview": https://edpuzzle.com/media/68d568d36cd30abd4d75c875

Monday, October 13, 2025

Partnership with IXL (10/3/25)

Jefferson County ESC

Virtual Learning Academy

🎓 Did you know?

The Jefferson County ESC Virtual Learning Academy is proud to partner with IXL to support student success!

✨ What is IXL?

IXL is an advanced progress monitoring & diagnostic tool that gives teachers real-time insights into student learning. It helps identify challenges early and allows for personalized instruction tailored to each student's needs.

💡 Key Benefits of IXL:

✅ Real-time, actionable analytics

✅ Personalized learning pathways

✅ Classroom engagement tools & resources

✅ Innovative assessment suite

✅ Professional support for educators

📚 IXL also offers teachers access to resources such as toolkits, instructional videos, blogs & webinars, printable worksheets, and more!

Click the image below to watch a short video and learn how IXL is transforming learning!

Questions? Contact Us!

📧 vla@jcesc.org | ☎️ (740) 283-3347

In case you missed it!

Below are links to view previous webinars:

December, "Current Events": https://edpuzzle.com/media/6769a7e1c67105b88e3b7cfd

January, "Conservation Science": https://edpuzzle.com/media/6793d7543faeb7b5954a4b4a

February, "VLA Review of OETC '25": https://edpuzzle.com/media/67c1f48417e65ab15aa932b6

March, "What is VLA?": https://edpuzzle.com/media/67e6f330c454d1e13e26b2fe

April, "VLA in Full Bloom": https://edpuzzle.com/media/680bb04afbad2de94d4871c4

August, "NextUp Interview": https://edpuzzle.com/media/68b07b48b17b8bdffa8782e1

September, "Ideastream-NewsDepth Interview": https://edpuzzle.com/media/68d568d36cd30abd4d75c875

Features to Support Student Learning (10/3/25)

📢 Attention VLA Users

Important Update: The VLA system has been enhanced to encourage better student engagement and comprehension.

2 features to support student learning:

Implemented in May 2025 for STANDARD Courses Only!

Prescribed Units:

Students must complete VLA course units in sequential order.

Skipping ahead will trigger an error message and block access until prior units are finished.

⏱️ 10-Minute Assessment Timer:

Most regular VLA courses now include a 10-minute delay before students can access assessments.

This short pause gives students time to:

- Read the lesson content

- Watch videos

- Complete interactive activities

✅Why This Matters

We have found this approach:

- Reduces the tendency to skip straight to the questions

- Encourages meaningful engagement with lesson content

- Supports comprehension, confidence, and academic honesty

Note: These updates apply only to standard versions of VLA courses. They do not affect Credit Recovery or Modified courses!

(740) 283-3347

vla@jcesc.org

Friday, October 10, 2025

JCESC VLA Blogs (9/26/25)

Jefferson County ESC

Virtual Learning Academy

Did you know the JCESC Virtual Learning Academy has 3 blog pages?

The Virtual Learning Academy offers 3 specialized blogs to keep our community informed and connected!

(1) VLA Teacher Blog – A must-read for teachers and staff, featuring updates on courses, policies, professional development, and more.

Link to VLA Teacher Blog: VLA Teacher Blog

(2) VLA Student Blog – Designed for students and parents, this blog provides system updates, new course info, webinars, tips for success, and student engagement strategies.

Link to VLA Student Blog: Student Blog

(3) VLA Point of Contact Blog – For external stakeholders like parents and community members, this blog shares announcements, partnerships, and resources for remote learning.

Link to Point of Contact Blog: Virtual Learning Academy Point of Contact

Each blog is designed to support you in different ways – whether you're a teacher, student, parent, or partner. Visit today to stay in the know!

Click the video below for more information!

In case you missed it!

Below are links to view previous webinars:

December, "Current Events": https://edpuzzle.com/media/6769a7e1c67105b88e3b7cfd

January, "Conservation Science": https://edpuzzle.com/media/6793d7543faeb7b5954a4b4a

February, "VLA Review of OETC '25": https://edpuzzle.com/media/67c1f48417e65ab15aa932b6

March, "What is VLA?": https://edpuzzle.com/media/67e6f330c454d1e13e26b2fe

April, "VLA in Full Bloom": https://edpuzzle.com/media/680bb04afbad2de94d4871c4

August, "NextUp Interview": https://edpuzzle.com/media/68b07b48b17b8bdffa8782e1

September, "Ideastream-NewsDepth Interview": https://edpuzzle.com/media/68d568d36cd30abd4d75c875

Monday, September 29, 2025

Live Webinar Alert (9/19/25)

Jefferson County ESC

Virtual Learning Academy

📢 LIVE Webinar Alert! 🎉

Join the Jefferson County ESC Virtual Learning Academy for an exciting webinar on Thursday, September 25th, 2025, at 11:11 AM!

We'll be featuring Mike Edelman, Director of Education from Ideastream Public Media, as we highlight our partnership and explore how NewsDepth is bringing current events to life for students. 🌍✨

🗓 Date: September 25, 2025

⏰Time: 11:11 AM – 11:30 AM

📍Location: Zoom

🔗 Zoom Link: https://jcesc-org.zoom.us/j/5587795858?omn=89193437642

Want to add this event to your calendar?

Click this link! https://calget.com/14i66pcr

Don't miss this chance to see how engaging, real-world learning connects to our Current Events course!