Internet Academy is pleased to announce the offering of three new classes beginning second semester of this 2007-2008 school year. Beginning the end of January high school students will be able to take Marine Science (SCI881), Music Appreciation (MUS987), and Reading Essentials (ENG857). Students may begin to register for the class in January. For more information on each of the classes read about them below and check the course catalog as well.

Marine Science - SCI881

Marine Science is a one semester course fulfilling 0.5 credit of high school science. It covers the basics of seafloor geology, seawater chemistry, currents, waves, shoreline geography, and marine organisms. Students will show understanding and application of scientific concepts and principles. Also, they will demonstrate understanding of the nature and contexts of science and technology. This class is available for students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Music Appreciation - MUS987

Music Appreciation is an APEX course that introduces the student to the history, theory, and genres of music, from the most primitive surviving examples, through the classical to the most contemporary in the world at large. The course is offered in a two-semester, stand-alone format: The first semester covers primitive musical forms, classical music, and American jazz. The second semester presents the rich modern traditions, including: gospel, folk, soul, blues, Latin rhythms, rock and roll, and hip-hop. The course explores the interface of music and social movements and examines how the emergent global society and the Internet is bringing musical forms together in new ways from all around the world.

Students complete either a performance practicum or a listening practicum throughout the course. The performance practicum requirement can be met by participation in supervised instrumental or vocal lessons, participation in a church or community choirs, community musical performances, or anything that is structured to meet at regular intervals and legitimately provides opportunities for students to build vocal and/or instrumental skills. The listening practicum requires students to listen to a variety of music genres and comment. Parents or guardians will be required to validate their children’s regular participation in the chosen performance or listening practicum.

This class is available for students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Reading Essentials ENG857

Reading Essentials is an APEX course designed to help the struggling reader develop mastery in the areas of reading comprehension, vocabulary building, study skills, and media literacy, which are the course’s primary content strands. Using these strands, the course guides the student through the skills necessary to be successful in the academic world and beyond. The reading comprehension strand focuses on introducing the student to the varied purposes of reading (e.g., for entertainment, for information, to complete a task, or to analyze). In the vocabulary strand, the student learns specific strategies for understanding and remembering new vocabulary. In the study skills strand, the student learns effective study and test-taking strategies. In the media literacy strand, the student learns to recognize and evaluate persuasive techniques, purposes, design choices, and effects of media. The course encourages personal enjoyment in reading with 10 interviews featuring the book choices and reading adventures of students and members of the community. The content is based on the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) standards and aligned to state standards. This class is available for students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.

*Open enrollment continues for the regular school year from August 7th - February 7th