KAS is Partnered with Global Online Academy

Kaohsiung American School is a proud member of Global Online Academy (GOA), a non-profit organization made up of an international consortium of schools that provides high-quality online learning experiences for students and educators. We are delighted to invite you to explore these learning experiences. We hope that your KAS high school learner will consider taking a passion-based course through GOA.

What is Global Online Academy?

The mission of GOA is to reimagine learning to empower students and educators to thrive in a globally networked society. We deepen learning through courses that equip students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be successful in high school, college, career, and life.

Our organization expands educational opportunities for students by making available the hallmarks of our 130+ member schools – teaching expertise and intellectually rigorous course offerings.  By banding together as a consortium, the schools that make up GOA are able to offer far more courses than any single school could offer on its own. Not only that, students will join a global learning community through a high-quality online learning experience that allows them to develop critical skills and habits of learning such as cross-cultural collaboration, time management, project planning, advocacy, and real-world problem-solving.  

How can I be sure this is a quality experience?

Our member schools have all evaluated the GOA program and affirmed that the quality of instruction and student experience are equivalent to the quality of courses offered on campus. GOA courses are taught by expert educators predominantly from our member schools who are experienced and deeply skilled in teaching and supporting students both in-person and online. All GOA teachers receive 70 hours of professional development prior to teaching a course and are paired with an instructional coach for ongoing mentoring and support. Courses are observed and evaluated by our staff to ensure they meet the standards of our exemplary schools. In 2016, GOA became the first online academy to receive accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Like KAS, GOA is also accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

How does it work?

GOA courses are teacher-facilitated and paced, but they are predominantly asynchronous, offering students the flexibility to work at their own pace and time with regular feedback and guidance from their teachers. Designed as highly interactive, the use of online discussion tools and scheduled video conferencing allows students to build relationships and share experiences with peers and teachers around the world. All student work is submitted and assessed in our Learning Management System. Students communicate frequently with teachers and peers via email and chat, and they can expect to connect synchronously with teachers and classmates via video call weekly during the summer session.

If enrolled, what are the expectations of my student? 

A GOA course takes a similar commitment of time, effort, and engagement as an on-campus course. Courses are interactive and dependent upon student participation. While GOA students enjoy the flexible nature of our mostly-asynchronous learning environment, they also highly value the opportunity for weekly videoconference connections with teachers and classmates. With ongoing communication and connection with each student, GOA faculty are the primary point of contact for support throughout the course. 

What should we expect in terms of grading, credits, and transcripts? 

GOA is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) just as Kaohsiung American School is. GOA will issue an official transcript following the completion of a course. GOA faculty use the Canvas Learning Management system, providing students with real-time access to feedback and communication on their work. Grade reports from teachers are delivered to students and families at the midterm and end-of-term, and regular communication is shared throughout the course.

What can parents expect of GOA?

It is of paramount importance to us that families and schools are in the know when it comes to a GOA student’s experience. As we are an organization made up of a consortium of schools from around the world, we have created frameworks and policies to help us unify our approach to teaching and learning and the student experience. You can expect reliable, regular communication from GOA when it comes to issues of student support and wellness. Our Student and Family Handbook outlines the details of our program.

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