Customized Learning

Step in the driver’s seat and take charge of your education.

Learn when and where you want, advance when you are ready, and get personalized support along the way.

Young man with violin smiling

What is customized learning?

Customized learning allows you to determine when, where, and how you learn. This student-centered approach empowers you to take charge of your education so that learning feels more relevant to your interests, passions, and real-world experiences.

Examples:

  • Customize your schedule around an extended family vacation.
  • Continue your education while pursuing extracurricular passions like art, acting, or sports.
  • Accelerate your learning in subjects you excel at, and take extra time when you need it.
  • Use tools like our built-in screen readers to accommodate learning differences such as dyslexia.
Student having fun while learning
Saturday
Finish painting project
Young woman doing coursework on computer
12 pm
Start writing assignment

The benefits of customized learning

Customized learning lifts the barrier of time in education. You can learn at a flexible pace, not having to wait for others to catch up. You can take as much time to master your material until you feel confident that you comprehend each main concept.

With customized learning, Instructors focus on forming and sticking to a plan that works best for you. Academic expectations are set individually, and schedules and deadlines coincide with your learning needs and styles.

Customized learning and curriculum

At VLACS, learning is competency-based, which means you don’t move on to the next step in the curriculum until you reach competency in the steps before.

This approach focuses on equipping you with the skills you need to succeed in the real world, so learning may look different depending on your needs. If you choose to enroll in an Experience, you will work with your instructor to determine how you will reach competency and how you will be assessed.

Examples:

  • Learn about environmental sciences by creating a mini-documentary about nature in your area.
  • Start your own baking business to master food science and entrepreneurship competencies.
  • Learn a foreign language through travel and immersion.
Course completed!
Where to next?
online student learning through courses
5 pm
Meet with instructor

Customized learning and relationships

Customized learning relies on one-on-one support from instructors. From the time you craft your academic plan to completing each competency in your course, the one-on-one support allows you to thrive. You will meet with your instructors frequently to ensure that you are on the path to success and to get help. Instructors are available during office hours or by appointment.

Success means more than just completing coursework at VLACS. You must also feel valued, supported, and motivated to succeed. This is achieved through relationships, coursework, and work in real-world settings that help build social capital and make critical connections that will prepare you for life after graduation.

Customized learning and life skills

Customized learning improves your communication skills, enhances your creativity, and allows you to become a problem solver. Because of the importance of relationships in customized education, you will learn to communicate effectively and consistently to ensure your needs are met.

Examples:

  • Develop communication skills by interning at a marketing agency.
  • Practice creative problem-solving with a computer programming mentorship.
  • Become more self-motivated and independent through self-directed learning.
4 pm
Mechanic Internship

Learn in your own way

Enjoy the freedom and flexibility of our customized learning model and start learning how you want to.

Sunday
Robotics club

How Does Learning Happen?

You can master competencies and earn credit through one or more of the following learning pathways.


Courses

Choose from hundreds of courses and complete work through traditional lessons and assessments.

Projects

Conduct in-depth research and solve the real-world problems professional face at their jobs.

Experiences

Explore a career field you’re curious about, complete hands-on tasks, and collaborate with industry experts.

College

Take college-level classes and earn dual credit.

When Does Learning Happen?

You will engage in learning on days and times that meet your unique needs. For example, your school week might look like this:


3 pm
Tennis Team Practice
Wednesday

8 am
At school for algebra and history

10 am
VLACS economics class

3 pm
Tennis Team Practice

7 pm
VLACS college English

Thursday

8 am
At school for algebra and history

3 pm
Bus leaves for tennis match

7 pm
Bus returns

Friday

8 am
At school for algebra and history

1 pm
VLACS economics class

3 pm
Tennis Team Practice

Saturday

8 am
Tennis lesson

11 pm
VLACS college English

Where Does Learning Happen?

The location where learning takes place is flexible and changes based on your interests and goals. See below for some examples of where learning can happen.

Chamber of Commerce

Experience – Internship: Microeconomics

Lisa completes a project that leads to an understanding of market forces and economic growth.

Home

Project: Personal Finance

Lisa assumes the role of a financial literacy coach and helps create and monitor a family budget.

Airport

Experience – Travel: Macroeconomics

As part of her learning, Lisa visits the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to learn about monetary and fiscal policy.

School

VLACS Course: Supply & Demand

Lisa learns to apply the economic concepts of supply and demand.

Time is on your side.

In a customized learning environment, you set your pace based on your specific needs and learning style.

Keep it up!
Let’s move on to your next module in AP Microeconomics
traditional learning graph

Traditional Learning

In a traditional learning model, the expectation is that all students will learn at the same rate and master competencies by the end of the semester.

customized learning graph

Customized Learning

In a customized learning model, time barriers are removed. You can master competencies at a faster pace or work at a slower pace if you find a competency challenging.

Customized learning and you.

Customized Learning benefits every level of education. It offers personalization, acceleration, flexibility, remediation, accessibility, and equity to the learning process.

Elementary

  • Take the time to meet academic and developmental milestones
  • Increase independence
  • Develop technology skills
  • Establish confidence
  • Rich and engaging learning tools
Elementary Student

Middle School

  • Take high school courses while in middle school
  • Hands-on approaches to learning through project-based opportunities
  • Add room for sports, extracurricular activities, and/or community service
  • Focus on a unique interest like coding or app development
Middle School Student

High School

  • Enhance transcript
  • Get a job while in school
  • Graduate early
  • Participate in work-based learning
  • Earn diploma and college credit
  • Recover missed competencies/credits
  • Explore career aspirations
  • Advanced placement
  • Project-based learning
High School Student

Adult Education

  • Earn a high school diploma while employed and/or raising a family
  • Focus on a specific skill
  • Enhance resume in preparation for a career change
  • Complete a prerequisite for a higher ed program
Adult Education Student

VLACS Equal Opportunity Fund

Please consider joining us in our initiative to provide financial support to students and adults who need assistance achieving their educational and career goals.

Young African female designer working in her workshop.