What is the role of the Virtual Learning Coach?
The role of the Virtual Learning Coach (VLC) is to support, monitor and track your child’s progress. The VLC will offer enhanced guidance and assistance with the online courses, in addition to the online course teacher. The VLC will host daily group sessions that students can attend to ask questions. One-to-one drop-in sessions can be scheduled for additional academic support.

As a parent, how much do I need to be involved with my child’s study plan?
You should be engaged daily in your child’s learning. In addition to the VLC, parents and guardians are assigned as “Learning Coaches” who also have access to school email, the online platform (Canvas), and PowerSchool to view student grades, assignments, and daily plans. The VLC is an additional support person to help the student stay engaged and on track. Parents should communicate with the online teachers, academic advisors, and their VLC.

What is the difference between a Learning Coach and a VLC/Virtual Learning Coach?
Any parent or guardian, or another adult in the home, can be assigned as the “Learning Coach” for an iCademy student learning online at home. The Learning Coach is the person primarily responsible for the student’s progress, ensuring there is a suitable environment for learning at home and, as needed, helping the student stay on pace with assignments and due dates. The iCademy VLC is a qualified teacher who helps support students virtually as they learn online. They provide daily virtual check-ins, subject-based small group conferences, and one-to-one support for students, in addition to the support provided by the online course teachers. The VLCP support includes academic guidance, progress updates, planning, help with assignments, tracking, communication, and daily online sessions for students.

If my child has any questions about a topic, can the Virtual Learning Coach help?
Yes, the student can turn to his/her VLC with any questions. Each VLC is a certified teacher with experience in the iCademy curriculum. Where necessary, the VLC may need to reach out to online course teachers, academic advisors, registrar, etc., to follow up on queries. 

What does the schedule look like for the students attending the VLCP?
Students should be working a full school day in their courses. It is recommended that Lower and Middle School students spend approximately 5 hours daily in their courses. HS students need to spend approximately 6 hours daily on their courses (one hour per course, per day). VLCP students will be given a schedule to follow. Sample schedules are available to view. 

Do you provide me with a timetable?
All students at iCademy Middle East are given online calendars within each course. The calendars show the due dates for all assignments, quizzes and tests. An additional schedule is provided for each VLCP student. Please ask your Enrolment Counselor for a sample schedule.

What is a drop-in session?
A drop-in session is a one-to-one academic support session with the student’s Virtual Learning Coach. During these sessions, the student can ask questions and work through assignments with the guidance of his or her VLC.

What time do the sessions take place? And in which time zone are they scheduled?
The group sessions and one-to-one sessions are scheduled daily from Monday-Friday. The time zone is within Gulf Standard Time (GMT +4). For more information, please ask your Enrollment Counselor for a sample of the schedule.

How do the drop-in scheduled sessions for one-to-one support work?
The drop-in sessions for one-to-one support can be requested by your child in the morning for scheduling in the afternoon and are subject to availability on the day. These are one-to-one sessions in which your child can work with the VLC individually for additional support in any subject area.  

What is the difference between Live Teaching and a live group conference in the VLCP?
Live Teaching is the scheduled class in any given subject with the online teacher, delivered via Big Blue Button, our online whiteboard. The live group conference is a scheduled daily check-in and open session with the Virtual Learning Coach, where students can ask questions and get academic guidance from their VLC.

My child has learning difficulties. What support is available?
In most cases, the level of individualized support available in group conferences and drop-in sessions is sufficient to meet the needs of students who are able to access the curriculum. In those cases where a student has identified special needs and requires further accommodations or modifications, parents should make this known to their Enrollment Counselor at the time of enrolment, together with any current assessments/reports, so that we can ensure that the student’s learning needs are being met appropriately.