The Foreign Service Journal, December 2010

94 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT School in Costa Rica, offers three suggestions for success: “Develop a disciplined schedule for yourself. Ask yourself many questions while taking a course, and have a purpose in taking a course.” K 12 teacher Lisa Chaput notes that “while this is an independent experience, there is still full teacher support, so no student is on their own.” The independent part of the experience is that the students can ponder a topic longer if they like, Chaput explains. Also, they can reg- ulate how they spend their time studying during the day rather than following a bell schedule. But, she stresses, teachers hold live classes frequently, have study halls daily and are always there for support by e- mail, instant messaging or phone if the students need help. The skills acquired through living overseas and moving frequently, such as independence, focus and resource- fulness, often make FS teens success- ful online students. This bodes well for their future success in higher edu- cation and the workplace, too, where online training is becoming very com- mon. As Chaput says, “The age that we are living in requires that students be able to work in an online environ- ment. Those who are successful will have developed a skill set that is invaluable and will help them excel in and out of the virtual world.” ■ Online Education Costs Class prices average about $400 per semester. In some cases, classes can be paid for with the Supplemental Education Allowance. Check the State Department Web pages on educational allowances and call the Office of Overseas Schools and Family Liaison Office to see if you can tap into these funds. Be sure to coordinate with your finance officer at post before making any final decisions. — Kristi Streiffert Continued from page 90 Many online schools receive the same regional accreditation as brick- and-mortar schools, as well as accreditation by their home state.