The Virtual Voice

Career & Technical Education

Taking Programming Skills to the Next Level

By on March 11th, 2019

Interested in learning advanced Python concepts? Searching for a high school course that is challenging, yet fun and engaging? For those who have taken Foundations of Programming (FOP), Procedural Programming is a new course at FLVS that allows students to tackle advanced concepts in computer science.

Procedural Programming has six modules that build upon the concepts taught in FOP while allowing students to design programs based on their own interests. The concepts use real-world examples students relate to. Continue reading

Celebrating College & Career-Ready Students

By on February 26th, 2019

From contests to clubs, FLVS offers a variety of ways to learn about coding and computer science, including online technology courses that develop the skills students need for the careers of tomorrow.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses combine academics and the real world, providing hands-on learning that puts students at the center of the action. CTE also helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills, which means students are better prepared for college and career life.

As we wrap up CTE Month at the end of February, we want to celebrate several student participants who wowed us with their entries in our recent #FLVSCodes contest. Continue reading

Skills You Won’t See on a Test

By on September 13th, 2018

Talk to any employer, and you will hear the same concerns: graduating students have mastered their hard skills – skills that can be taught through technical topics and academic subject areas. However, the same students are greatly lacking skills they need to interact successfully with co-workers and customers.

It seems hard to believe that we have so many “qualified” young people who are deficient in the fundamental soft skills needed to acquire a job.

Continue reading

Email Etiquette: Point, Click, Send

By on September 5th, 2018

Have you ever received an email that looks like this?

From: coolestcataround@notreal.com   Subject: I have a question.

That’s it! No real subject, no real question, and no name.

As part of the FLVS family, you know that email is not only a part of your daily life, but it’s an integral part of your education. Our teachers, principals, counselors, and family members communicate by email every single day. Are your emails professional, clear, and concise?  Continue reading

Questions to Ask Before Starting a Team Project

By on May 18th, 2018

My daughter is in high school, and every time her class has a group project, I am sure to hear about it. Why? Because sometimes her archrival happens to be in her group, and other times her best friend is (happy days ahead). No matter what, I’ll hear about the group slacker, and definitely about that controlling person ordering everyone around.

Do these roles sound familiar to you? Many of us can relate, which is unfortunate because teamwork is such an essential soft skill. Some jobs require more teamwork than others, but there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself as part of a team at some point during your life. Continue reading

Career and Technical Education Month

By on February 13th, 2018

In honor of Career and Technical Education Month, a public awareness campaign takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. I would like to recognize all of our outstanding CTE educators and students for making a difference in the world.

Each month, FLVS CTE will focus on a different soft skill that is essential for today’s students as they enter college or the workforce. This month’s focus is communication. Continue reading

Coming Together with CTE

By on December 7th, 2017

It is hard to imagine anything good coming from the devastating winds and rain of Hurricane Irma or similar storms that ravaged homes and communities this past hurricane season. If you look hard enough, though, you can find unexpected positives even in the worst experiences.

As a member of the Florida Army National Guard, I was activated during Hurricane Irma, and there I had the fortunate, first-hand experience of seeing people come together to help others. Most of these people were actively using skills found in CTE (Career and Technical Education) courses: both soft and hard skills. Continue reading

Bringing Learning to Life with Practical Experience

By on December 4th, 2017

We know students learn best through experience, but how can they get hands-on in a virtual learning environment?

Say hello to Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). These professional student organizations are integrated into the FLVS Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum. Why? Because they give students tons of personal growth swag. Continue reading

To Program or Not to Program?

By on August 31st, 2017

To program, or not to program? That is the question. If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t learned to program yet – but if you’re like most people, you probably should.

Many people don’t learn about programming because they think it doesn’t relate to their personal or career interests. After all, not everyone wants to be a professional programmer, right? However, should a person take a finance class only if he/she is going to be an accountant? Continue reading