Explore, Engage, Excel with GOA this Summer
Empower your student to explore college and career pathways, gain global perspectives, and earn valuable school credits, all through a flexible, engaging summer program. In the company of curious, globally-connected peers, students learn in an enriching, collaborative learning environment. Concluding with a GOA transcript, students have the opportunity to get ahead, earning semester or yearlong credit, setting a solid foundation for their academic journey ahead.
Benefits of GOA Summer Courses
- Explore a topic of interest
- Develop relevant skills
- Prepare for college and beyond
- Connect with peers from around the world
- Create authentic artifacts of learning that can be shared in the college admissions process
Summer Courses
Summer 2024: Monday, June 17 - Friday, August 2
Summer 2024 will run from Monday, June 17 to Friday, August 2, offering over 20 of GOA's most popular semester courses in an intensive seven-week format for all high school students. Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, GOA provides an official transcript after course completion, which may be eligible for school credit at students’ home schools.
Most of these summer courses cover a semester's worth of material and expect a 10-12 hour per week commitment from students. For Algebra I, Geometry, or Precalculus, which are designed to replace yearlong high school courses, students should expect to dedicate 15-20 hours per week.
GOA courses are primarily asynchronous, meaning that students do not need to attend pre-determined class meeting times. Instead, teachers design and publish coursework and calendars, and students can, within that framework, work on their own schedules. See more about the summer course schedule in the FAQs below.
The cost of most GOA summer courses is $800 per enrollment for students from member schools and $1,200 per enrollment for students from non-member schools. Algebra I, Geometry, and Precalculus are more intensive than our other summer courses and cost $1,100 for students from member schools and $1,400 for students from non-member schools. Required and recommended course materials can be found here.
Registration opens Thursday, February 15, 2024 (12:00am UTC)
Join students from a diverse range of schools (and more)
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“I took Microeconomics and had so much fun. I loved getting to know people I probably would have never have crossed paths with otherwise. I liked being completely in charge of my learning and having a sense of independence but also knowing that my teacher was there to help if I needed it.”
Alex
Student, Head-Royce School
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“Medical Problem Solving 1 was the first GOA course I’d ever taken. I was able to connect with peers living all over the world and learn about the differences in healthcare from everybody’s firsthand experience…Not only did I further my understanding of anatomy and biology of the human body, I learned even more important lessons in empathy.”
Sanya
Student, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
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“My daughter loved her GOA class. She found it to be very rigorous, which was exactly what she was hoping for in this class. Her teacher was in a different country and classmates were around the world. To learn from and collaborate with people from all over the world was an amazing experience.”
Erin O'Neill
Parent
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I take an online course this summer?
GOA courses are designed to be passion-driven learning experiences. We want students to learn deeply about a topic they care about in an environment that's flexible, supportive, and interactive. Taking an online course allows you to learn on your own schedule, building GOA course time around other summer experiences.
Are GOA summer courses offered for credit?
What's the schedule for my summer course?
GOA courses are primarily asynchronous, meaning that students do not need to attend pre-determined class meeting times. Instead, teachers design and publish coursework and calendars, and students can, within that framework, work on their own schedules.
Students can expect at least one video call per week with their teachers or classmates, but there will not be moments in the course when the entire section gathers on a video call. The teacher will go over that schedule during orientation for the course. We encourage students to advocate for themselves at that time by communicating with their teachers and peers about schedules and time zones, especially during occasional small group projects. Students should be able to log in to Canvas regularly, but they will not be expected to log in at specific times of day.
What is the time commitment of taking a GOA summer course?
These 7-week courses are intensive. Most of them cover a semester's worth of material and expect a 10-12 hour per week commitment from students. Algebra I, Geometry, and Precalculus, are designed to replace yearlong high school courses, so students should expect to dedicate 15-20 hours per week to these courses. While GOA courses are mostly asynchronous and thus allow for flexibility in schedule, students should plan on logging in to their GOA course multiple times a week to check in, participate in discussions, and share their work. Teachers offer opportunities to connect synchronously via video call on a weekly basis.
Students with plans to miss more than 7 total days of the course (ie: vacation, camp) should not enroll. Students who will be taking time off from the course for a personal commitment of 7 days or fewer should communicate time conflicts with their teachers within the first days of the course. Students, in collaboration with their teachers, must come up with plans to complete the work in advance.
At what time of day will the course take place?
Our courses are designed to accommodate students from many different time zones. Our teachers leverage online learning tools, such as Canvas, Twist, Flipgrid, and Padlet, to foster relationships in the course asynchronously. Students can expect at least one video call per week with their teachers or classmates, but there will not be moments in the course when the entire section gathers on a video call. We encourage students to advocate for themselves and communicate to their teachers and peers about schedules and time zones, especially during occasional small group projects. Students should be able to log in to Canvas regularly, but they will not be expected to log in at specific times of day.
Does my GOA course require textbooks or other materials?
All GOA courses require a computer or tablet with a reliable, consistent internet connection. Courses will take place in GOA's learning management system, Canvas, and once the course begins, teachers will let students know which specific free web-tools will be used in the course. Required and recommended course materials can be found here.
What are the important dates for the summer term?
Summer Term 2024 Key Dates
Thursday, February 15 (12:00am UTC): Enrollment opens.
Monday, June 10: Course welcome pages published for students and access emails sent.
Monday, June 17: Courses begin.
Friday, June 21 (11:59pm UTC): Last day to ADD/DROP a summer course with no financial penalty.
Tuesday, June 25 (11:59pm UTC): Last day to DROP a summer course with 50% refund of the enrollment fee.
Friday, August 2: Summer courses end.
Friday, August 9: Final learning reports distributed.
Who are GOA summer course teachers?
Most GOA teachers are also teachers at one of our Member Schools. They are experienced online and in-person educators who have been trained by GOA and are deeply skilled in teaching and supporting students.
How are students graded in a GOA summer course?
GOA uses the Canvas Learning Management system, which maintains an open gradebook, meaning students have real-time access to their work and feedback. GOA will deliver a learning report with a grade expressed as a percentage to students and families twice during the course. When faculty at summer students' home schools request a copy of these records, we also share the information with them. At GOA we use a competency-based approach to assessment, which means that students receive actionable feedback aligned with the articulated goals of the course. Their progress toward these competencies is what drives their grade in the course.
How much does a GOA summer course cost?
Most GOA summer courses cost $800 per enrollment for students from member schools and $1,200 per enrollment for students from non-member schools. Algebra I, Geometry, and Precalculus are more intensive than our other summer courses and cost $1,100 for students from member schools and $1,400 for students from non-member schools. See the "important dates" question above for information on course drops and refunds.
Can I take a GOA course the summer after graduating from high school?
Yes, you can take a GOA course if you graduated from a GOA member school within the last 12 months.
