How to Schedule Virtual Classes

You can find more info on our virtual classes on our website. Click here! If you've already scheduled your class and are looking for help setting up, check out this article: How do I prepare for my MasteryPrep virtual class or event?

Where to start?

The best place to start when scheduling your virtual class is to consider exactly what your students need, along with what will bring the most engagement and participation. We offer classes during the regular school day, which tend to work best for schools trying to fit their Mastery classes in with other required courses and/or electives. Our after-school and Saturday classes offer your students the benefit of flexibility or extracurricular opportunity. We'll design a schedule tailored to your students' unique needs. 

Who should attend?

As you're planning your virtual class, it's important to consider which students you'd like to enroll. Ultimately, who you assign to your classes is up to you, but here are some considerations that may help you choose students who will benefit the most:

• Grade level - Many of our schools choose to hold classes for specific grade levels to make the best use of timing before test day. For example, 11th graders take the ACT in the Spring semester, so a Fall semester ACT Mastery virtual booster class would be a great boost for that cohort.
• Volunteer/Elective - Not all virtual classes require administrators to assign students. A virtual booster class is a perfect fit for students who see the value in boosting scores and want to learn the skills that will help them improve. 
• GPA & Test Scores - If you have multiple classes to schedule, grouping students by test score range may help students by allowing the instructor to modify the pacing of the class.

What does the schedule look like?

While the overall timeframe of the class is up to your discretion (weekends vs. after school vs. during school), the actual times and frequency of the class are more complicated and are the pieces that require the most coordination. We understand that fitting test prep into an already-packed school schedule can be challenging, so we will always attempt to accommodate your school's needs within reason. 

A few things to consider when planning your class schedule:

Length of class/number of instructional hours purchased

A typical virtual booster class is 18 hours long. Upfront, we will need to put each class session on our schedule in order to lock in your timeslot and instructor. This means we'll need you to provide the dates and times for each session so we can confirm availability on our end. Likewise, be ready to share any days when class won't be taking place, like holidays or early-release days, so we can incorporate that info into your schedule.

Runway leading up to an important test date

If you are planning to have your class leading up to a test date, you will need to get it scheduled as early as possible. The dates right before national test dates always fill up quickly. We want you to get your preferred dates, so please be sure to get them in as soon as you have a plan!

Preparing for technology requirements

While many aspects of our virtual classes are done with the push of a button, there are some pieces that require some action on the school/district's end. The easiest way to ensure a smooth tech experience for your students is to prepare ahead of time.

• Our classes require students to have their own devices, whether joining from home or from school. If joining from class, we recommend students use headphones or have the class projected to the front of the class with one set of speakers.
• Students must perform a quick tech check to make sure they are able to access the virtual classroom (Kaltura) prior to the first day of class. 
• If your school or district hasn't already whitelisted all of MasteryPrep's domains to access our resources, instructions on how to do so can be found here.

Consistency and regular schedules

The virtual booster class is a highly-concentrated dose of prep that will keep students engaged and excited to join class each day. To keep that momentum high, we recommend that the class takes place within 6-week period and that all classes are held at the same time every day of the schedule. This consistency helps students focus on their task and the purpose of the booster class -- to boost their scores and confidence on test day!

Additional notes on MasteryPrep classes

Due to the demand for our virtual and in-person classes, we have a few basic guidelines that help ensure we have the capacity and instructor availability to serve as many of our partner schools as possible. Likewise, these recommendations will help schools prepare students for success.

• Students will need access to their Mastery workbook in order to participate in virtual class sessions. 
• MasteryPrep class sessions should start on the hour and be 1 hour in length. If the class meets multiple times per week, the sessions should start and end at the same time each day, as mentioned above. 
• All students should attend all class sessions where possible. If students are not required to attend, this should be communicated to your MasteryPrep instructor.
• The standard program consists of a MasteryPrep-provided curriculum covering multiple subject areas across a test. For example, an ACT Mastery class will cover English, Math, Reading, and Science.
• If your purchase included TruScore Practice Testing and Analysis, please be sure to have your students complete their pre-test before the first day of class and their post-test after the class has ended. Testing during class sessions will eat up valuable instruction time and will mean your students will spend less time learning. 

When in doubt, reach out!

Regardless of your situation, our team will work with you to find the best option for you and your students. If you don't already have your MasteryPrep contacts on speed dial, please contact us through the Support button on your screen or email us directly at [e-mail].