Student Success Handbook

Student Guide to Online Learning

Everything you need to know before, during, and after your CVA course. This guide will help you make a confident, informed decision and set you up for success from day one.

The Basics

What Is Online Learning?

Online learning at CVA means taking rigorous, credit-bearing courses through a digital platform—from anywhere in Cobb County and beyond. It’s the same rigor as a traditional class, just a different environment.

Full-Time Learners

Take all of your courses virtually through CVA. Your entire school experience happens online, but you’re still a part of your school’s community.

Part-Time Learners

Add one or more online courses to your regular in-person schedule to expand your options, while staying connected to your home school.

Summer Learners

Recover credits, get ahead, or prepare for the SAT during the summer without a physical campus.

Common Misconception: Many students assume online courses are easier than in-person classes. They’re not. A well-designed CVA course covers the same content and expectations as any face-to-face class. The difference is where and how you learn—not how much is expected of you.

Motivation Matters

Expectations for students

Your CVA course is designed to help you learn, practice, and show what you know. Because online learning gives you more control over when and where you work, it also asks you to take an active role in your success. The expectations below will help you build strong habits, make responsible choices, and know what to do when you need support.

Make Time for Learning

Online learning is flexible, but it still requires a consistent weekly routine. Keep track of due dates, files, assignments, and course materials so you can find what you need.

Engage With the Lesson

Work through the full lesson, including videos, activities, self-checks, and directions.

Build 21st Century Skills

Use digital tools responsibly to create, organize, submit, and communicate about your work.

Own Your Progress

Take responsibility for your learning by checking your grades, reviewing feedback, and submitting work that reflects your own thinking, effort, and understanding.

Stay Connected

Contact your teacher when you are confused, stuck, falling behind, or unsure what to do next.

Study Skills

Success Strategies

Online learning puts you in the driver’s seat — which means time management, organization, and focus are all on you. Open a topic below to explore proven strategies that will help you stay on track.

+Managing Your Time

Managing Your Time

One of the biggest differences between a traditional class and an online class is how time works. In a traditional school day, bells, teachers, and class periods help structure your learning. In an online class, you help create that structure yourself.

Big Idea

Successful online students do not just “find time” to do schoolwork. They make a plan, follow a routine, and stay aware of deadlines. Students should expect to engage 10–12 hours per week on a full-year (Y) course, or 5–6 hours per week on a half-unit (A or B) course during Fall and Spring terms. During the shortened Summer term, students should expect to engage 40 hours per week for a full-year (Y) course and 20 hours per week for a half-unit course (A and B).

Three Simple Ways to Stay on Track

These habits can make a big difference in an online class.

Check In Daily

Start Early

Waiting until the last minute creates stress. Starting early gives you time to think, revise, and ask questions.

Use a Plan

A planner, calendar, checklist, or reminder app can help you keep track of deadlines and stay organized.

Create a Weekly Routine

Click each item below to explore simple steps that can help you build a routine for online learning.

Check the Class Schedule

Start the week by reviewing announcements and looking at upcoming assignments on the Class Schedule. Knowing what is due helps you make a realistic plan. Check the Class Schedule first to make your weekly plan. Students will follow all due dates and submit work on or before each deadline. The Class Schedule is the authoritative source for all assignment due dates, including the Mid-Term Cutoff Date and final submission deadline. Work will not be accepted after the Mid-Term Cutoff Date and the Final Submission Deadline.

Choose your work times

Set aside specific times during the week to work on your class. A consistent routine helps prevent assignments from piling up. Establish and maintain a consistent weekly work routine and plan when school, extracurricular activities, work, or personal activities may interfere with completing coursework.

Spread work across the week

Actively participate, ask for help when needed, and complete work on time. Instead of doing everything in one sitting, work on assignments a little at a time. Smaller chunks of work can feel more manageable. Set aside blocks of at least 30 minutes to one hour. Fifteen-minute bursts between other activities won’t lead to success.

Leave room for questions

Starting work early gives you time to ask your teacher for help if something is confusing.

Review your progress

Monitor progress and grades through StudentVue and My Grades, by reviewing feedback and submission history. At the end of the week, take a moment to reflect on what worked well and what you might change next week.

Prioritize Your Course

The Real Truth About Flexibility

Online learning is flexible, but that doesn’t mean you should only work on it when nothing else is going on. You have to make the time by making your course a true priority.

Prepare — Ask the Hard Questions Early

Before your course begins, ask yourself whether you’ll need to give something up to make room for it. Know this upfront — it prevents nasty surprises mid-semester.

Rank All Your Obligations (1–3)

Rate every commitment as a 1 (must do), 2 (should do), or 3 (low priority). Your CVA course should always be a 1.

Track Your Time with an Activity Log

For a few days, write down how you spend each hour. Most students are surprised how much time disappears into low-priority activities.

Build a Specific To-Do List

A daily to-do list takes the guesswork out of your study sessions. Use your course’s pacing guide as your starting point and build specific tasks from there.

+Engage with the Lesson

Online Learning Habits

Engage Fully and Manage Distractions

Completing a CVA course means more than submitting assignments. CVA lessons include instructional videos, activities, self-checks, and other interactive content designed to help you build real understanding before completing graded work.

Step 1

Work Through the Lesson

Read the lesson, watch videos, complete activities, and use self-checks before moving on to the graded assignment.

Step 2

Remove Distractions

Before you begin, reduce anything that may pull your attention away from the lesson, including phones, social media, background noise, and messages.

Step 3

Use the Lesson to Complete Your Work

Use what you learned in the lesson to complete assignments, quizzes, discussions, projects, or other graded tasks.

Lesson Routine

What Strong Engagement Looks Like

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Read all lesson directions before starting the assignment.

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Watch instructional videos and take notes when helpful.

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Complete activities and self-checks honestly.

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Go back to the lesson when an assignment question is confusing.

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Ask your teacher for help when you do not understand the lesson material.

Know Your Enemy

Time management’s greatest enemy is distraction. Whether it’s social media, messages, or friends — distractions will always compete for your attention. You have to actively manage them.

Exit all social media apps on your computer and phone before studying.
Turn your phone fully off — not just vibrate or silent. If it’s visible, you’ll check it.
Those notifications will still be there when you’re done. Every check-in interrupts your thought process and harms your ability to learn.

Research shows we are most productive when our environment is silent — even if you think you focus better with music or TV in the background.
Try working in complete silence for a few days. You may get significantly more done in less time.
If silence is genuinely difficult, try ambient or instrumental music without lyrics.

Before sitting down to study, let everyone around you know you’re unavailable — physically tell family members, not just hoping they’ll figure it out.
Update your messaging apps to “away” or “do not disturb” so friends know not to expect a response.
Being clear about your availability ahead of time prevents interruptions and builds respect for your study time.

Overcoming Procrastination

Your Best Defense

Implementing all of your time management strategies is your single best protection against procrastinating. Being prepared and committed from day one goes a long, long way.

When you feel overwhelmed

Chunk Large Tasks

Break big assignments into several smaller, manageable steps. A large task feels impossible; a first step feels doable.

Instead of “write the whole essay,” start with “write just the outline tonight.”

When the list is too long

Do the Easy Tasks First

Tackle your easiest items first to build momentum and a sense of accomplishment that carries you forward.

Start with a short reading response before tackling the longer project section.

When you feel isolated

Work with Others

Find a classmate or friend to study alongside — in person or virtually. Knowing someone else is working keeps you accountable.

Schedule a weekly video call study session with a CVA classmate.

Important Reminder

Clicking Through Is Not the Same as Learning

Clicking through lesson content just to reach the next assignment does not meet CVA expectations. Students are expected to work through each lesson fully and engage with all lesson components as intended. Teachers may review student engagement data as part of the assessment process.

+21st Century Skills

21st Century Skills

Overview

Use Your School Login to Access Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 gives you access to the apps you may need for schoolwork. You can use these tools to write papers, build presentations, organize information, complete projects, and prepare files to upload into CTLS.

DIRECTIONS: Use your Cobb student login to access Microsoft 365. If you need to install Microsoft 365 on a personal computer, use the installation instructions linked below.

What You Can Use

Common Microsoft 365 Tools

Click each card to learn how these tools may help you complete work for your CVA course.

WordClick to learn more

Use Word to type essays, written responses, notes, research projects, and other documents your teacher may ask you to submit.

PowerPointClick to learn more

Use PowerPoint to create presentations, visual projects, slideshows, and multimedia assignments.

ExcelClick to learn more

Use Excel to organize data, create tables, analyze information, and complete assignments that involve numbers or charts.

OneDriveClick to learn more

Use OneDrive to save your school files so you can find them later. Remember: for CVA assignments, you must upload the file into CTLS rather than submit a shared link.

Free for Cobb Students

Get Microsoft 365

You can access Microsoft 365 using your school login. This gives you access to Microsoft tools that may be required for assignments in your CVA course.

Access Microsoft 365 Installation Instructions

Stay Organized

Organize Your Files in Office 365

Keeping your school files organized makes it easier to find your work, upload the correct file, and avoid starting over when something is due. OneDrive is a good place to save your CVA files because you can access them from different devices when you sign in with your school account.

Step 1

Create a CVA Folder

In OneDrive, create one main folder for your CVA course files. This gives you one place to look when you need to find your assignments.

Step 2

Make Folders by Class

Inside your CVA folder, create a separate folder for each online class. For example, you might have folders for English, Health, Spanish, or Algebra.

Step 3

Save Files with Clear Names

Use file names that tell you exactly what the assignment is. A clear file name helps you upload the correct file into CTLS.

File Naming Tip

Use a Simple File Name Pattern

A good file name includes the class, assignment, and your name. This makes your work easier to find and easier for your teacher to identify.

Example: English A3.01 Essay Hardigree.docx

Important: Saving your work in OneDrive helps you stay organized, but it does not submit your assignment. When your work is ready, open the assignment in CTLS and upload the actual file unless your teacher gives different directions.

Student Email

Use Outlook to Send and Receive School Emails

Outlook is your school email tool in Microsoft 365. Use Outlook to communicate with your teacher, ask questions, read important updates, and send attachments when needed.

Step 1

Check Your Email Regularly

Log in to Outlook often so you do not miss messages from your teacher, CVA, or your school. Important reminders may be sent to your school email.

Step 2

Write a Clear Message

Use a clear subject line and include your question or concern in the message. Be specific so your teacher knows how to help you.

Step 3

Add Attachments When Needed

If your teacher asks you to email a file for communication purposes, use the attachment button to add the document, image, or file before sending.

Email Checklist

Before You Send an Email

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Use your school email account.

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Include a clear subject line, such as Question About Unit 2 Assignment.

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Explain what you need help with.

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Attach any needed file before you click send.

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Check your message for complete sentences and a respectful tone.

Important Reminder

Email Is for Communication, Not Assignment Submission

Your teacher may use Outlook to answer questions and communicate with you, but CVA teachers are not allowed to accept work submitted by email. If an assignment requires a file, you must upload the actual file in CTLS unless your teacher gives different directions.

Submitting Work

Use Microsoft 365 Files the Right Way

You may create your work in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or another Microsoft 365 tool. When it is time to submit, make sure you upload the actual file into CTLS if your teacher asks for a file submission.

1 Step 1

Create or Open Your File

Use Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or another Microsoft 365 app to complete the work your teacher assigned.

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2 Step 2

Save or Download the File

Make sure your file is saved somewhere you can find it. If you worked online, download the file to your device if needed.

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3 Step 3

Upload the File in CTLS

Open your assignment in CTLS and upload the file as an attachment. Do not submit a shared link unless your teacher specifically tells you to do so.

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Important Reminder

Upload Files, Not Shared Links

For CVA assignments, make sure you upload the actual document, presentation, spreadsheet, or file into CTLS. Shared links to OneDrive, Google Drive, Canva, or other outside locations may not be accepted unless your teacher specifically gives different directions.

+Stay Connected

CTLS Parent

CTLS Parent is the primary form of communication with both students and families. Students are required to check their CCSD student email and CTLS Parent messages daily and respond promptly. All communication should be clear and respectful and should include the student’s name and course. Students with questions or concerns are expected to contact their teacher proactively.

Ask the Right Person

When you have a question, the fastest way to get help is by contacting the right person. Most questions about your class should go to your teacher, while questions about scheduling or graduation progress should go to your school counselor.

Teacher

Questions about your class?

Your teacher is the first person to contact for anything related to the class itself.

Contact your teacher for:

Clarifying assignment directions
Explaining feedback on a submitted assignment
Helping you understand a skill or concept
Answering questions about due dates or grading
Time management and organization
Getting caught up if you fall behind
Check-ins when you are struggling
Academic success strategies

School Counselor

Planning ahead?

Your school counselor helps with the bigger academic picture, including scheduling, credits, and graduation progress.

Contact your counselor for:

Course scheduling
Graduation requirements
Credit checks and transcripts
College and career planning

The most important thing is that you must be willing to reach out to your CVA instructor. Many students hesitate, but your success genuinely depends on it. Instructors want to hear from you.

+Own Your Progress

Own Your Progress

Your work, grades, and feedback all connect. In a CVA class, your work should show your own learning, your grades help you track progress, and your teacher’s feedback helps you improve.

A Note on Procrastination

Owning your progress means not waiting until the last minute. Students who stay on top of their work, manage their time, and resist the urge to procrastinate set themselves up for honest, meaningful learning. The habits you build here directly affect the grades you earn and the feedback you receive.

Start Here

Three Things to Remember

Successful online students do more than submit assignments. They complete their own work, monitor their progress, and use feedback to get better.

Integrity

Do Your Own Work

Your assignments should reflect your own thinking, effort, and understanding.

Grades

Check Your Progress

Use My Grades in CTLS to monitor assignments, scores, missing work, and feedback.

Feedback

Use What Your Teacher Tells You

Do not stop at the grade. Read feedback carefully and use it on your next assignment.

Academic Integrity

Be Honest About Your Learning

Academic integrity means being honest about your learning and submitting work that reflects what you know, understand, and can do. It is not just about following rules. It helps your teacher know how to support you.

Simple rule: Do your own work, give credit when needed, and ask for help when you are stuck instead of taking shortcuts.

Do This

Submit work that reflects your own ideas and effort.
Use sources responsibly and give credit when needed.
Follow your teacher’s directions for each assignment.
Ask questions when you are confused.
Reach out for help before you fall behind.

Do Not

Copy and paste from websites or other sources.
Submit work written by someone else.
Share quiz, test, or assignment answers.
Use AI or other tools to complete assignments for you.
Submit someone else’s work as your own.

Grades

Know Where to Check Your Progress

CVA students use both CTLS and StudentVUE. They do not show exactly the same thing at exactly the same time, so it is important to know what each tool is for.

CTLS

My Grades

Use My Grades to track assignments, view scores, check missing work, see submission status, and read feedback from your teacher.

StudentVUE

Official Grade

Use StudentVUE to view your official grade of record. This is the grade that appears on your report card.

Important: Grades entered in CTLS may take up to 24 hours to appear in StudentVUE because of the overnight sync. If your teacher grades something today, you may see it in CTLS before you see it in StudentVUE.

Open StudentVUE

Feedback

Do Not Stop at the Grade

Feedback is one of the most important ways your teacher communicates with you in an online class. It can explain what you did well, what needs improvement, and what to do next.

Find It

Check My Grades, the Grading Center, or open the assignment to find feedback.

Read It

Read all feedback carefully. Your teacher may leave written comments, annotations, audio, video, or notes about what to improve.

Use It

Apply the feedback to your next assignment. Feedback helps most when you use it to make a change.

Where Feedback May Appear

Check More Than One Place

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Assessments: Look for instructor feedback and feedback on individual questions.

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Assignments with attachments: Check instructor feedback and open your submitted file to look for comments or annotations.

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Discussions: Review public comments and scroll for private instructor feedback.

Next Steps

What Should I Do?

Missing or Not Started

Open the Assignment

Read the directions, complete the work, and submit it in CTLS.

Submitted

Wait for Grading

Your teacher still needs to review the assignment and enter a grade.

Graded

Read the Feedback

Review your score and read what your teacher wrote, recorded, or marked.

Confused or Concerned

Contact Your Teacher

Ask a specific question so your teacher can help you understand what to do next.

Important Reminder

Your Choices Matter

In an online class, teachers cannot always see how you complete your work. CVA expects students to submit their own original work, follow assignment directions, and be honest about their learning.

If there is an academic integrity concern, your teacher may review the assignment, ask questions, require the work to be redone, assign a zero, or involve CVA leadership. If your teacher reaches out about your work, use it as a chance to explain your thinking, ask questions, and show what you know.