We investigated what factors would be related to students' achievement in mathematics courses offered at a virtual high school. This was an attempt to understand why some succeed and some do not as well as to suggest what should be done to help with student success. Seventy-two students responded to a self-report survey on motivation (ie, selfefficacy, intrinsic value), mathematics achievement emotions (ie, anxiety, anger, shame, hopelessness, boredom, enjoyment, pride), and cognitive processes (ie, cognitive strategy use, self-regulation). A three-step hierarchical multivariate regression was employed to examine which of the factors predict student achievement. Results showed that motivation accounted for approximately 13% of the variance in student achievement and self-efficacy was the significant individual predictor of student achievement. However, when achievement emotions were added to the analysis, self-efficacy failed to predict student achievement and emotions accounted for 37% of the variance in student achievement. Cognitive strategy use and self-regulation did not explain any additional variance in the final scores. Findings are discussed and implications for future research and development are also suggested.

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Cherokee County is a suburban school district northwest of Atlanta, GA. In the last several years, the district has seen an explosion of interest in online learning. The district is attempting to leverage digital resources in a way that can enable growth of blended learning district wide as well.

The Georgia Virtual School is a supplemental online school that employs more than 200 teachers. Due to growth and attrition new teachers must continually be hired, which created a large burden for the school. The problem was addressed through the creation of an open online course driven by badge credentialing. Interested teachers now complete this training course prior to the hiring process. This ensures job applicants have a basic knowledge of online learning and a better understanding of the requirements to teach online, thus decreasing attrition in the first year. Course participants go through five modules and earn a badge after successfully demonstrating an understanding of the material in the respective module. The course content is free and open for any other schools to utilize.