Searchlight^® Virtual School
School of Christian Formation ... Online

FAQs

What should I do first?

What are the system requirements for using the Searchlight online courses?

What is a Shockwave Player? How do I get a Shockwave Player?

Is the Searchlight Virtual School part of the Diocese of Palm Beach?

Who issues Credit for the SCF courses: The Searchlight Virtual School or the Diocese of Palm Beach?

Can other dioceses make use of the Searchlight Virtual School for Online Catechist Certification, Adult Faith Formation, Youth Religious Education, and Character Education?

Can I take the courses using different computers in different locations?

What is an "Orientation Conference?"  Why is this needed?

I sent in an Enrollment Application, but haven't been contacted by a Searchlight Representative. What should I do?

I am having trouble using the "Auto Submit" button on the forms. What should I do?

How do I access the SCF online courses?

How do I register for a course?

How can I get the course materials needed for a course?

How do I save a copy of an electronic form on my computer?

How do I attach a form or the worksheets to my e-mail?

What should I do first?

The first place to visit is the "Enrollment Process" page.  This page clearly outlines the steps of the Enrollment Process and also provides audio instructions.

Note: If you have previously enrolled in the Searchlight® Virtual School (i.e. for Basic or Intermediate Catechist Certification courses) and you already have a Student Number is it not necessary to go through the "Enrollment Process" again.   Provide your current Student Number when ordering your courses.

What are the system requirements for using the Searchlight^® online courses?

•   High Speed Internet Connection: Do not try to use these programs online with a dial-up internet connection.

•   You will also need three of the most current browser plug-ins installed on your computer:

•   Playback Efficiency: How well these programs function online is affected by the speed and power of the computer used to access them. Allow extra loading time when accessing the Searchlight Programs with older or slower computers.  If the buttons flicker when you try to click, allow a little more download time, then try again.  Also consider the following:

What is a Shockwave Player?  How do I get a Shockwave Player?

The Shockwave Player is a "plug-in" for your internet browser, and it is a free download from the Adobe web site.  Most of the online tutorials are created with a software application which makes interactive web-based "Shockwave Movies."  In order for your internet browser to make it possible for you to see and interact with a Shockwave Movie, the Shockwave Player must be "plugged in."

If you aren't sure whether or not you have a Shockwave Player installed on your computer, go to the Enrollment Process page, then listen and follow the directions in Step 1.  This information will also explain what to do if you need to download the player.

Is the Searchlight Virtual School part of the Diocese of Palm Beach?

The Searchlight Virtual School was created for the purpose of serving the Diocese of Palm Beach as well as other dioceses, based on their curriculum requirements.  However, it is a division of Ocean East Publishing, which is a privately-owned company.

Who issues credit for the SCF online courses: The Searchlight Virtual School or the Diocese of Palm Beach?

While the Searchlight Virtual School provides and facilitates the online courses, the Diocese of Palm Beach issues both the Certificates of Completion and the course credit once course requirements have been met. 

Can other dioceses make use of the Searchlight Virtual School for Online Catechist Certification, Adult Faith Formation, Youth Religious Education, and Character Education?

Yes.  All the information needed for a diocese to participate in the Searchlight Virtual School is provided on the Diocesan Affiliates Page.

Can I take the courses using different computers in different locations?

Yes.  The online tutorial portion of each course is online and available 24/7.  If you want to be able to complete the worksheets from a second computer, for example, your computer at work, save the worksheets to a USB Flash Drive* (sometimes called a Jump Drive).  Always access, enter information, and save your answers using the document saved to the Flash Drive.  Carry your Flash Drive with you.  This way you can work on the courses anytime you can connect to the internet.

* Flash Drive: A small, portable flash memory card that plugs into a computer's USB port and functions as a portable hard drive. USB flash drives are touted as being easy-to-use as they are small enough to be carried in a pocket and can plug into any computer with a USB drive. USB flash drives have less storage capacity than an external hard drive, but they are smaller and more durable because they do not contain any internal moving parts. USB flash drives also are called thumb drives, jump drives, pen drives, key drives, tokens, or simply USB drives.

What is an "Orientation Conference?"  Is it necessary?

After we receive an Enrollment Application, we respond by e-mail and attach a set of instructions.   Before a prospective student pays for an SCF online course, we want to be sure he or she can access the online tutorials.  The instructions contain two choices: To move ahead without the Orientation Conference or to schedule a Phone Orientation Conference. 

For those students who already know that they have successfully installed the Shockwave Player and can access and interact with the online tutorials, the first choice is appropriate.

For those who need assistance, scheduling a Phone Orientation Conference is the appropriate choice.  This conference also establishes an opportunity for a student to get to know us and for us to know each student. During the conference, a Searchlight representative will show the new student how to access the online tutorials, introduce him or her to the operating features of the tutorials, answer questions, and offer help in any other areas with which a student may need assistance.

I sent in an Enrollment Application, but haven't been contacted by a Searchlight Representative. What should I do?

If you sent in an electronic enrollment form and you have not received an e-mail confirmation within 24 hours, please call our office: 772-563-9457. Also, please review the information provided in the next question.

I am having trouble using the "Auto Submit" button on the forms. What should I do?

If your computer is not responding well to the auto-submit buttons we have embedded in the electronic forms, you can use an alternate method for submitting the forms.  Use File > Save As and save the form on your local computer. Access the form, fill it out, and save it again.  Then send us an e-mail and attach the form to that e-mail. Send the e-mail to: info@searchlightvs.com.  An e-mail link can also be found on the "Staff/Contact Us" page.

You should also check to see what version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader you are using.  Older versions are not responding well to the Auto Submit buttons.  Go to the Adobe (Adobe.com) website and locate the "downloads" page. Then download the most current Acrobat Reader.  It is a free download.

How do I access the SCF online courses?

The courses can be accessed from any page of the web site by clicking on the "SCF Online Courses " button at the top of the page. Read and follow the directions on the page that opens.

How do I register for a course?

Once you have completed the Enrollment Process, you can register for courses on the "Order Online Courses" page.  Courses are ordered through PayPal.  When you place an order for a course, the course materials for that course are sent to you as attachments to an e-mail.  You will need to provide your student number when ordering courses.

How can I get the course materials needed for a course?

To receive the electronic course materials you must:

• Be enrolled in the Searchlight Virtual School.
• Download the Shockwave Player and access the online tutorials on your own, or schedule a "Orientation Phone Conference" so you can have assistance doing this.
• Order a course on the "Order Online Courses" page.

When the above steps are complete, your course materials are sent to you as an attachment to an e-mail.

Textbooks: Online courses still require a text.  Some texts can be purchased from the School of Christian Formation Diocesan Office, but but please call the office first.   We have provided links on the "SCF Online Courses" page.  Click on the image of the text needed for a particular course.  You will be taken to an online source for purchasing that text.  You are not required to purchase the text through the designated source.  Texts can also be purchased new or used online, for example, through Amazon.com, or you can place a special order through your local book store.

How do I save a copy of an electronic form or PDF on my computer?

Open the electronic PDF, then go to File > Save As.  (Avoid using "Save as a Copy" or "Save a copy.")  Browse to the folder on your computer into which you want to save the document.  Open the destination folder and save your PDF document into that folder.  (If you do not designate a specific folder on your computer, the document will be saved to your default location. For Windows users that is the "My Documents" folder.  For Mac users it will be saved into the Documents folder or the location where you last saved a document.) 

How do I attach a form or the worksheets to my e-mail?

In your e-mail program you should compose a simple message and address it to: info@searchlightvs.com.  Give the message a "subject." Then click the "attach" icon (typically looks like a paper clip). Choose "Browse." The "Browse" feature allows you to find and choose the folder containing the document you want to attach. When you locate the appropriate document, highlight it, then choose "attach."  A PDF icon should pop into your e-mail. Once it does, you can send the e-mail.

If you have any questions which have not been answered here, please call us. We are always happy to lend assistance.