What Your Scholar Needs
Virtualis is designed to work with what most families already have at home. The technology required for classical online learning is modest, affordable, and reusable year after year. No specialized or expensive equipment is needed, and no proprietary hardware is ever sold by the school.
What we do ask for is simple: a laptop that can run Zoom, a document camera so your scholar can share written work with the class, a headset with a microphone for clear audio, and a reliable internet connection. Every item on this page is a one-time purchase that will serve your scholar for many years — and in most households, can be shared among siblings with small adjustments.
The aim is not to impress you with our technology stack. The aim is to get the technology out of the way so your scholar can meet the real instruments of classical education: a book, a teacher, a primary source, and a community of classmates in a Socratic discussion. What follows is the concrete list of what your scholar will need and why.
Required Technology
Each scholar in the household must have access to the following items. These are one-time purchases that will be reused year after year.
Laptop Computer
A laptop is required as the primary classroom device. Mac, Windows, or Chromebook are all acceptable. Tablets and iPads will not suffice as a student’s main connection to class — live instruction, assignments, and full participation require a full laptop environment.
Document Camera
A document camera is required for showing written work during live classes. Teachers use them for real-time instruction and students use them to present assignments, show their handwriting, and demonstrate their work. Any model compatible with your computer is acceptable. Siblings may share a document camera since it is not used continuously throughout the day.
Headphones with Microphone
Each scholar needs a headset with a built-in microphone for clear audio during live instruction. Any standard wired or wireless headset will work, and most gaming or call-center headsets are well-suited. Each scholar must have their own headset since multiple students in the household may be in live classes simultaneously.
Printer
A basic home printer is required for occasional printed assignments, handouts, and student work. Any model will do; ink-saving or black-and-white models are perfectly acceptable. Siblings can share a single household printer without issue.
Great Hearts Canvas Support
Virtualis academic instruction is delivered through the Great Hearts Canvas portal. For login problems, password resets, and account access — call Great Hearts National Tech Support directly. They are the fastest path to a fix.
Great Hearts Online Tech Support
Canvas login problems, password resets, Error 403, and account access. The first call for any Canvas-related issue, available to every Virtualis family.
Call 855-855-6546Press 3 for the national program, then 1. Leave a detailed voicemail if no one picks up.
Canvas Quick Answers
Bookmark this page. Most common login and access issues are solved by the steps below.
- Use Google Chrome (required for Canvas)
- Parent and student accounts are separate
- Courses may load slowly on the first day of school
- Restart the device fully if a page won’t load
Pupil Login on Canvas
- Use Google Chrome. Other browsers often fail.
- Go to the Canvas login page.
- Enter your scholar’s name, username, and temporary password.
Login videos and PDFs are emailed in your welcome packet.
Common Login Issues
Most login issues resolve with these three steps:
- Use Google Chrome.
- Restart the device fully.
- Carefully re-enter the username and temporary password.
Error 403 most often means a stale browser session — full restart fixes it.
Resetting Canvas Password
- Visit Google Workspace: Forgot Password.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions to reset.
- If reset doesn’t work, call Great Hearts National Tech Support at 855-855-6546.
Starting with the password reset resolves most login problems quickly.
Parent Observer Access
Parents must monitor scholar progress through a dedicated Observer account — read-only access to assignments, announcements, due dates, and grades.
- Watch for an invite email from
notifications@instructure.com. - Observer access is view-only and cannot submit assignments.
Live Zoom support runs Monday mornings — join anytime for help with Observer access and Canvas setup.
Call Great Hearts Online support at 855-855-6546 — press 3 for the national program, then 1. Leave a detailed voicemail if no one picks up.
Internet & Software
Internet Connection
Reliable broadband with a minimum of 15 Mbps download speed is required. Most standard home internet plans work well. If two or more scholars in the household are in live classes simultaneously, 25–35 Mbps is more comfortable, though not strictly necessary. Mobile hotspots are not recommended as a primary connection — they are fine as an emergency backup, but live classical discussion is a poor fit for the latency of a cellular connection.
The one concrete test we ask families to run: can you participate in a Zoom video call from the room where your scholar will attend class, with video on, for a sustained period, without dropouts? If the answer is yes, your internet is ready for Virtualis. If the answer is no, a small upgrade from your internet provider is the simplest fix.
Software (Free)
All software is free or provided with enrollment. Your scholar will need a modern web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge), Zoom for live instruction, and Google Workspace for collaborative assignments. Nothing on this list requires a paid subscription, and every item works cross-platform between Mac, Windows, and Chromebook. Installation instructions and access links are sent to enrolled families during the onboarding process, and our team is available to help with any setup questions.
A Good Room Matters More Than a Good Computer
The Study Corner
Every Virtualis family should set aside a dedicated place for their scholar’s school day — not a shared kitchen table during siblings’ meal times, but a real study corner where the laptop and document camera stay in place and the headset hangs on a hook. It does not need to be a whole room; it needs to be a place that says, to the whole household, the scholar is at work here, and we respect the work.
The most common mistake new online families make is setting up their scholar in a room with a television, a window that faces a busy street, or a space that doubles as the household workshop. These distractions are quiet killers of classical attention. A quieter room, even a smaller one, is always the better choice. Good lighting helps. A door that closes helps. A place to rest a book open beside the laptop helps most of all.
Our enrollment team walks new families through room-setup questions during onboarding. We have done this with hundreds of families now, and we have seen every possible home layout. If your situation is unusual, ask us — we will help you think it through before the school year begins.
Do you see a man skilful in his work? He will stand before kings.— Proverbs 22:29
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Tablets and iPads will not suffice as a student’s primary classroom device. A laptop (Mac, Windows, or Chromebook) is required for live instruction, assignments, and full participation in class. Tablets may be used as supplementary reading devices outside of class if you already own one, but they cannot be the main device.
Document cameras allow scholars to share their written work during live classes. Teachers use them for real-time instruction and students use them to present assignments, show their handwriting, and demonstrate their work. Any model compatible with your computer will work. It is a one-time purchase that will serve your scholar for many years.
Each scholar needs their own laptop and headset since they will often be in live classes simultaneously. Siblings may share a printer and a document camera, since the document camera is not used continuously throughout the day. If two scholars have the same subject at the same time, each still needs their own device for full participation.
There is a short grace period during the first couple of weeks of school. Your scholar should notify their teacher if any supplies have been ordered but not yet received. After that period, scholars are expected to have all required items ready for class. If you are struggling to source a specific item, contact our enrollment team and we will help.
In most cases, yes. Arizona ESA funds may be used for approved educational technology and curriculum materials through ClassWallet. Eligibility depends on current ESA rules and the specific item. Visit our ESA guide for details or contact our team if you have a specific item in mind.
Have more questions? Visit our full FAQ page or request information directly.