NACOL Standards as a Framework for a Staff Development Program

VSS 2008

Your Presenters

• Dr. Linda BooneDirector of Institutional Effectiveness

Introduction, Faculty Evaluation, Conclusion

• Vanessa LeonManager of Learning and Professional Development

Initial Training

• Andrew OrdoverDirector of Academics

Professional Development

Kaplan Virtual Education - KVE

• Part of Kaplan, Inc., owned by the Washington Post Company

• Launched in 2007 in Kaplan Higher Education division

• Manage 15 schools and/or district partnerships• Serve grades 6-12

Where we were…

• Began in 2007 with one private school• Recognized need for a formal program

– Focus on consistency– Focus on opportunity– Focus on results– Focus on quality

Methodology• Looked to KHE structures

– Economies of scale– Consistency

• Looked to past practice in existing school– Results

• Looked best practice across market• Looked to NACOL

– Quality standards for teachers– Opportunity

NACOL Standards: Major Themes

• Professionalism• Leadership• Rigor• Sensitivity• Flexibility• Accountabilityhttp://www.nacol.org/nationalstandards/NACOL%20Standards%20Quality%20Online%20Teaching.pdf

Staff Lifecycle Onboarding Initial

Training

Professional Developme

nt

Evaluation Performance Review

Research, Market

Evaluations

Business Parameters

Onboarding & Initial Training

Onboarding Process

Onboarding / Initial Training

• All new teachers• 12-15 hours• Completed within the first 2 weeks• Initial student assignments delayed• Ecollege platform• Asynchronous and live

Onboarding / Initial Training

Onboarding / Initial Training

• Goals:– Instructional model– High quality learning experience for students– Highly qualified teachers– Transition teachers from classroom– Acclimating to Kaplan family– Understanding procedures

Onboarding / Initial Training• Alignment of lessons with NACOL standards

• General subject areas covered:

– All About Kaplan • (Mission, Vision, Structure)

– Understanding our Students • (Individual Needs, Special Education, Pacing, Motivation, Goals)

– Online Instruction • (Daily Tasks, Partners, Communication, Grading, Working with our Systems)

NACOL Connection

Understands and is responsive to students with special needs Creates/implements assessments, projects & assignments & measures student achievement

Promotes student success through regular feedback, prompt response and clear expectations

Plans, designs & incorporates strategies to encourage active learning, interaction, participation & collaboration in the online environment

• General subject areas covered:

– Dealing with Issues • (Plagiarism, Course Updates)

– Technology • (Webcams, Class Live)

NACOL Connection

Models, guides and encourages legal, ethical, safe and healthy behavior related to technology use

Arranges media and content to help… transfer knowledge most effectively

Has prerequisite technology skills

Onboarding / Initial Training

• Pre and Post Testing• Leadership Training

– Skillport through KHE• Compliance Training• Ongoing Learning Opportunities

NACOL ConnectionComplete self- and pre-assessments

Onboarding / Initial Training

• Resources provide:– Central place for forms,

information– Can be updated easily– Continued access to

learning

NACOL ConnectionHas experienced learning from perspective of student

Onboarding / Initial Training

• Completion tracking• Leadership support• Environment of

continuous learning

Onboarding / Initial Training

• Ongoing support:– Mentoring– Discussion threads– Center for Teaching & Learning– Workshops– Support documentation

NACOL ConnectionTeacher collaborates with colleagues

The KVE Professional Development Plan

Professional Development Plan

All full-time school staff members are required to develop an annual Professional Development Plan that identifies areas of development that will lead to professional growth and improved instruction.

KVEKVE-Wide Department

School

The Worlds of the Online Teacher

School-LevelDepartment

The World of Online Teaching

2008-2009 Goals Purpose

Professional Organization Membership

National / Regional Conferences

Personal Research Focus

Proposed Research Actions

Course(s) To Be Taken

KVE Committees)

Other

Workshops

Conferences

Graduate level courseworkAction research

Presentations

Providing voluntary service

Accreditation Steering Committees

Curriculum Review Committees

Handbook Review Committee.

Professional Development Committee

What you propose Why you choose it

Faculty Evaluation/Performance Review

Faculty Evaluation / Performance Review

Updated for 2008-09– Includes reference to individual plan– Links to specific NACOL standards– Results are tabulated for feedback into

Initial Training Program

Structure of Evaluations

• Section 1 – Effective Teaching Methods & Practices– References to select NACOL standards

• Section 2 – Professional Development 2008– Goals

• Section 3 – Overall Evaluation & Comments

Faculty Evaluation / Performance Review

Challenges – – Review occurs at end of fiscal year, rather

than academic year– New teachers

Expectations of performance will be different

Level of accountability is different

Conclusion

KVE’s ongoing staff development program consistently ties back to NACOL standards for teacher quality– Consistency– Opportunity– Results– Quality

Questions and Answers

VSS 2008