Implementing Live Synchronous Tools in an Asynchronous Model

Robert LetcherSenior Manager,Virtual High School Programs

Jeff PitcherInstructional Designer, High School Science

Pilot to Program

Background

Model for Successful Launch• K12 2005-2006 Implementation as example

Lessons Learned

Examples of Use

Definitions

Asynchronous – Completion of assignments is primarily done according to the student’s own schedule. May or may not be self-paced.

Synchronous – Live, real-time, teacher-guided instructional activities performed online, in one-to-one or group environments. Occur according to a schedule set by the teacher or school.

Background K12, Inc.

• Educational products and online school curriculum for K-8 and High School

• Used by…• K12-certified Virtual Academy Charter Schools• Homeschool families• Schools and School Districts

– Virtual School Programs– B and M Classroom– Blended Programs

• Spring 2005 call for Elluminate Pilot Proposals

• In response to Virtual Academy parent, student, and teacher feedback regarding need for synchronous tools

A Team Approach

When possible, include stakeholder representatives

Assign Project Manager(s)

Assign tasks based on strengths

Set deadlines and project plan/parameters

Evaluate and Make Recommendations

Determine Need• Identify stakeholders/users

• Students, Parents, Teachers, Staff, Board of Trustees, K12

• Interview for interest and use ideas• Informal interviews held with sample representatives

• Real or assumed? Optional or critical?• Real but only Sometimes critical

• Verbalize Need (63)• Small-group Instruction• Professional development • Assessment• Special education• Tutoring or skills advancement• Parent orientations or workshops• Community Involvement• Administrative meetings

Choose Tool

Choose your tool

• Gather Options

• Consider the environment• Possibly 40% dial-up, personal computers with

questionable processing/memory

• Needs and Goals vs. Abilities• Audio, video, whiteboard, web sharing,

desktop/application sharing

• Test, test, test

Implementation is not an accident Top-down, bottom-up, or all at once

• Top-down to enhance buy-in and serve as “beta” group

Mandatory vs. optional

• Initially Optional, but encouraged - Upon acceptance, mandatory

Identify Possible Pitfalls

• Technical issues • Use of Elluminate support line• Elluminate Administrators joined Elluminate Technical

Support email list

• Acceptable Use Agreement and Student Code of Conduct

• Controlled Release for approved uses until evaluation completed

Training is not an accident• Start early

• After school starts is too late

• Small steps• Focus on discreet skills

• Consider Resources, Bandwidth• Fast turn-around time• Limited resources• No existing experts

• Align with uses, needs, and comfort-level• Identified discrete skills that all would need

based on role• Recognized differing levels of tech-savviness

Rapid ID Model of Training Keep it brief

• 5 hours total

Keep it relevant

• Only included basic, necessary skills

Identify existing collateral

• Existing Elluminate recordings, Quick-Start Guides, manuals, & Live Sessions

Re-purpose existing collateral for training plan• Step-by-step training plan

Asynchronous with a deadline

Peer Evaluation

Release

• Follow your plan• School Management• Leadership Teams• Teaching Teams• Parents/Students

Evaluation is not an accident or “one and done” Formative Evaluation During Training

• Peer Review Forms

Formative Evaluation During Implementation• Online surveys for Attendees• Internal Sharepoint Survey for

Moderators

Evaluation• 5,000+ sessions held

• ~40,000 attendees (not unique users)

• 150+ Elluminate Rooms created

• Staff members averaged 10 sessions per month

• Average # of attendees = 17

• # of sessions moderated from 1 to 180+

• Every teacher and Administrator moderated at least one session

• Used for 45 of the 63 possible uses stated in the pilot proposal

• Elluminate sessions replaced most conference calls

• Every staff member moderated at least one session

• Department-based Elluminate Administrators have been identified and begun training for this role

• Over 90% of instructional staff successfully completed training.

• Found to be meeting the goals set forth in the proposal

Average Hours of Travel Saved = 24.46 hours

Areas in need of training

• The more robust features of Elluminate, such as Application Sharing, Web Tours, the Quiz Manager, and the Graphing Calculator

• Classroom Management

Problems encountered during sessions

• missing/non-working microphones

• Slow or lost connections

• High attendance affects classroom management

• Inappropriate Direct Messaging, whiteboard use, and user names

• Including attendees without a computer on Elluminate sessions

Moderator Feedback

Evaluate: Review, Re-Train, Re-Design

Impact on student/parent/staff “experience”

• Student and parents want more interaction with each other

• Classroom Management

• Guidelines needed for effective and appropriate use

Impact on academic achievement

• Not measured

Impact on model of instruction

• Some teachers quickly and quietly converted Asynch to Synch

Impact on time management

• Scheduling Issues

• Spending twice as long on school work

Resulting Recommendations

Keep sessions short

Vary schedule

Record whenever possible

Plan sessions for interactivity

Use to support existing curriculum, not to supplant it

Reduce number of sessions offered

Train for classroom management

Use examples – Then and Now

Elluminate Examples

Lab Work: Hawaiian Island Chain

Lab Work: Hawaiian Island Chain

Observations*There is a cluster of earthquake activity occurring to the southeast of the big island.*Every island is formed from at least one volcano.*Loihi is forming to the south of the big island.*Older islands are to the northeast of Hawaii.*Extinct islands are to the northeast of Hawaii.*Trenches are formed where earthquakes are at a depth of thirty kilometers or more.*Island arcs form from trenches.

Hypothesis: If the oldest and least active volcanoes are to the northeast of Hawaii, then the youngest and most active volcanoes are located to the southeast of Hawaii.

Tests:*My graph shows that age of a volcano increased with distance from Kilauea.*My graph showed 40 percent of the 2006 earthquakes near Hawaii were at a depth of more than 30 km..*Your graph showed a cluster of earthquake activity near Loihi.

Testing Relationships by graphing data: Distance vs. Age

Testing Relationships by graphing data: Elevation vs. Age

Students find evidence of magma chambers and are able to characterize the upper mantle beneath the Hawaiian Islands using earthquake data.

Examining the island chain from above – Google Earth allows students to see what’s going on at a specific longitude / Latitude coordinates.

Modeling Volcanic Activity.

A Model for the Planning, Training, Implementation,and Evaluation of New Technology Launch

Use a Team Approach

Determine Need

Choose your tool

Implementation Plan

Create a Training Plan

Release

Plan for and Carry out Evaluation

Evaluate: Review, Re-Train, Re-Design, Recommend