The Phasing in of K-12 Distance Learning Programs

Phase IReasons• Meeting students learning needs• Standardizing the quality of students online learning• Moving away from home brew versions• Saving public school ADA

SolutionPiloting of a CMS and content vendors Choose vendors that meet the state, regional and local needs related to

students needs and curriculum standards alignment Courses are supplemental Popular model is blended combination of FTF mentoring and with

teachers provided by the vendor for the online or Hybrid course High school first - middle school and elementary later First courses offered in summer Higher Quality over greater quantity

Vendors Currently used in California Public Schools

PLATO- Good but very expensive Odysseyware- Widely used in CA - They are good especially with credit

recovery and in the past 12 months have expanded to offer foundation, electives and AP courses.

Pearson - (Florida Virtual Schools uses them and they are aligned to CA standards but are very expensive)

APEX - Main strength is their AP courses- On a national level they are widely recognized for their AP and foreign language suite.

Kaplan K12 learning services - Specializes in test prep (ACT, SAT, CAHSEE etc)

K12 Inc - Specializes in setting up Virtual schools (San Diego is saturated with them) they are in conversation with a number of districts in Sonoma County.

Edison Learning Does not meet CA requirements but is very popular on the East coast and in the Southern states that have full time virtual schools and meets national standards)

Phase II

• Vendor Solution with local teachers facilitating who have received a minimum of 30 hours of training during a summer institute

• During follow up training over the scholastic year, teachers are trained on how to modify the vendor solution and build local assessments

Phase III

• Teachers start to build their own repositories of lessons using OERs

• Move away from vendor solutions and embrace the Blended model

• Establish a Professional Learning Network

Advantages of Blended Learning

Why BL• Effective• Flexibility’s• Student-Centered• Extends the school day• 21st century skillsMeeting students needs to engage and draw

them into what they need to learn

Advantages of Blended Learning

Blended is a combination of Face to Face and online• Self paced • Online collaborative learningAdministrative Considerations• Funding • Timing • Technology• Organization (Cohesiveness and team on board)• Delivery (LMS with Feedback)

Strategies For Teacher Success

Professional Development• Content Knowledge• Online Facilitation• instructional strategy design (alignment

of e-pedagogy to instructional strategy appropriate for the the type of student learners and activity)

• Instructional e-design (what does the module look like when the students use it?

Strategies for Teacher Success

Professional Development Components• Assessment and Evaluation• Technology literacy

Strategies for Teacher Success

Strategies for Teachers• Contemplate (the process of planning, designing the course to

succeed.….start small and focus on course goals and objectives) What is the best way to deliver this FTF or DLBlended learning is a process that relies on student peer feedback and self-reflection and constantly improving your course. Being flexible and willing to learn as you go…..

Strategies for Teacher Success

Strategies for Teachers

• CustomizeDiversify your approach -Incorporate a variety of media and voices into your approach -podcast, wikis, blogs, Journals etc.

• Move beyond the textbooks - Use OER to integrate quality content, create engaging learning experience and take students beyond the classroom Realign Assessment - Rethink how you assess and measure students progress and mastery of skills and knowledge

Strategies for Teacher Success• Communicate

Critical in the success of student satisfaction, retention and completion

• Establish clear lines of communication• Use multiple modes and voices (syllabus,

announcements, e-mails, blog, podcasts, etc.) • Provide timely feedback (3 days for assessments) Q & A

(within 24 hours) that is positive and train students to do peer feedback

• Be present online - Students need to know that you are there - your facilitator presence and personality needs to come through. Very important

Strategies for Teacher Success

• Cultivate• Cultivating collaboration and community with

students in the online extended class is directly tied to drop out rates

• Participate in a professional learning community for yourself

• Knowledge: seek opportunity to build upon your own content

• knowledge and technical competencies

Opening the Pandora Box

Phase I for setting up Districts’ Distance Learning Programs

PHASE I - Regional Coordinator’s role

1. Awareness: What is the landscape of distance learning?

a. UC a-g aligned and principal certification and local transcription

b. Seat-time requirement in CA

c. Teacher compensation

d. Identifying funding sources

e. Training: teacher and mentor

PHASE I - Regional Coordinator’s role

2. Identify District Distance Learning Team

3. Identify Distance Learning Site Team

a. Research-based Guided Discussion

Nuts & Bolts of Local Adoption to meet local need

b. Best Practice Processes

i. Assessing the District Plan

ii. Needs Assessment

iii. Program Management

1. Determine goals, objectives and metrics

2. Identify stakeholders and governance

3. Develop planning, implementation and monitoring plan

Program Management continued

4. Develop communication process and marketing plan

5. Proactive partnering with union

6. Develop program evaluation process

7. Allocate funding and resources

8. Determine course levels, titles and students

Program Management continued

4. Follow-up

a. If applicable, complete vendor Client Form

5. Transition to Client Manager

Resources

iNACOL –A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning-Version 2 http://www.inacol.org/research/bookstore/detail.php?id=22

Standards for quality online courses

http://www.inacol.org/research/nationalstandards/index.php

Using online courses for credit recovery

Management and Operations of online Programs

http://www.inacol.org/research/promisingpractices/index.php

ResourcesNational Repository of Online Learning (NROC)http://www.montereyinstitute.org/nroc/

CK12 -Teacher Flexbookshttp://www.ck12.org/flexbook/

Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT)http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm

21st Century Skills: Rethinking how Students learnChapter 3 -Comparing the frameworks for 21st century

skills and the common elements that address the need for school reform. Chris Dede

Ozone needs assessment tool

Resources

Resources