240 likes | 352 Views
Anytime, Anyplace: Learning for Today’s Students!. Nancy George Director, Virtual Learning Center Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis. Are we best preparing all of our students for college & career success?. Student Learning Needs.
E N D
Anytime, Anyplace: Learning for Today’s Students! Nancy George Director, Virtual Learning Center Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis
Are we best preparing all of our students for college & career success?
Student Learning Needs • A student is at risk of dropping out, but will stay enrolled if she can take classes that better fit her schedule and lifestyle • A middle school student is struggling and could benefit from taking two specialized classes as part of his regular school day
Student Learning Needs • A small group of students wants to take Spanish 3 and Spanish 4, but there are no funds to hire another Spanish teacher • District wants to expand course catalog to include more AP / advanced classes available to honors students.
Why Do Students Drop Out? • 47% classes weren't interesting • 43% missed too much school and couldn't catch up • 38% too much freedom and not enough rules • 35% were failing • 32% get a job and earn money • 88% had passing grades • 70% could have graduated if they had tried • 69% not motivated to work hard • 66% would have worked harder if more had been demanded of them 2006 survey, The Silent Epidemic
An Alternative Learning Opportunity Photo from: www.flickr.com/photos/berkeleylab/4863700123/
Online Classes • 2000: 45,000 K-12 students • 2009-10: more than 1.5 million K-12 students • 2010-2015: forecasted growth at a compound annual rate of 43% Data from Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning
Missouri SB 291 = District Opportunity • Allows a school district to provide virtual education and be eligible to bill the state of Missouri for ADA based on course completion not on attendance hours in building. • Receive 94% ADA of full-time virtual students • State reimbursement is paid half at 50 percent of course completion and half at full course completion
Virtual Education in Missouri • School districts identifying their own solutions for virtual education, and are often not able to serve as many students as they would like due to high costs
Which Students Can Benefit? • Students at risk of dropping out • Students want to take AP or enrichment courses • Credit recovery students • Independent learners • Home-bound students • Home-school students • Hospitalized students • Students in detention centers
“We have looked for a way to address both our struggling students and high flyers, District’s-Choice e2020 product is the answer. I think the options it offers are what appeals to us the most.” High School Ass’t Principal
Idea: Potential new service to school districts Research: Conduct overview meetings and focus groups Curriculum & Instruction NEA reps Superintendents
RFP Process = Program Quality • Vendors were selected based on the quality of their offerings and pricing • Select courses reviewed by a committee of local educators • quality of course • variety of assessments • Multiple vendors provide broad collection of courses
Price negotiated as guaranteed lowest in Missouri Each district / school create a customized “course catalog” Students/counselors begin enrolling Rolling enrollment offers flexibility
Admin tools • Customize mastery level • Reports on student progress “Some of our students have never felt a sense of accomplishment or success prior to e2020… the system allows me to easily input and output data, while keeping parents informed of daily progress and success.” • Administrator, • Re-Entry Center
Time management for student (calendar) • Instruction w/ video (view multiple times) • Journal for student notetaking • Assignments • Assessment
“I took an online course and thought it would be easy, but it was hard. I learned a lot and plan on taking more next semester.”
Closing Considerations • Will offering these courses improve your dropout and graduation rates? • Will you be able to offer more AP and other challenging courses to your top students? • What is your district already paying for virtual education programs? • Will this program allow you to more efficiently serve your students at lower operational costs?
Nancy George ngeorge@csd.org 314-692-1251 Ruth Litman-Block rlblock@csd.org 314-692-1272 Photo from: www.flickr.com/photos/wingedwolf/5471047557/
Photo Credits • Students at computer http://www.flickr.com/photos/berkeleylab/4863700123/