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Going the Distance VIRTUAL LEARNING: STEPS TO SUCCESS

Going the Distance VIRTUAL LEARNING: STEPS TO SUCCESS. Elaine Manicke Principal Rio Rancho Cyber Academy. Who We Are: About Rio Rancho Public Schools. Formed in 1994 from portions of two other school districts (one large urban, one small rural)

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Going the Distance VIRTUAL LEARNING: STEPS TO SUCCESS

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  1. Going the DistanceVIRTUAL LEARNING: STEPS TO SUCCESS Elaine Manicke Principal Rio Rancho Cyber Academy

  2. Who We Are:About Rio Rancho Public Schools • Formed in 1994 from portions of two other school districts (one large urban, one small rural) • Opened with 5,900 students in seven schools (five ES, two MS) • Today serves 16,653 students in 18 schools (pre-school, ten ES, three MS, Mid-High for grades 8 and 9, comprehensive HS, alternative HS, and Cyber Academy • Now NM’s third largest district

  3. Why Start a Cyber Academy? • Provide online delivery of high-quality, non-remedial educational services for students who may not be well-served in other types of schools, including: • Full-time program in a non-traditional school setting serving, for example, students who travel, students with socialization challenges, and hospital-bound/homebound students • Distance education courses taken by students from other campus sites within our system • Bridging the gap between home schools and public schools • Bringing home school students back to district

  4. Effective Distance Learning • Social Presence • Flexibility • Interaction • Learner/Content • Learner/Learner • Learner/Instructor • Learner/Technology

  5. Activities • Match Objectives • Build around learning theories • Incorporate technology • Elements of Meaningful Learning

  6. Instructional System Design Needs Assessment Learner Characteristics Evaluation Environment Instructional Materials Objective Sequence Outcomes Measurement Instruments

  7. Needs Assessment • What are the issues? • What arethe differences between expected outcomes and actual outcomes?

  8. Learner Characteristics • Who are your students? • What impacts their learning? • Cultural factors • Special needs

  9. Environment • What are the resources? • What are the conditions in the environment that can help or hinder the educational process?

  10. Meaningful Learning Environments Active Manipulative/Observant Intentional Reflective/Regulatory Constructive Articulative/Reflective Authentic Complex/Contextualized Cooperative Collaborative/Conversational Jonassen, Howland, Moore, & Marra (2003)

  11. Learning Outcomes • State/District Standards and Benchmarks • Objectives • Marzano’s Taxonomy

  12. Marzano’s New Taxonomy 2001 • Three Systems and Knowledge • Self-System • Metacognitive System • Cognitive System • Knowledge Domain

  13. Self-System • Beliefs about the Importance of Knowledge • Beliefs about Efficacy • Emotions Associated with Knowledge • Initiator of learning system

  14. Metacognitive System • Specifies Learning Goals • Monitors Execution of Knowledge • Monitors Clarity • Monitors Accuracy

  15. Cognitive System • Knowledge Retrieval: Recall; Execution • Comprehension: Synthesis; Representation • Analysis: Match; Classify: Error Analysis; Generalize; Specify • Knowledge Utilization: Make Decisions; Solve Problems; Inquire; Investigate

  16. Knowledge Domain • Information • Mental Procedures • Physical Procedures

  17. Technology • Which one? • How often? • For what purpose? • Accessibility

  18. Objective Sequence • Order of the objectives to produce outcome? • Backward Planning

  19. Measurement Instruments • What is the outcome or product? • What measurement instrument will you use? • Rubric • Test

  20. Assessment of Learning • Reflects learning goals • Formal/Informal • Formative/Summative • Monitor and Adjust • Authentic tasks • Teacher Effectiveness/Reflection

  21. RRCA Mission Statement Enhanced learning through effective technology RRCA Vision Statement Create a model school for distance learning

  22. Program vs. School? • Programs are extensions of an existing school • Programs in NM do not graduate students • An independent school must provide all services • An independent school permits students to take online classes full time leading to graduation Cyber Academy students package and deliver relief supplies for flood victims in Hatch, NM

  23. High Tech / High Touch? • Question: Is it possible to be both “high tech” and “high touch”? • Should the program be designed to mitigate the perceived social isolation of on-line programs? • How could the Rio Rancho Cyber Academy enhance communication and support for both students and families? Cyber Academy students package and deliver relief supplies for flood victims in Hatch, NM

  24. Goals • Improve student achievement in a distance learning environment • Develop 21st Century skills • Engage students through a meaningful learning environment, applying technology to demonstrate learning • Use research to create a foundation for best practices to overcome the challenges of implementing a DL platform

  25. Vendor Selection Developed rubric based on: • Instructional Delivery: Interactive Writing across the Curriculum Standards Alignment • Program Reliability • Learning Management System • Support and Training: Relationship • Cost/licensing • References E2020 My Skills Tutor

  26. School Leadership and Vendor Collaboration • Leadership • Vision • Knowledge • Passion for teaching and learning • Creative • Flexible • Dynamic • Public relations to promote program and speak to issues with all stakeholders • Take some heat • Be a change agent • Effective communicator

  27. NM History: RRCA/E2020 Course • ½ credit of NM history required for graduation • Course developed by RRCA faculty member Sue Thorstensen • Produced and edited by E2020 • Course shared with other NM school districts

  28. Quiz/ Cumulative Exam Vocabulary Practice/ Homework Video Lecture Explore Learning Online Content Journal Activity E2020 Virtual ClassroomSubject Areas and Structure70% Mastery Language Arts Mathematics Social Studies Science Electives

  29. Student MonitoringLearning Management System • Provides information from formative assessments: homework/practice , journals, quizzes, lab assessments and unit tests, time on task. • Weekly review of all students’ progress in a collaborative setting. • Communicate at least once a week with each student. • Teach parents how to monitor student progress online • Alert parents of inadequate progress and interventions

  30. Quality Assurance New Mexico Science Content Standards, Benchmarks, and Performance Standards Approved 2003 New Mexico State Department of Education • Insuring that the courses were aligned to the New Mexico Standards and Benchmarks/E2020 on NM Adoption list as Core Basal • Insuring that the courses meet the rigorous expectations of our district • Insuring that the courses were equivalent to those offered in a traditional classroom setting • Insuring that the pedagogy of the courses was sound and intellectually stimulating for students

  31. “Getting The Right People on the Bus” --Jim Collins, “Good to Great” • Teaching in a cyber school environment is not for everyone (even some very qualified teachers!) • Needed to better define program and student populations we should serve (instead of being all things to all people)

  32. About the Rio Rancho Cyber Academy • Students enrolled: • 145-160 full time in grades 7-12 • 96blended (part-time -- enrolled in other schools and taking one or more courses at Cyber Academy) • Founded: Fall 2005 • Graduated first 12 students in Spring 2007 Principal: Elaine Manicke

  33. How We Operate • Students come into lab two days a week for mentoring, tutoring and group workshops • Students work at home the rest of the time • Students can come into the lab anytime for additional help • E2020 software helps teachers monitor students’ time on task and progress

  34. RRCA PLC Expectations Professional Learning Community Collaborative Coordinated Data informed Standards-Driven Focus on instruction, equity and results Expand teacher knowledge Ongoing professional development Encourage innovation and excellence

  35. Our Staff • Four regular ed teachers who have dual certification • One special ed teacher • Program manager/teaqcher • Support staff (secretary, registrar, part-time nurse, custodian) • Highly qualified (one Ph.D., nine Masters degrees, five with licensure as “master teachers”) • And . . . cyber teachers need more than great educational qualifications

  36. Cyber Academy Teaching • Mentor • Motivate • Monitor • Use technology effectively • Be creative, flexible, high tolerance for change, and the love of ambiguity

  37. Who Are Our Students? • Grades 7-12 • High-performing students who want to be challenged • Variety of needs • Prefer a smaller/more flexible school • May have obligations outside of school • Returning from hospitalization and transitioning back into school • Bored in a regular school setting and want to accelerate their learning • Credit recovery: currently for our full-time students

  38. More Than Just Online Classes • Student activities • Collected/delivered supplies for flood relief • “Senior Moments” • Teaching seniors how to program cell phones • Homecoming Dance at senior center • Homecoming float (Won first for theme award!) • Students can earn ½ credit for community service • Parent involvement: • Active parent council • Parents trained to monitor student progress online • At least two parent-teacher conferences annually

  39. How do we know it works? NM Standards-Based Assessment (grades 7, 8, 9, 11) Selected subgroups ranked against NM high schools

  40. How do we know it works? NM High School Competency Exam (first administered in grade 10) • 31 sophomores took the test • 28 passed all six sections of the test on the first try (90%, compared to 67% the previous year) • RRCA Grades Issued • First Semester 2007-08 • (% earning A’s and B’s) • 7th grade: 95% • 8th grade: 73% • 9th grade: 68% • 10th grade: 76% • 11th grade: 58% • 12th grade: 78% 50 students currently on waiting list!

  41. Continuous Improvement: Big Plans for Next Year • Workshop approach: • Project based • Web conferencing • RTI • Writing workshops • E portfolio • Note-taking, study skills, time management, and 21st Century Skills • Interactive projects to demonstrate learning and to apply and utilize technology

  42. Going the DistanceRio Rancho Cyber Academy For further information: Rio Rancho Cyber Academy 1330 Jackie Road SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 (505) 892-7222 www.rrps.net/CyberAcademy/index.htm Elaine Manicke: emanicke@rca.rrps.k12.nm.us

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