Presentation Transcript

1. Iowa Learning Online

   (ILO)

   Iowa Department of Education
2. Who We Are The Iowa Department of Education’s virtual learning program, launched in 2004. A support system available to all Iowa accredited public and non-public high schools, and dually-enrolled home school students.
3. What We Do Support local schools by providing: A centralized and trusted source of rigorous, Core-aligned coursework. Iowa licensed teachers, with appropriate grade-level and content endorsements. Access to courses not otherwise available to students. Quality online courses with enrollment fees historically waived.
4. Why Students Are Enrolled Credit Recovery Credit Advancement Scheduling Conflicts Course Not Offered Within Their District Home-Bound Travel or Exchange Semester To Experience an Online Learning Environment
5. Role of the School Make the choice to enroll students in ILO online courses which average about 25 students. Agree to provide the student with an active site coordinator (coach) to support the student’s learning and to act as a district contact for the ILO teacher. Agree to provide the student with computer access at school. (Students may also work from home.) Agree to award credit on the student’s diploma, based on the percentage score provided by the ILO teacher.
6. How We Operate Student progress is regularly reported to coaches and parents/guardians and is available at any time. Students who show no attempts at progress during the first four weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters or the first two weeks of the Summer semester will be dropped. Students who are steadily progressing, but are not finished with the course at the end of the semester may be re-enrolled or continue their enrollment into the next semester.
7. ILO Differs from Self-Directed“Packet”Courses ILO Courses Assist with providing college and career-ready experiences, as well as differentiated credit-recovery options. Provide rigorous, Core-aligned, opportunities for collaboration with Iowa-licensed, content-endorsed teachers guiding instruction to create authentic learning experiences. Self-Directed Courses Useful for tutoring and some credit recovery situations with appropriate teacher guidance, as student is often not self-directed. May lack rigor, regular interaction with a content-endorsed teacher, collaboration with other students, and true alignment with the Iowa Core.
8. How ILO Differs from the Virtual Academies Iowa Learning Online Historically, enrollment fees are waived. Student remains within their local district participating in remaining courses, extracurricular activities, special education, and other services such as free and reduced lunch. Diploma is awarded by the local school district. Virtual Academies Requires open-enrollment with state funding following the student. All courses and student activities or services must be provided or arranged by the academy’s school district. Diploma is awarded by the academy’s district. Without further legislation, the academies will cease operation by July 1st, 2015.
9. Why You Haven’t Heard of Us In the past, a small staff and static funding allowed for an enrollment of only 600-700 students per year. Knowing we could not accommodate more students, ILO has rarely advertised its services beyond our website and “word of mouth.”
10. State Board of Education Support Has made Online Learning one of its priorities for the last four years. Has been and continues to be committed to growing Iowa Learning Online to be able to serve any Iowa student who wishes to participate in an online course as part of their educational experience.
11. Legislative Action Codified ILO as the Department of Education’s Online Learning Program Model. Appropriated $4,500,000 of expansion funding for infrastructure, curriculum and three new ILO positions. Granted ILO permission to serve in an “offer and teach” capacity, on a one-year basis, if a school is unable to employ a properly-endorsed Iowa licensed teacher. Provided for the creation of a non-profit participation fee, if needed at some point in the future.
12. What’s Happening at ILO? Hiring teachers for summer work on core-alignment of courses and content creation. (Announcements will soon appear at www.TeachIowa.gov) Hiring additional part-time teachers for Fall 2014. All curriculum areas in grades 9-12. Applicants must have a valid Iowa teaching license, with appropriate grade-level and content endorsements. Please e-mail your resume, and a short statement of interest to Angi HIllers, ILO Registrar, at angi.hillers@iowa.gov
13. Who Are ILO Teachers? Primarily: retired teachers teachers who have chosen to be stay-home parents teachers who teach full-time for a school district or work in private industry during the day and desire a part-time job.
14. Guidance Whether or not you choose to provide online opportunities to your students is up to your school district. By current law, you are the gate-keeper. If you choose to provide students with online course opportunities, ILO would be delighted to serve you. When selecting online opportunities, we want you to make credible choices for your students. As directed by SF 2284, the DOE has developed a guidance document to assist you in selecting online resources and opportunities. This document is posted on both the DE and ILO websites.
15. www.IowaLearningOnline.org Director Gwen Wallace Nagel gwen.nagel@iowa.gov 515-419-3275 Assistant Director – interviews in process Teaching and Learning – interviews in process Student Services Cale Roe cale.roe@iowa.gov 515-242-5461 Registrar Angi Hillers angi.hillers@iowa.gov 515-281-4714