insight and innovation for technology leaders

Insight and Innovation for Technology LeadersApril 8, 2011, Burlington,

MA

Virtual High School Global Consortium

Liz PapePresident and CEO

Virtual High School Global ConsortiumMaynard, MA

[email protected]

Insight and Innovation for Technology Leaders

Slide title or click to delete

April 8, 2011, Burlington, MA

Today’s Goals:• VHS’s approach to online learning and

how we arrived at this model

• VHS results and successes

• Challenges facing online learning

• Advice for schools/districts that are just getting started with online learning


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Virtual High School Global Consortium Non-profit, global

consortium of nearly 700 member schools offering innovative online courses

Currently in 15th year of operation and 14th year of online course delivery

Originally funded by the Federal DOE through a $7.8M technology grant – five years of research & development


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VHS Mission to develop and deliver standards-based,

student-centered online courses, to expand students’ educational opportunities and 21st century skills, and to offer professional development to teachers to expand the scope and depth of their instructional skills.


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VHS Leadership & Recognition Accredited by Middle States and Northwest

Accrediting Commissions Courses NCAA initial-eligibility certified Partnership for 21st Century Skills PD affiliate USDLA 21st Century Best Practices Award 2005,

2007 and 2008 USDLA Best Practices K-12 Course 2005 & 2008 Blackboard Course Content Award 2005 & 2007 NCTET Community Builder Award 2004 Stockholm Challenge 2001 Award


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The VHS Collaborative ModelPartnership with schools in online education

– cooperate, not compete– Supplement, not supplant

Preparing classroom teachers to teach online &/or develop online courses– Classroom teacher preparation for online in VHS’s TLC/NIM PD

courses– Online design standards and online delivery standards

21st century skills development– Teaching skills for both classroom and online– Learning skills through virtual global classrooms

Accountability – hard data points and survey input


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How the VHS Consortium Functions

Participating school provides:• 1 teacher to teach a VHS

online course @ 1 teaching period per day

• 1 VHS Site Coordinator

• Internet access for students

• VHS course scheduled time for students

VHS provides:• Over 200 standards based

courses across all content areas

• Professional development training and mentoring

• Hosting of the virtual school

• Technical and administrative support


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What VHS provides• Courses, professional development and program

in alignment with iNACOL Quality Standards• Student Support

• Survey• On-site Mentor• Student Orientation• Help-Desk Support• Online Course Delivery Infrastructure

• Teacher Preparedness, Mentoring and Support• Program Evaluation

• Quality Benchmark Indicators• Annual Program Evaluation by outside evaluators


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How is VHS Unique ? The VHS instructional model is built around an

interactive experience in which students learn from fellow students as well as the teacher – cohort-based instructional model.

These are virtual classrooms conducted globally No more than 25 students Teachers and students may live in different time

zones Students can access course any time from any

computer in the world


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Teachers of VHS Courses• Teachers come from member schools

• All teachers are certified and teaching in content area

• Teachers complete a graduate level course in online course delivery (NIM or TLC)

• First year teachers are paired with a faculty advisor/mentor

• Ongoing professional development through ProGrEss: professional growth essentials


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Site Coordinators

• Site Coordinators are the glue that makes the program work

• Could be someone from guidance/ teacher/administrative staff/paraprofessional

• Manages enrollments, grade reporting, student monitoring, student support

• Manages materials


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What VHS students learn

• VHS promotes development of 21st century learning skills, and self-directed learners

• Content/curriculum

• Collaboration and communication (ICT skills)• Critical thinking, project-based learning

• Global citizenship skills• Extending the learning experience beyond the

classroom walls

• Online discussions with students of different cultures


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The VHS value proposition• Enable schools to maximize their

investments in technology through online education that develops 21st century skills

• Expand course offerings through a cooperative model

• Develop teachers who remain in schools and model 21st century teaching skills

• Offer in-school options that help schools keep students enrolled


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Summary of benefits:Students:

• Online learning is done in a technology rich environment• learn using technology, rather than about technology

• Get access to courses otherwise not available• Students gain 21st century/ICT skills• Time management and independent learning skills are

developed – lifelong learners

Teachers:

• Master the technology tools and learn best practices in delivery of online instruction

• Develop expertise in the integration of technology into curriculum

• Incorporate new technology into face-to-face classroom instruction

• Join and easily communicate with a global community of teachers


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VHS SUCCESS


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MA VHS Member Schools’ GrowthInsight and Innovation for Technology LeadersApril 8, 2011, Burlington,

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Sampling of MA VHS SchoolsConcord-Carlisle HSMaynard HSSouth High Community SchoolMarlborough HSHudson HSArlington Catholic HSApponequet Regional HSChicopee HSBerkshire Arts and Technology

Charter Public School

Agawam HSNashoba Regional HSBarnstable HSLittleton HSArthur Coolidge MSChelsea HSWellesley HSDoherty HSDennis Yarmouth

Regional HS


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MA VHS Schools Enrollment Growth


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Sample of What MA Teachers are Teaching Online

• AP Calculus BC• Astronomy• Constitutional Law• Forensic Science• AP Physics• Music Composition• AP Statistics• Investing in the Stock

Market

Preveterinary Medicine AP Biology Environmental Chemistry Algebra 2 The Holocaust Introduction to Physics World History Geometry and Algebra

Applications


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MA Students’ AP Exam Performance


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Unexpected benefits: The 21st Century Teacher

• Effect of online teaching experience on f2f instruction– At least 60% of respondents made changes in

course design/redesign– 40-60% of teachers transferred strategies from

online teaching into the classroom• Dr. Susan Lowes, Dir. Research & Evaluation, Teachers

College, Columbia University• http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/publications/lowes_final.pdf


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CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED


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Challenges• Site-based

education policies– Seat-time– State-by-state

teacher licensure– State-by-state

curriculum frameworks

– Funding

Maximize the vision of online education Credit recovery Just-in-time remediation 21st century literacies

development College readiness skills

and content Career exploration Global classrooms and

awareness


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Lessons Learned

• Infrastructure includes:– Registration/

enrollment– Grading– Help desk support– Program evaluation

Standards-based Strong teacher

professional development program Initial model-the-

model Ongoing for

maintaining currency of online teaching skills


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Thank You!

Liz [email protected]

www.goVHS.org


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mailto:[email protected]

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