Expanding Horizons: The World of Virtual Schools
Discover the dynamics and rise of virtual schools, exploring benefits, operations, costs, and course offerings in this modern educational landscape. Unleash the potential of online learning!
Expanding Horizons: The World of Virtual Schools
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Presentation Transcript
Virtual Schools Pam S. Johnson Technology and Instructional Design CAT 701
What is a virtual school? • Can be held through interactive media where the teacher and students see and interact with each other (DDN) • Can be held totally on line where the only interaction is through using computers (Web CT, Jenzabar, Blackboard, e-college) • http://bozeman.dwu.edu/ICPPerson/(ED3AD1EC-66DD-43D7-A9C0-30D4182B368B)/Fri_1410_2.pdf
Why are online schools growing so quickly? • Deliver more classes for less cost • More AP and college prep classes • Provide equal educational access • Resolves schedule conflicts • Can reach specialized groups of learners • Accommodate some of those that haven’t succeeded in traditional high schools • http://distancelearn.about.co.m/cs/highschoolged/a/aa031703_p.html
How are they supported/operated? • College and University-based high schools • Consortia • State Education Agencies • Local Education Agency-based schools • Virtual Charter Schools • Private Virtual Schools • For Profit Virtual Schools and Providers • http://distancelearn.about.co.m/cs/highschoolged/a/aa031703_p.html • http://www.connectionsacademy.com/PDFs/VirtualNews704.pdf
Profile of a Virtual School • In 2001-2002-40,000 to 50,000 K-12 students enrolled in on-line classes and over 100,000 in 2002-2003 • 1,000,000+ are enrolled in distance education classes • 1/3 of virtual school students are home schooled and need to take advanced or technical classes • The aim is to provide supplemental classes but some programs offer high school diplomas • http://distancelearn.about.co.m/cs/highschoolged/a/aa031703_p.html • http://www.connectionsacademy.com/PDFs/VirtualNews704.pdf
Cost • About 73% charge tuition, and those that don’t receive state funding or grants • An average tuition is around $500 per semester • University and State-based independent study programs charge out of state • http://distancelearn.about.co.m/cs/highschoolged/a/aa031703_p.html
Types of Classes • Calculus • English • Government and Politics • U.S. History • Economics-Macro and Micro • Physics • Statistics • Chemistry • Biology • http://distancelearn.about.co.m/cs/highschoolged/a/aa031703_p.html
Benefits of Online Learning • Enhanced communication among students and between students and teachers • Accommodation of different learning styles • Unlimited flexible access to curriculum and instruction (any time, any place) • Frequent assessment • Increasing the supply of teachers • http://www.connectionsacademy.com/PDFs/VirtualNews704.pdf
Florida Virtual School (FLVS) • Established leader • Nationally recognized e-Learning Model • In 2000, FLVS became a state law as an independent entity • Serves grades 7-12 and adult GED programs • 2003-4 FLVS offered 75 courses including honors and AP courses
There are over 100 teachers and 15 are nationally certified • It is free to all Florida students; non-Florida students can enroll and pay tuition ($750 for non-AP and $800 for AP classes) • It is funded for $8.4 million this year and will service 15,000 students • http://www.flvs.net/_about_us/facts.htm
California Virtual School • Only available to California residents • VHS are no longer experimental • Pedagogy is different and methods need to be tracked
Three Main Types of Online Learning • Asynchronous-learners don’t need to be online at the same time and teachers respond to posts • Near Asynchronous-students are logged in for a scheduled time but interaction is via bulletin board • Synchronous-learners participate in real time and the instructor is a moderator
Challenges of Online Learning • Weak content and curricula • Weak online pedagogy • Limited forms of online assessment • Lack of technology standards and best use of technology • Instructor not prepared to be a virtual instructor • Not all learners are prepared for online learning
Technology Related Areas • Course content-can be developed or bought • Course management system (CMS)- platforms through which courses are offered • “Portal” website-provides course listings, registration, brochure • Student information/administration systems-tracks student information
New Developments • Course repositories-will allow courses developed using different management systems will have commonalities • Interoperability of CMS-CMS vendors will adopt “web services” to allow their software to interoperate with other systems
New Developments, con’t. • Publishers Textbook Content-core courses will be digital and available inside the course CMS system to be linked when online courses are developed • Better User Experiences-more flexibility-less HTML • Certain models work better for creating large numbers of courses and serving large numbers of students-combining models to make sure all students needs are being met • http://www.uccp.org/docs/VHS_Report_lowres.pdf