A introduction to my work at Palisades School District

1. Palisades Cyber Academy:
A Model for Community Based, eLearning Excellence

2. Technical Capacity
start the conversation...
• Effort to increase personal and professional capacity in the entire community
• Digital literacy is the most important literacy needed in our schools
• Instill passion and engaged learning
• Establish a broader appreciation for global competence

4. Bricks and Clicks

5. Rethink | Rupture | Rebuild
A Paradigm at Palisades
• Rethink with connectivity, collaboration, & creativity as the core precepts.
• Rupture past practice to engage students at their level
o Changing our teaching model is much easier than changing the way students learn
o In a "people" economy, our students are customers. How are you providing customer service?
o Are you planning to rollback Facebook?
• Rebuild with holistic principles driving the entire community of learning
o Radical Collaboration
o Intensive, Proactive Communication
o Inquiry-based Problem Solving
 Have you seen these before? Where?

6. Advantages of Community Based eLearning
• Increased Technical Capacity for All
• Higher Quality eLearning Courses For Students
o Our Teachers with PA Aligned, Board Approved Content
• Credit Recovery
• Flexible Schedules
o Full Range of "Brick & Click" Options
o On site support
o Weekly Cyber Sessions in Library

7. Advantages of Community Based eLearning
• Provide Additional AP and Language Opportunities
o Provide additional content to ensure student achievement
• Extended School Day/Year
• Fiscally Advantageous
• Early Graduation
• Additional Opportunities for Inclusion
• ...

8. Challenges of Community Based eLearning
• Time
• Startup Costs
• Community Buy In

9. Our Solution
• Blackboard and Blended Schools were a unanimous first choice
o We reviewed a dozen solutions
o The Big 3 - LMS, Instructors, and Content
• Our Teachers
o Dedicated periods in their schedules
o Also serves as an "Office Hours" period
o Learning Lamp until we have more offerings
• What Blended Schools Gave Us
o Editable Content
o On Demand Support
o OPC Training
o Online and F2F training

10. Vision - How To Do It Better?
• Full K-12 offerings in 2012, still just high school and some middle school
• Idea Centers
• Habits and Habitats
• Relentless Support
o Provide every opportunity for students and families to succeed
• Additional course offerings for community members and local businesses

11. All Said and Done...
• Schools are in the business of opportunity building
• eLearning growth and experience delivers on this business model
• What are you preparing students for?
• Connect with me
o @rkiker
o +Rich Kiker
o Rich Kiker on LinkedIn

12. Palisades Cyber Academy
iNACOL Reports & Publications
Hybrid Charter Schools on the Rise
The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning
More eLearning Links