Sharing progress on state-wide Credit Retrieval program (MTDA Connect) for the state of Montana using the PLATO Learning Environment and a coach/facilitator model through the Montana Digital Academy. XLi 2011

1. Modularized Developmental Education at MTDA: 3/8/10 Montana Digital Academy Ryan Schrenk, Instructional Coordinator

2. Director Robert Currie Curriculum Director Jason Neiffer Instructional Coordinator Ryan Schrenk

3. Ian Jeffrey Schrenk – Born 3/9/10 Where I was a year ago tomorrow: Montana Digital Academy – employed December 1, 2011 Pilot underway with 2 schools Where I was 4 months ago: MTDA Connect Credit Retrieval– Over 300 enrollments, 29 schools and counting. Today: What it is, how it works and how it can work for you… Where we are today:

4. MTDA Summary What is the Montana Digital Academy (MTDA)?

5. Montana Digital Academy 20-7-1201. Montana virtual academy -- purposes -- governance. (1) There is a Montana virtual academy at a unit of the Montana university system. (2) The purposes of the Montana virtual academy are to: (a) make distance learning opportunities available to all school-age children through public school districts in the state of Montana; (b) offer high-quality instructors who are licensed and endorsed in Montana and courses that are in compliance with all relevant education and distance learning rules, standards, and policies; and (c) emphasize the core subject matters required under the accreditation standards, offer advanced courses for dual credit in collaboration with the Montana university system, and offer enrichment courses.

6. Montana Digital Academy Funded by 61st Legislature Free to Montana K-12 Students Housed at UM College of Education Executive Director and Curriculum DirectorHired Early 2010 Curriculum, Courses Created and Faculty Hired 2010 First Courses September 2010 Instructional Program Coordinator Hired December 2010

7. Three Types of Offerings MTDA Courses Dual Credit Courses MTDA Connect (Credit Retrieval)

8. Credit Recovery, Credit Retrieval "What I think we want to use online learning to do is to escapethe traditional factory model that treats every student the same way on the same day" –Bill Gates January 28, 2010 USNews

9. Credit Recovery or Credit Retrieval Usually defined as an in-school opportunity for students to earn academic credits that they have lost, or are about to lose, by failing a regular course. –edweek.org 10/20/2008

10. History of Credit Retrieval Remediation in math increased 72% in public 4-year colleges between 1950-1980 1983 – Nation at Risk Published Nation At Risk led to NCLB Alliance for Excellent Education (2008) – 30% of HS students fail to graduate on time ---Loupa(2010) Montana has new statewide tracking system now (AIM number) with numbers quoted around 78% graduation rate

11. Gates – 1 to 1 Computing Improve academic achievement Equalizing access to digital resources Change the nature and quality of instruction Improve economic competitiveness by providing students with real-world skills

12. Why credit retrieval to keep pace? Factors for dropout Early grade academic achievement High school test scores Being held back a grade -California Dropout Research Project (2008)

13. Types of Credit Retrieval 1. Focused Learning Efforts K-12 After school programs Saturday or summer School Block scheduling Academies Early ID of at-risk population College Fast-track/focused programs Adult Basic Ed Veteran’s Upward Bound

14. Commercial Computer-Based Solutions 2. Commercial Products Aventa PLATO NovaNET Apex Florida Virtual K-12.com Khan Academy (http://www.khanacademy.org/)

15. Credit Retrieval is needed How does a school decide what, who and how? How do they afford it? How to staff it? Who has time to plan, coordinate, support it?

16. MTDA Connect- home-grown attempt to: Combine intrusive focused learning With individualized/computer based solution

17. MTDA Connect Credit Retrieval Program What is it? How Does It Work?

18. MTDA Role Provide scalable state-wide solution for Credit Retrieval

19. MTDA Connect Charge Accessible/secure/comprehensive solution Purchased centrally, shared widely Technical support Enrollment management Curricular oversight Integrated solution? Coming Soon

20. How Schools Get Involved District Rep contacts us Fills outenrollment form(s) Go through short orientation Figure out how to support students locally

21. How MTDA Connect Works MTDA + local facilitator + academic coach Online access 24/7 to curriculum Modular, individualized, self-paced Module tests open for 2 tries Post-tests unlocked manually and monitored locally

22. How MTDA Connect Works PLATO Vocabulary Tracking and communication Pre-test, module exemption or module mastery, post-test Grade reports

27. PLATO Learning Environment (PLE) Time-based model Based on Caroll (1963) “Quality instruction is defined by a structure based on knowing what objectives are, access to content and carefully planned and specified wide range of instructional events” Mastery Learning Model Based on Bloom (1987) Bloom preferred self-paced learning or adjusting the time to the student’s aptitude ---Loupa (2010)

28. Bloom’s 5 Steps For Mastery Learning Notify of objectives Organize into small units Materials and strategies should be identified and used consistently Each unit has pre-test Allow for/provide supplementary instruction

29. Academic Coach Role Responsibilities

30. Why use coaches? Wide variety of programs at local level Balance with local needs to provide support Grading or teaching needs Changes equation for students Subject matter certified Modifications to curriculum

31. Communication Monthly meeting with MTDA and Coaches PLE messaging Email to facilitators and students Google docs and dropbox.com for shared files Toll free fax to email service for written work Phone calls

32. Taking Content Retrieval to the Next Level Analysis of curriculum/prioritize offline activities Support Site Teacher Materials Curriculum maps Suggestions for improvements Modifications and Planning Monthly Update Meetings

33. Site Facilitator Ways to track and support credit retrieval students

34. Facilitators Class management Local eyes and ears for MTDA Connect Passwords Enrollments Tracking and Management Help logging in then making students do it Working on curriculum Formative assistance Conduit for communication Tracking work Grades and final assessment

35. Final Lesson…so far "Man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait long time for roast duck to drop in.“ - Cofucius

36. Do’s and Don’ts Do something Don’t wait, our students need us

37. Do’s and Don’ts Do use technology to deliver Don’t use it to babysit or purely reward

38. Do’s and Don’ts Do get “intrusive” in Credit Retrieval or Remedial Education Don’t expect different results without changing the variables

39. Questions? Interested in discussing or partnering? Contact Ryan Schrenk ryan.schrenk@mso.umt.edu ryan.schrenk@montanadigitalacademy.org 406-243-6122 Skype: ryan.schrenk Twitter: hardball8 This presentation is available at slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/rschrenk