CC Webinar

1. +
Instructional
Strategies for K-12
Virtual Education
Courses
Monday, October 24, 2011

2. + The Regional P-12 Virtual Education
Initiative
The NE/NYCCs are addressing P-12 Virtual
The Comprehensive Education opportunities and challenges
in a three-pronged manner:
Center Network
 examining policies, initiatives, and
By insisting on high achievement for practices within and outside the region
all students, regardless of
to provide a context around the current
geography or life
circumstance, the Elementary and
state of virtual education
Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
has made the need for high quality  Recently convened a regional summit
technical assistance paramount for to both facilitate and disseminate this
state education leaders. We are information and to understand
part of 16 regional comprehensive education leaders’ highest priority
centers funded by the U.S. information and policy needs and
Department of Education concerns around this topic
activated to support education
leaders in our states as they strive to
meet the goals of ESEA and
 hosting a series of webinars for leaders
improve achievement outcomes to discuss strategies for expanding
for all students. access to quality educational
opportunities for diverse learners in their
own states and in the region

3. + Today we will:
Webinar Agenda
The goal of today’s webinar is to  Hear about and see multiple online
develop an understanding of instructional strategies used by
instructional strategies used experienced K-12 virtual school
byexperienced virtual school
instructors.
teachers
 Discuss methods of preparing
teachers to make use of effective
online instructional strategies(and
providing them with ongoing support)
 Provide a forum for attendees to
share how their virtual education
instructors work with students online;
and share successes and challenges
 Ask you to complete the required
USDOE
evaluation:http://www.surveymonkey
.com/s/3ZKQPDW

4. +
About our Speakers
Colleen Spinelli
AP Environmental Science
Virtual Virginia
Doug Scott
Computer Science
Natick High School
Cybercrime and Security
TEC Online Academy, MA

5. +
Colleen Spinelli ~
colleen.spinelli@virtualvirginia.org
AP Environmental Science Instructor
Science Curriculum Content Developer

6. +
Virtual Virginia
 Student – Teacher interaction
 Student – Student interaction
 Examples: Ecotour, Soils Lab, Science Seminar
 College Board Approved
 Syllabus
 Rubrics
 Hands-on Labs
 Written Assessments
 College Preparation
 Student oriented program
 Structured and flexible

7. +
Playing with Dirt
 Materials
 Students all over the state
 Private access to Picasa
 Spoon, clear container, soil
sample
 Camera
 Results
 Hands-on Lab experience
 Student created map of the
physiographic provinces of
Virginia aligned with soil
profiles.

8. Doug Scott
Natick High School
TEC Online

9. The Course Objectives
 To familiarize students with security
issues and solutions associated with
computing systems
 To help students protect them, their data
and their families from cybercrime.

10. The Platform
 Moodle Learning Management System
 Managed by ED Tech Leaders Online
 TEC (Educational Collaborative MA)

11. Intro Unit
 Students introduce themselves
 Students sign a contract with “log in”
language
 Students acquire necessary equipment
and software that we will use in our
online course

12. Modules
 Break up my units by Modules
 Always include objectives and summary
 Try to vary the assignment types
 Try to keep the modules to within 1.5 – 2
weeks tops

13. Types of Assignments
 Forums (most used or common)
 Upload file/document (could be written or
multimedia)
 MP3 (Podcast) Forums
 Student desktop demonstrations (JING)
 Narrated PowerPoints
 Extra Credit Module (Case studies, always
available for credit buyback)
 Always try to support assignments with text
and multimedia resources when possible

14. Tips
 Always include dates next to assignments listed
 Always update calendar
 Check links regularly (watch out for 3rd party comments)
 Keep Grade Reporter organized by terms so students can
check progress
 Use group messaging to contact the group to launch new
modules
 Offer an extra credit module to buyback credits
 Avoid letting kids make up Forums (conversation is over)
 Before releasing a module, switch role to “Student” to see
what they will see when logged in
 Utilize blocks on the margins of your course
(RSS, Calendar, Others)
 Try to keep assignments due on regular time/nights of the
week

15. Some Students Have a Tough
Time
 Biggest problem observed is students do not log in
and participate
 Those who log in do well
 Regular email blasts help with some students
 Not for every student, we have begun a screening
process at our school
 Overall, those who regularly participate learn and do
well

16. +
Thank you for your
participation!
Look for evaluation
link in chat box.
Virtual Education Initiative