This document outlines expectations and best practices for instructing virtual school courses in 3 sentences or less: The document provides an outline for teaching online courses, including setting clear deadlines and communication policies, using technologies like email and discussion forums to engage students, and assessing students through quizzes, projects, and other formats. It also discusses building an online learning community, addressing different learning styles, and ensuring instructors have the necessary technology skills.

1. Instructing Virtual School Courses

5. I Teaching Online Adapting to new technology As an online teacher I will have to learn any new media that could help me connect to my students... Twitter Texting Blogs Facebook MySpace IM

9. IV Online Resources CoolMath.com FinanceFreak.com TurnItIn.com YouTube.com TED.com MathaTube.com MathTV.com WGHB.org HoodaMath.com PBS.org

10. V Student Discussion Rubric used to assess student posts Adapted from the EdTech Online Module Criteria Exceptional Average Needs Improvement Relevance Responds directly to the discussion question and includes pertinent, connected or applicable information Posting responds directly to the discussion question Posting does not respond directly to the discussion question Use of Examples Makes thoughtful references to previous or current session material and relevant personal experiences Posting includes at least one reference to session material and/ or relevant personal experiences Posting does not include any references to session material or relevant personal experiences Contribution to Learning Community Posting offers critical analysis of a key theme or existing post(s) which deepens or extends the conversation Engages with ideas from the session or the perspectives of participants and makes a positive contribution the conversation Does not critically engage with key ideas from the session or the perspectives of fellow participants Comprehension It is evident from the posting that the participant understands the question and the key ideas from the session material. In addition, the participant employs higher order thinking skills (analysis, synthesis, evaluation) when responding to the discussion question It is evident from the posting that the participant understands the question and the general ideas referenced the session material It is not evident from the posting that the participant understands either the question or the ideas referenced in the session material Written Quality Has a coherent structure and the flow of the writing is easily understood. Grammatically correct with no spelling errors Has a coherent structure and the flow of the writing is easily understood. 1 or 2 errors Does not have a coherent structure and the flow of the writing is hard to follow. Multiple errors Timeliness Postings are made on at least 2 different days; at least 1 is made early for others to read and respond Postings are made on only 1 day; at least 1 posting is made early for others to read and respond Postings are made on only 1 day; postings are late for others to read and respond Tone Posting has a positive, supportive and professional tone Posting has elements of a positive, supportive or professional tone Posting is negative or flat in tone

13. VIII Technology Skills Check Here: Check off each skill that you already have or that you have learned during this course. Make a note of the skills you still need to practice. Email with attachments Creating word processing documents Locating, evaluating and adding Internet resources to a course Enrolling students in a course Creating course announcements Using assessment tools to create tests and surveys Creating a discussion forum Creating groups and managing a group area Using course gradebook Adding staff information to the course environment Using the course chat Troubleshooting common software and hardware problems

14. Virtual Schools Connecting students like never before