The Montana Digital Academy (MTDA) offers distance learning opportunities to K-12 students in Montana, focusing on high-quality instruction and compliance with educational standards. The MTDA provides three main types of courses: standard courses, dual credit courses, and a credit retrieval program called MTDA Connect, which aims to support students in recovering lost academic credits. The program incorporates individualized learning, technical support, and community involvement to enhance educational outcomes for at-risk students.

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

2. DirectorRobert CurrieCurriculum DirectorJason NeifferInstructional CoordinatorRyan Schrenk

3. Ian Jeffrey Schrenk – Born 3/9/10Where I was a year ago tomorrow:Montana Digital Academy – employed December 1, 2011Pilot underway with 2 schoolsWhere 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 SummaryWhat is the Montana Digital Academy (MTDA)?

5. Montana Digital Academy20-7-1201. 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 AcademyFunded by 61st LegislatureFree to Montana K-12 StudentsHoused at UM College of EducationExecutive Director and Curriculum DirectorHired Early 2010Curriculum, Courses Created and Faculty Hired 2010First Courses September 2010Instructional Program Coordinator Hired December 2010

7. Three Types of OfferingsMTDA CoursesDual Credit CoursesMTDA 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 RetrievalUsually 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 RetrievalRemediation in math increased 72% in public 4-year colleges between 1950-19801983 – Nation at Risk PublishedNation At Risk led to NCLBAlliance 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 ComputingImprove academic achievementEqualizing access to digital resourcesChange the nature and quality of instructionImprove economic competitiveness by providing students with real-world skills

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

13. Types of Credit Retrieval1. Focused Learning EffortsK-12After school programsSaturday or summer SchoolBlock schedulingAcademiesEarly ID of at-risk populationCollegeFast-track/focused programsAdult Basic EdVeteran’s Upward Bound

14. Commercial Computer-Based Solutions2. Commercial ProductsAventaPLATONovaNETApexFlorida VirtualK-12.comKhan 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 ProgramWhat is it? How Does It Work?

18. MTDA RoleProvide scalable state-wide solution for Credit Retrieval

19. MTDA Connect ChargeAccessible/secure/comprehensive solutionPurchased centrally, shared widelyTechnical supportEnrollment managementCurricular oversightIntegrated solution? Coming Soon

20. How Schools Get InvolvedDistrict Rep contacts usFills outenrollment form(s)Go through short orientationFigure out how to support students locally

21. How MTDA Connect WorksMTDA + local facilitator + academic coachOnline access 24/7 to curriculumModular, individualized, self-pacedModule tests open for 2 triesPost-tests unlocked manually and monitored locally

22. How MTDA Connect WorksPLATO VocabularyTracking and communication Pre-test, module exemption or module mastery, post-testGrade reports

27. PLATO Learning Environment (PLE)Time-based modelBased 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 ModelBased 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 LearningNotify of objectivesOrganize into small unitsMaterials and strategies should be identified and used consistentlyEach unit has pre-testAllow for/provide supplementary instruction

29. Academic CoachRole Responsibilities

30. Why use coaches?Wide variety of programs at local levelBalance with local needs to provide supportGrading or teaching needsChanges equation for studentsSubject matter certifiedModifications to curriculum

31. CommunicationMonthly meeting with MTDA and CoachesPLE messagingEmail to facilitators and studentsGoogle docs and dropbox.com for shared filesToll free fax to email service for written workPhone calls

32. Taking Content Retrieval to the Next LevelAnalysis of curriculum/prioritize offline activitiesSupport SiteTeacher MaterialsCurriculum mapsSuggestions for improvementsModifications and PlanningMonthly Update Meetings

33. Site FacilitatorWays to track and support credit retrieval students

34. FacilitatorsClass managementLocal eyes and ears for MTDA ConnectPasswordsEnrollmentsTracking and ManagementHelp logging in then making students do itWorking on curriculumFormative assistanceConduit for communicationTracking workGrades 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’tsDo somethingDon’t wait, our students need us

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

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

39. Questions? Interested in discussing or partnering?Contact Ryan Schrenkryan.schrenk@mso.umt.eduryan.schrenk@montanadigitalacademy.org406-243-6122Skype: ryan.schrenkTwitter: hardball8This presentation is available at slideshare:http://www.slideshare.net/rschrenk