Week 1 Lesson 5: Virtual Programs and Organizations

In lesson five, we're going to look

at some specific Virtual Programs and Organizations.

We'll start to make the information we've given you more

tangible as you see how it plays out in some schools.

We'll also look at common virtual schooling

methods and the needs of online students.

Then we will look at the specific schools to

see how those needs are met by the programs.

Although online students vary greatly, their needs are similar.

They've learning style and needs of a kindergartner are

different from a middle school student, and from a 19

year old student, or an adult in his 30s

going back to school while trying to learn a living.

Here are some specific needs of students who take online courses.

Not all students have each of these needs and the list is not exhaustive.

The need to access the education.

Course offerings, advance placement, college prep, and language courses.

Need for flexibility of time, place, and pace.

Students may be actors or athletes who need non trad, a non traditional

schedule, or students may be taking care of children or working during the day.

Students need individualization of the level of

curriculum not available in the classroom, so

if the curriculum at a different level, higher or lower, depending on their needs.

They need to use their own learning styles

that are maybe not accommodated in a class environment.

Students need to address their multiple intelligence.

They need the learning to address multiple intelligences.

They need learning to address their personality type.

Students need to attend school in a safe

environment that may not be available to local school.

Students need to attend courses that are not over crowded.

Students also need to have a learner-focused education.

Adult learners need to have their own

prior knowledge and experiences validated, acknowledged, and appreciated.

K through 12 students needs their programs individualized for their situations.

Virtual schooling options address many of these needs.

Some organizations offer several different programs in order

to be able to address different sets of needs.

Virtual schools that are run as public charter schools must also adhere to

their state or charter regulations while

offering a free virtual program for students.

Private schools can offer more flexibility but then a cost is involved.

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Many institutions and organizations offer, virtual instruction for students.

Each addresses a unique set of needs for students.

And, and, so a unique set of students and their needs.

The university of Phoenix is an example of a higher education

institution that offers community college, four year degrees, and graduate programs.

Some of the most common K through 12 organizations are insight

schools, connections academies, K through 12 Inc and Florida Virtual Schools.

Although I'm not sponsoring any of these programs [LAUGH]

we're looking to each of these schools and, as

examples, they are all from the United States but

they are examples that we'll examine more closely next.

And in the resource page for this course, you'll find a more

exhaustive list of virtual instruction programs as well as resources even more.

So I've just chosen these because they're, they're examples that I hear when I think

they represent a couple different formats and needs that we're going to talk about.

So first let's take a look at the University of Phoenix.

In 1976 as the baby boom, boomers were turning 30, John, Dr. John Sperling,

a Cambridge educated economist, saw an opportunity to cater to working adults.

Seeking higher education by offering convenient class times at local sites.

He founded University of Phoenix which

has pioneered several conveniences for students like

evening classes, flexible scheduling, continuous enrollment,

a student centered environment, and online classes.

The university has 20 years experience more now in online education.

And for its part, the University of Phoenix has done

an admirable job of bringing online education to the masses.

In fact, the for profit university's program is so successful that

it is by far the largest private university in the United States.

Approximately 400,000 students are currently enrolled

with a significant number being educated overseas.

Owned by the Apollo group, University of Phoenix got

started 1976 many years before the online learning revolution.

From the outset University of Phoenix focused on returning college students in a

bid to serve what they felt was a under served group of students.

Once the internet became a force in the mid 1990s,

University of Phoenix expanded to reach students who wanted an option

to attending classes located at Campuses in more than 40

states allowing students to enroll and take classes on their schedule.

The University of Phoenix has an Associates Degree program

as well as a Bachelors and Graduate course programs.

Insight Schools, was founded around a core set

of ideas that traditional high school is not for

every student, and that online learning can provide a

high quality solution to earning a high school diploma.

Insight operates a national network of accredited, diploma granting, tuition free

online high schools, by providing a

winning combination of highly qualified instructors,

a comprehensive course catalog, student support

services, clubs, proms, graduation ceremonies, and

learning programs designed to accommodate individual

learning styles, life styles and goals.

Insight prepares their students to be successful in the 21st century workplace.

Insight Schools are available in the following states.

California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas,

Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The public high school offers a rigorous curriculum

with more than 120 courses including foundations courses.

Comprehensive core courses, elective courses, honors and

AP, and vocational and skill building courses.

Teachers are state certified.

It may differ from oth, other online programs in its 24/7 on demand

academic and technical help, and a

highly individualized program with multiple academic paths.

Students receive a computer and may be

eligible for internet and technology class reimbursement.

Connections Academy's mission is to help each student achieve

his or her maximum potential for academic and personal success.

They provide a comprehensive and

individualized learning experience for students

and their families incorporating a high level of teacher interaction.

A combination of online and printed text books, lesson plans and materials,

and a wide range of electives

and activities that supplement the core curriculum.

The full time, tuition free public school program is offered in many states

as well as a full, full and part time private school available internationally.

Courses in the learning management system are also available for purchase.

The Connections Academy Program initially began with a K through

8 curriculum based on the Calvert school Independent study curriculum, is

now growing to a K through 12 program that uses

the best of the best publishers for technology and text book.

And with lessons in instructional web streaming

videos designed by Connections Academy's own curriculum experts.

Some publishers also include Scott Foresman,

Prentice Hall, Houghton Mifflin, McGraw-Hill, and Glencoe.

Most courses in grades K through 12 have electronic text books, as well as

hard copy text books and work books that are sent to students free of charge.

The two formats of text help provide

flexibility and vary the learning methods for students.

Additional resources are on elec, tronic, tronic are

on the resource pes, page of our course but

students enjoy having a break from looking at

the computer and taking their book outside as well.

Teachers are state certified and connect with students individually, or

in whole group through live sessions, using adobe connect pro.

In 1999, the founders of K-12 set out to answer a call voiced by a

growing number of parents whose children's needs

were not being met by traditional education models.

Their children were getting bored by the

pa, pace of the traditional classroom, left

behind by the pace of the classroom, or just getting lost in the shuffle.

While traditional brick and mortar schools work for many

children, they restrict many others for a variety of reasons.

The mission has remained steadfast, to provide any

child access to exceptional curriculum and tools, that enable

him or her to maximize his or her success

in life, regardless of geographic, financial, or demographic circumstance.

K-12 has become a leader in providing individualized

one to one learning solutions to students from

kindergarten through high school across the country through

full time online public schools in many states.

Individual course and product sales, hybrid approaches with

a growing number of public school across the country.

K-12 offers outstanding highly effective curriculum that enables mastery

of core concepts and skills for all kinds of minds.

These goals enables a diverse group of children to

achieve mastery through a combination of individualized learning approaches.

Passionate teacher engagement, adherence to the best

educational research that has been conducted over

the past several decades about hung young

minds really work and rich engaging content.

K-12 has developed all of it's own

learning content, including text books, lessons, and curriculum.

Public schools have certified teachers who meet with students face to

face once a month and through

synchronous online instruction using Illuminate software.

Students may receive a computer and

materials based on factors during enrollment.

And finally, Florida Virtual School, abbreviated F L

V S, is an established leader in developing and

providing virtual K through 12 education solutions to students

all over Florida and the US and the world.

It's a nationally recognized e-learning model and recipient of numerous awards.

Florida Virtual School was founded in 1997 and was

the country's first state wide internet based public high school.

Today Florida Virtual School serves students

in grades K through 12 and provides

a variety of custom solutions for schools and districts to meet student needs.

Florida residents take courses for free, while non

Florida residents take courses based on tuition rates.

Students in Florida have a right to choose

Florida Virtual School as an education option legally.

Florida districts have the option of setting

up Florida Virtual School franchise schools and administrators

outside of Florida can take advantage of

solutions for course licensing to professional development assisting.

Every Florida Virtual School course is taught by a

highly qualified certified instructor, experts in their subject matters.

Teachers and students interact regularly through email, voice

fell, voice mail, telephone conversations, and instant messenger.

Teachers are available from 8 a.m to 8 p.m.

daily as well as during weekend hours.

Students are encouraged to contact the teacher when there is a need of any kind.

Teachers speak via telephone with students and their parents at least once per month.

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