This course provides teachers with the foundation for understanding the movement towards virtual instruction. It introduces fundamental knowledge needed by teachers to succeed in a technology-dependent, instructional environment. You will explore the history of online learning and understand how a variety of delivery models are evolving in the K-12 environment, ranging from completely online to hybrid or blended classrooms. We will discuss how the programs work and who they serve, addressing some basics about equity issues, access and school funding, as well as ethical and legal issues that support and challenge the models. Upon completion of the course, you will understand what it takes to transition from teaching in the classroom to providing virtual instruction. Upon completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Describe the history of online learning models 2. Identify current virtual instruction models and who offers them 3. Explain how virtual instruction models have evolved and why 4. Describe common features of synchronous and asynchronous technologies 5. Discuss basic ethical and legal issues faced by schools
Week 1 Lesson 5: Virtual Programs and Organizations
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From the course by University of California, Irvine
Foundations of Virtual Instruction
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From the lesson
Week 1: History of Virtual Education
Welcome to the course! Begin by reading the Course Overview and familiarizing yourself with our course. This week we will explore the history of virtual education, as well as the different models of virtual education. Our guest speaker, Dr. O'Neal, will discuss the "Flipped Classroom" and how this pedagogy can enhance teaching and learning.
Meet the Instructors
Cindy CarbajalInstructor
UC Irvine Extension
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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