Blending Virtual Education Opportunities AESA Conference December 2-4, 2010 Savannah, GA

Our Organization Clearwater, KS 25 minutes from Wichita airport 27 member districts Over 100 districts served South Central Kansas Education Service Center

Agency Programs & Services Staff development Copy machines Technology support Web-based HR training ESOL E-Rate Virtual programs Diploma completion program Web-hosted licenses Distance Learning

USDE Technology Plan "Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology" Five Key Goal Areas by 2015 learning assessment teaching infrastructure productivity

USDE Technology Plan Goal Area #1 Learning: Change the learning process so it's more engaging and tailored to students' needs and interests.

USDE Technology Plan Goal Area #2 Assessment: Measure student progress on the full range of college and career ready standards and use real time data for continuous improvement.

USDE Technology Plan Goal Area #3 Teaching: Connect teachers to the tools, resources, experts and peers they need to be highly effective and supported.

USDE Technology Plan Goal Area #4 Infrastructure: Provide broadband connectivity for all students, everywhere—in schools, throughout communities and in students' homes.

USDE Technology Plan Goal Area #5 Productivity: Use technology to help schools become more productive and accelerate student achievement while managing costs. http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010

Why Blended Learning? Shrinking budgets and cuts in programs Declining enrollments Scarcity of teachers Sharing teachers without expense of “windshield time” Access to comprehensive curriculum in rural locations Enriching opportunities in isolated regions

Why Blended Learning? Interaction among districts and schools Interaction between schools and community Overcoming barriers of distance, time, and cost Growing virtual population Students work with chopsticks in collaborative Chinese class. Monitors in rear show two remote classrooms connected simultaneously with students in on-site room.

What Is Blended Learning? Any combination of face-to-face and on-line/virtual Blended/Hybrid = 30-79% on-line Approaches Lab-Computer lab setting in brick and mortar school Dropout Recovery Program Adjudicated Youth Program Flex School Model Full-Time Model Something In Between eSchoolNews, special report 2010/10/2

Blended Instructional Options Face to face Video conference On-line curriculum/tutorial Websites Computer simulations Streaming (video/audio) Skype, etc. Webinar Blackboard, Moodle, etc. Immediate assessments and results Interaction Phone Fax E-mail Messaging Threaded discussions Chat rooms Blogs Wikis

Blended Instructional Options Synchronous schedules/ interaction Asynchronous schedules/interaction Types (any combination) Video conferencing Computers/On-line Face-to-face Distance/travel overcome Class size/schedules restrictions eliminated Salary impact minimized

Flexibility of Blended Learning Scheduling not tied to bells or teachers’ schedules Specified class periods in regular schedule or any time Multiple classes provided within one group of students Hard-to-find staff shared among districts Added options for limited-enrollment courses/singleton courses 24/7 potential

Flexibility of Blended Learning Individual needs met Voids in regular schedule overcome “Office Hours” adapted Remediation and enrichment possible Credit recovery for failed courses Programs for homebound or suspended students

Blended Learning At the Service Center Adult Students at Diploma Completion Programs 20 sites in Kansas 2,000 adults enrolled graduation rate: 74% of seniors

Blended Learning: Classes LingLing broadcasts Chinese class to remote schools via Polycom HD System. Chinese K-12 Spanish K-12 AP curriculum

Blended Learning: Programs Auschwitz Chinese culture/language Puerto Rican culture/language Early literacy: Mrs. Goose Math activities make cookies build a birdhouse Mrs. Goose captures students’ attention.

Blended Learning: Staff Development Opportunities for multiple districts simultaneously Minimize windshield time & substitute expense Face-to-face DL connections Podcasts Webinars/Goto Meeting On-line college courses Video/audio streaming Consultant facilitates staff development session via DL.

Broader Potential: Community & State Special Programs—pre-schools-senior centers Consultations (health, state activities association, etc.) Board of Education meetings (local and state) Department of Education Connections Evening College Classes Economic Development Workforce Development HR Training

Broader Potential: Community & State Virtual field trips Vocational & college tours Meetings without extended travel expense Professional development opportunities Career programs Advisory committees International interaction Butler Community College instructors provide virtual tour of programs for non-traditional occupations.

What We’ve Learned Adequate planning Perception: is not competition Regular meetings of stakeholders Staff Superintendents Principals Counselors Quality is more important than quantity at implementation Allow for individualized use by districts (partial to full program)

What We’ve Learned Not every student is a good candidate Not every teacher is a good virtual instructor Deadlines implemented and enforced/calendars assist Professional development is essential Adequate technology and infrastructure a necessity

What We’ve Learned Interaction is necessary student at center of every decision daily communication timely responses flexibility parental communication celebrate every effort and success, no matter how small

What We’ve Learned build relationships with colleagues with students/planned and frequent interaction among students—collaborative projects, activities, discussions share resources, best practices, etc. combinations of delivery based on student based on content based on instructional objectives

What’s Ahead?—i3-D Meet USDE technology goals Prepare for increasingly rigorous national standards/expectations Enhance learning process to engage today’s students Re-engineer elements of traditional education and training

What’s Ahead?—i3-D Use Interactive 3-D objects to transfer knowledge to improve outcomes to teach and learn more effectively and efficiently

Contacting SCKESC South Central Kansas Education Service Center www.sckesc.org 620-584-3300 Dr. Kay Highbarger, Executive Director khighbarger@sckesc.org