Activity+2

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 * PowerPoint Notes **


 * Slide 2 **

According to Watson, Murin, Vashaw, Gemin, and Rapp (2011), “Online learning is instruction via a web-based educational delivery system that includes software to provide a structured learning environment (p. 8). Today, online education is emerging as a dominating force in primary and secondary, as well as post-secondary public and private institutions. Growing more and more prevalent and intriguing to students and instructors alike, various online learning models and virtual schools across the country are revolutionizing education. K-12 online education has materialized as a growing and legitimate form of schooling that allows students to complete all levels of schooling via the Web (Archambault & Crippen, 2009).


 * Slide 3 **

The 21st century educational landscape has been altered (Archambault & Crippen, 2009) and virtual charter schools, as shared by Huett, Moller, Foshay and Coleman (2008), can offer distance education to public school students while operating independently of local school districts.

In Missouri, any student residing in the Kansas City, Missouri School District or the St. Louis Public School District may choose to attend a charter school in the city in which they reside. There is no cost to parents for sending their children to a charter school and charter schools in Missouri are independent from the school district.


 * Slide 4 **

The Kansas City Public School district’s website indicates they serve a diverse population of nearly 17,500 children throughout the city (2010). The urban District’s demographics include the following:

Demographics (2010 Statistics) African-American - 63.3 percent Hispanic - 25.4 percent Asian/Pacific Islander - 2.6 percent American Indian/Alaskan Native - 0.3 percent White -8.6 percent Free/reduced lunch - 80.3 percent


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 5 **

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">The No Child Left Behind Act requires states to offer alternative schooling options to students attending schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress (Huett et al., 2008). <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">The distressed and troubled Kansas City Public School district is only provisionally accredited until Jan. 1, 2012 and will hereafter lose accreditation. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">According to Cavanaugh and Hargis (2010), today’s virtual schools have closed the achievement gap for diverse range of students who succeed in courses that provide them the individual attention and time they need. All of these elements demonstrate a need for additional options and a virtual charter school has the flexibility to meet the needs and reach individual students through technical advance and cyber classrooms. With experience as a secondary teacher and administrator in both traditional and charter schools, the description and focus of my organization and program will be based on a fictional cyber charter school located in Kansas City, Missouri. My proposal will be based on a virtual charter school that will serve Kansas City, Missouri school district students, grade 9-12.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">A philosophy of teaching and technology is essential for answering e-learning questions and their relationship to programmatic activities (Kanuka, 2008 ).
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 6 **

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Therefore, time and energy will be dedicated to ensuring my proposed virtual charter school’s educational philosophy is developed and nurtured.

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">In order to guide your vision, you must know what your teaching and technology philosophies in practice are.
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 7 **

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">“A viewpoint of teaching and technology can be defined as a conceptual framework that embodies certain values from which we view the many aspects of education, including the field of e-learning” (Kanuka, 2008, p.94). A philosophy of e-learning technology is needed because too often educators are concerned with e-learning technologies without examining sufficiently why they should do with them (Kanuka, 2008).

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Rose and Plants (2010) indicate successful online education programs require a different orientation and pedagogical approach than does successful on-ground instruction. The development of any e-learning program or school without knowing our philosophical orientation and theoretical strategies can lead to inconsistencies among instructors, administrators, and students (Kanuka, 2008). Kanuka expands this viewpoint indicating we choose and use e-learning technologies helps us become of aware of and determine our philosophical preferences. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">According to Dahlberg, as cited in Kanuka (2008) there is a tendency to orientate ourselves to one of three philosophies of technology orientations. In addition, there are also several existing theoretical teaching frameworks to be reviewed and considered when visioning programmatic opportunities, and perhaps as Mayes (2005) shares, we may need a new pedagogy for online learning.
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 8 **

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">After careful refection my proposed virtual charter school will combine several pedagogies, philosophy of teaching and technology, with a blend of current learning theory. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">My proposed 9-12 virtual school will be comprised of a framework for the design of learning technology and pedagogical instructional best practices most suited for a successful e-learning environment, and especially geared to motivate and engage a potentially at-risk population. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Proposed pedagogical approach and learning theory:


 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Mayes (2005) conceptual framework **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">---He views the pedagogy of online learning as one that attempts to map a broad account of learning directly into the design of supportive technology. The framework describes the three main elements of a learning process—conceptualization, construction, and dialogue. It also incorporates the idea of a learning cycle, acknowledging that learning is not a one-off process, but it involves a continuous revisiting and tuning of skills and concepts.


 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Connectivist theory for online learning **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> – According to Siemens (as cited in Ally, 2008) his theory is for the digital age where individuals learn and work in a networked environment. Therefore, educators must look for new ways to design learning materials. My virtual charter school’s curriculum will take embrace this theory to ensure our networked society and globalization are addressed.


 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Constructivist school of learning **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">— Learners are seen as active rather than passive with learners constructing their own knowledge, having control over their learning process, interactivity and a high social presence (Ally, 2008).


 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Humanist orientation. **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> The primary aim of the humanist orientation is to support individual growth and self-actualization. One of the key constructs is self-directed learning. Humanists use instructional methods such as group, self-directed learning. The role of the teacher is that of a facilitator, helper, and partner in the learning process. (Kanuka ,2008 ).

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Uses Determinism is a philosophy of technology that emphasis technological uses and focuses on the ways in which we use technologies within a learning and teaching environments and interactions. In this approach technologies are considered neutral tools that can be considered devices that extend our capabilities (Kanuka, 2008).
 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Uses determinism **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">--Aligning closely with //uses determinism//, humanist typically would agree that e-learning technologies can serve an important role in the growing needs of individual students. Many e-learning technologies, especially social software, can provide learners with opportunities to facilitate their own learning needs (Kanuka, 2008).


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 9 **
 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">In-house course development **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">—Oliver et al. (2010) shares despite the extensive time and cost, over 80% of virtual schools reportedly develop or co-develop their own courses rather than purchase or license courses from commercial providers . Using the aforementioned blended theories and pedagogical theories, my proposed virtual charter school will, at first, take responsibility for the development and implementation the majority of the courses using teachers actively employed by the school. Rose and Plants (2010) concur, well-designed courses are rigorous, aren’t impersonal, and they can reach a variety of students.


 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Moodle **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> – According to Oliver et al. (2010), Moodle is one of the technologies that has emerged as comprehensive systems to support content delivery and provide tools for communication, collaboration, and assessment.


 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Personal and unique **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> --- Teacher education and professional development in communities of practice are increasingly important as k-12 online course designs evolve away from high structure, linearity, and focus on the individual accomplishing all course activities (Cavanaugh & Hargis, 2010).


 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Diverse offerings **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">--Online courses may include advanced, remedial, elective, or credit-recovery courses. Ideally, by offering online courses, a small school can provide rich and varied options normally available at larger schools (Huett et al., 2008).


 * **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Incorporation of various technologies **


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 9 **

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> “The fact that students are taking 259,928 course enrollments from Florida Virtual School suggests that there is an unmet need in most, if not all, of the remaining 49 states” (Watson, et al., 201, p. 6). Therefore, selling the program to parents and students will provide alternative options to those residing in the already embattled school district. As Huett et al. (2008), contend while K-12 distance education learners can be comprised of students who have social commitments, are being home-schooled, live in rural areas are hospitalized, are homebound, who require flexible hours for employment, are incarcerated, who want to enrich their education, are traveling, and difficulty in regular classrooms, or are in need of courses not offered during the regular school day, in this particular situation, urban children with few options in a failing district. Because the district allows and is familiar with charter schools, constituents are provided ongoing marketing and information regarding various choices.


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 11 **


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Huett et al (2008) share state governments typically establish virtual k-12 schools directly or provide funding to traditional schools to create online programs. State virtual schools are created by legislation or by a state-level agency, and/or funded by a state appropriation or grant for the purpose of providing online learning opportunities across the state (Watson et al., 2011).

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">In Missouri, there is a federal public schools charter program through the DESE. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">FEDERAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHARTER PROGRAM AWARD: Applicants for grade 9-12 programs will be eligible for awards of up to $150,000 Each application must devote at least $20,000 for an activity addressing School Library Media Centers and at least $20,000 for an activity addressing Technology.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">$9,480 per pupil expenditure in Missouri Federal and State Aid


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Grants


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Charter school management company -- <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Developing an online or blended program requires a high level of investment to be successful or a willingness to work with an experienced partner. Watson et al. (2011). <span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">hich can be either for-profit or non-profit -- to perform many of the most fundamental school services, such as hiring and firing staff, developing curricula and disciplining students.

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Administrators may be unaware that the pedagogy and skills of a successful online instructor are vastly different than those of their best on ground teachers (Rose and Plants, 2010). And often times, the authors share school administrators are faced with making decisions about an educational innovation with which they have had little experience. Archambault and Crippen (2009) indicate, due to the rapid growth of virtual schools, a growing number of teachers are facing the challenge of teaching online. Therefore, it is critical for those involved with my virtual school to have online education experience.
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 12 **

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Principal--KC <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Director of Education--KC <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">1Director of Technology-responsible for high level vision and implementation of current techologies <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Technology Support Coordinator (contracted) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">2 Admissions –KC <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Special Education Teacher <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Librarian-Virtual <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Admission Coordinator

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Teachers—Virtual, FT & PT Archambault and Crippen (2009) indicate the current understanding of what teachers should know and be able to do is based on a traditional classroom setting. Often this requires the virtual school teachers to incorporate the skills of an interaction facilitator and an instructional designer into their role (DiPietro, Ferdig, Black, & Preston (n.d. ) must be able to foster interaction and communication with and between students during their online learning experience. Cavanaugh and Hargis (2010) teachers will need a wider array of knowledge, skills and dispositions
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 13 **

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Watson et al. (2011) suggests allowing ample time to plan and create a high quality program from the time of conception to the necessary investment in personnel. Being able to fully explore all of the critical dimensions of an online school, including teaching, technology, content, student support, and other elements, is vital to successful implementation.
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Slide 14 **

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Missouri law allows the following types of entities to serve as authorizers: the Kansas City and St. Louis school boards; a community college in the Kansas City and St. Louis school districts; a public four-year college or university located in the Kansas City and St. Louis school districts or in a county adjacent to the county in which the districts are located with an approved teacher education program that meets regional or national standards of accreditation; or any private four-year college or university located in a city not within a county with an enrollment of at least one thousand students, and with an approved teacher preparation program. Missouri law requires that when an authorizer approves an application, it must forward it to the state board of education for its approval along with an assurance that it meets legal requirements and provides a monitoring plan for the school.