Online learning
The Board, at their next meeting, will vote on a new Online Learning Policy.
As the Board Action Report acknowledges, "The community was not actively engaged in the development of this policy." which, to me, is reason enough to defer adopting it.
I think that it is interesting that the proposed policy says, in part, "The board directs the superintendent to provide information to parents, students and staff regarding online learning options and the guidelines for participation." yet online learning options were not mentioned in the recent Math Pathway document.
The Superintendent Procedures that accompany the policy require students to seek prior approval before taking online courses for credit. There is no assurance that the approval will be granted or even considered on a timely basis.
Has anyone had experience with WAVA (Washington Virtual Academies) and with their high school math classes?
Does anyone have any other experience to contribute to this discussion?
As the Board Action Report acknowledges, "The community was not actively engaged in the development of this policy." which, to me, is reason enough to defer adopting it.
I think that it is interesting that the proposed policy says, in part, "The board directs the superintendent to provide information to parents, students and staff regarding online learning options and the guidelines for participation." yet online learning options were not mentioned in the recent Math Pathway document.
The Superintendent Procedures that accompany the policy require students to seek prior approval before taking online courses for credit. There is no assurance that the approval will be granted or even considered on a timely basis.
Has anyone had experience with WAVA (Washington Virtual Academies) and with their high school math classes?
Does anyone have any other experience to contribute to this discussion?
Comments
I assume that the variance from curricular alignment represented by online learning will be an across the board variance, and that teachers and students in classrooms can likewise utilize alternative learning methodologies...
WV asks: if the sub calls in sick, do we then need a subsub?
f) not for-profit companies, or non-profit companies with 150k CEOs
http://www.ourschoolscoalition.org/documents/EXAMPLES_OF_COLLABORATIVE_INNOVATION.pdf
Should these alternate learning venues follow the SPS curricular alignment as kids have to in SPS buildings? I think it would be case by case. If a student were taking an online Algebra I class, I believe that class should meet all of the state GLE's and EALR's but not have to standardize their curriculm, use the Discovering text. etc.
We do not expect a community College to standardize their college class curriculum to SPS because there is a Running start student in their class so why would it be any different for online studies?
Here is the paragraph in the Nathan Hale course catalogue on outside learning (you can view it on the Nathan Hale website too)
"With pre-approval from the counselors and administration, students may take a total of 2 credits (4 semesters) of courses towards meeting graduation requirements through outside-accredited institutions. Some of these options include college enrichment, Internet courses, correspondence courses and courses at private accredited institutions. In order to qualify for meeting graduation requirements, a student must receive prior approval, in writing, from his/her counselor and the principal. A course syllabus may be required to ensure that the course meets district requirements for that subject. Approval cannot be given retroactively. Once approval has been granted, the student must complete the program within the time designated by the counselor, usually within a semester timeframe. Official verification of course completion must be submitted to the counseling office no later than two weeks after the completion of the course.
Available"
I teach for WAVA High School. The curriculum and program is very rigorous. I am a highly qualified teacher and am a Union Member of the Monroe School District. I taught a number of years in the Highline School District in a traditional bricks and mortar school as well. I instruct Earth Science, Oceanography and Fine Art. Students receive kits with all the materials to do hands on lab work. They also receive art materials to do the studio projects. Students have access to online materials, content, videos, gradebook, discussions, quizzes and tests. Teachers provide live instruction via Elluminate. The sessions are recorded for students who can not attend the live sessions. During the live sessions I use power point presentations, video tutorials that I produced, web tours, desktop sharing so we can look at their class work together and many other learning activities. I think that students should have the opportunity at the high school level to do online work because they will most likely take some online courses in the future. Most community colleges and colleges offer online instruction. I have both taken online courses and taught them. I feel that while not all online learning is equal, just as not all schools or even classrooms are equal they are a valuable and enriching learning environment that our students should have access to. My son attends the Seattle Public Schools and I am a board PTA member at his high school.
As long as this sort of system is meshed with district policy and expectations, these adjuncts to bricks and mortar can be a boon. It's only when it's co-opted for other purposes, such as to weaken or do an end-run around public schools, that it might be cause for alarm.
In middle school my child took some classes from University of Nebraska Independent Study High school. SPS does not count those credits toward high school graduation. But I can have a high school transcript sent from UN for those courses.
I'd guess the reason the HS credits weren't counted in MS is that SPS expects students to "start fresh" as 9th graders and earn HS credit. I think there's been discussion here about some Math credit being transferrable up to HS but I'm not sure.
Although there is now a policy that allows the Board to grant the credit, and the Board says that they want to grant the credit, they won't actually do it. Moreover, the Superintendent has a procedure which has flatly denied every petition so far.
Can anybody clarify for me?
Adopted October 2009.
Are you saying Charley that students are still not getting high school credits while in middle school because some procedure is automatically denying them when they apply for it at the district level?
The board has been evaluating this for several years now but as of yet has not changed the policy.
I believe we are one of the only districts that do not allow HS credit for MS work. It is state law, and from what I can tell SPS is breaking the law by not granting it.