2. Why Distance Learning?
Provides new opportunities for students
Credit recovery
Prepares students for future online programs of higher
education
Online students perform better than those receiving face to
face instruction
Offers more personalized learning
Every student has a voice (participation)
3. Choosing a Distance Education Program
Accredited
Demonstrated success
Aligns closely with district and state standards
Taught by certified instructors
Flexibility
Curriculum
4. Creating a Distance Education Program
Certified teachers – Which teachers? Offer incentives?
Who do we offer to? - outside the district?
Creating curriculum
Setting up a course management system (CMS)
Student Support (library services, enrollment services, tutor
services)
Parent access
5. Creating a Program Cont’d
Academic advising
Pre-assessments for enrollment
Hiring mentors
Students have one class period set aside for each online class
they are enrolled in
Marketing
7. Policy Creators
School administration
Guidance counselors
Technology coordinator
Technology integrationist
Media director
Distance education coordinator
Interested staff
8. Critical Factors for Success
Online teachers evaluated annually
Mentors are actively involved
Parents receive information
Feedback methods
Fulltime distance education coordinator
Proper infrastructure
Communication of program to community
9. Most Important Roles of Distance
Education Coordinator
Coordinates with administration, faculty, and staff
Manages day to day operations of the program
Coordinates the pre-assessment and advisement of students
Directs faculty development activities for online education
Assess and evaluate new products used in distance education
Develops and manages the annual budget and determines program
costs
Works closely with IT for student technical support
10. Issues for Online Instructors
Modifying materials/curriculum
Resources
Communication with students
Workloads
Choosing textbooks
Working with a course designer(s)
12. Successful Online Learners:
Articulate themselves in written form
Work well in a collaborative environment
Are assertive, goal oriented, independent, motivated
Are comfortable with technology
Have organizational and management skills
Are self-disciplined and committed
13. Barriers to Online Learning
Administrative issues
Social interaction
Academic skills
Technical skills
Learner motivation
Time and support for studies
Access to the Internet
Technical problems
14. Additional Considerations:
Online education is rapidly evolving and changing.
Developing and creating takes time and patience.
Students need support to be successful.
Developing a online education that is flexible and effective is
imperative.
The program should not be looked at for only recovery
credits, but also for higher education options for students.
16. References:
Collins, S. e-learning frameworks for NCLB.
Muilenburg, L. & Berge, Z. (2005). Student barriers to online learning: A factor analytic study. Distance
Education, 26(1), 29-48
Orr, R. (2009) 10 reasons why online learning is becoming mainstream.
http://blog.study2u.com/459/10-reasons-online-learning-is-becoming-mainstream/
Shelton, K. & Saltsman, G. (2005). An administrator’s guide to online education. Greenwich, Connecticut:
Information Age Publishing
