So You Want to Start an Online School? Create a framework and a plan

1. So, You Want to Start an Online Program?
Building Your Framework / Plan
Kelly Schwirzke, Ed.D. * Rob Darrow, Ed.D.
#ISTE12 * June 2012

2. Big Question:
What do you have to do to create
an effective and sustainable online
or blended learning program?
(Demystify the myths,
know the landscape,
create a plan)

3. Guiding Documents
• 4 page handout (eLearning Framework)
• Workshop Packet (Online Program Planning
Chart)
• Keeping Pace (2011)

5. Types of Programs
• Credit Recovery
• Gifted students
• Implement throughout
schools
• Implement in one
classroom
• Alternative Education
• Any other types you are
considering?

6. Program
Components

7. Students

8. Know your…
Educational goals
Evaluation metrics
Program structure
Course content

9. Purchasing options
Learning objects….full courses
Comprehensive
Open Educational Resources

10. Evaluation
iNACOL Common
Standards Core

11. Know your…
Educational goals
Program structure
Teacher role

12. iNACOL Standards for Quality Online Teaching
"The new standards focus on providing
teachers with a set of criteria for
effective online learning and aim to
guarantee that the teachers are better
able to understand the technology,
new teaching methods and digital
course content in an effort to foster an
personalized online learning
environment for every student”.

13. Online Teacher Evaluation Classroom
Management
Communication
Professional
Teacher Prep Programs Development
Mentoring
Hiring
PD by Discipline

14. Know your…
TCO
Educational goals
Program structure
Supporting Technology
Interoperability

15. Learning Management Systems
LMS Defined
Choose Wisely
Open Source or Commercial?
Features
Student Information Systems
Functionality

16. Recruitment & Support Services
Student Support
Special Education
Counseling
Tech Support
Mentoring

17. Staffing
Budgeting
Evaluation
Operating in the current
regulatory environment

19. Online Program Planning Guide
• Please find your blank document in your
workshop packet
• …and start taking some notes… towards your
overall plan as we go over the next slides

20. Operational Control: Is your school
or program (or will it be) run by a…
o District
o School / One Teacher
o Charter school (regardless of authorizing entity)
o Consortium
o State agency or state-level entity
o Multi-state/multi-national
o Company

21. Type of School?
o Supplemental primarily (students may take
one or two courses online)
o Full-time online primarily (all courses taken
online, although students may meet face to
face with an instructor)
o Blended primarily (Mostly face to face
instruction with some online interaction)
o A mix of two or more

22. Administration: How many people (FTE)
work (or will work) in administration of
the program (not including teachers)?
o 1 or fewer
o 2-4
o 5 or more

23. Ongoing Costs: How large is the yearly
program budget?
o Under $25,000
o $25,000 - $100,000
o More than $100,000
o Unclear because funds come from
many places
o Budget?

24. Approvals/Policies: What level of
administration has signed off on the program?
o School board
o Superintendent
o Central district staff
o Building level
o Department level
o Ain’t nobody here but us chickens

25. Work on your plan

26. The Big Question?
• What is one additional question you have
after planning out your online program?
• Identify one in your table group

27. Contact Information
Rob Darrow, Ed.D. Kelly Schwirzke, Ed.D.
• Director of Member Services • Instructor, Oasis Independent Study /
Coordinator of Online Learning
• iNacol
• Alternative Education Programs
• 559-838-6151
• Santa Cruz County Office of Education
• rdarrow@inacol.org
• P 831-466-5655
• www.inacol.org
• C 831-359-1778
• Rob’s Wiki:
• kschwirzke@santacruz.k12.ca.us
• http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com
http://iste12.wikispaces.com