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West Virginia Virtual School:
Success Strategies for Success Strategies for FacilitatorsFacilitatorsSharon Gainer, WVVS
RegistrarOffice of Technology and Office of Technology and
Information SystemsInformation Systems
West Virginia Department of EducationWest Virginia Department of Education
The Facilitator is the physical representative of the teacher in the distance-learning classroom.
Why Distance Learning Courses?
A significant share of West Virginia’s students live in rural areas, and attend small schools.WV has a decreasing population base, and this has resulted in public school staff cuts.WVVS was created “to offer high quality educational courses via Internet technology to all students.” In this setting, technological solutions are a key to assuring equitable access to education.
WVVS ModelWV does not currently have the resources to create and deliver web-based courses (the current exception to this is Spanish).WVVS delivery model involves:
identifying providers that offer both high-quality courses and course delivery options.identifying quality courses that align with corresponding state content standards.
WVVS model requires that the course provider make available an online teacher to direct and guide the student through the learning process.Content + Electronic Delivery + Online Teacher = Tuition Model currently used by WVVS
Role of WVVSWVVS operates as a broker for state’s public schools and facilitates operational areas of delivery.WVVS evaluates and selects providers.WVVS evaluates and approves courses.WVDE negotiates statewide prices for services.
WVVS currently provides 100% of tuition through a grant funded by the WV Legislature and awarded through a joint partnership of the WV Educational Broadcasting Authority and the WV Department of Education.*Tuitions can be funded until the funds have been expended.*
What you need to know…All courses meet WV State Curriculum Goals and ObjectivesCounselors insure that courses fit students’ educational programsSome courses are electives—must be approved by countyAP courses come from course provider, not WVVS (College Board Requirements)Student must be in WVEIS
Local VS Policy
School/County Virtual School Policy may provide guidelines for
Which student may enrollProctoring examsDrop policyConditions for parent paymentRole of facilitator
The Facilitator is the key to success.
Congratulations…
You are the facilitator because…
you are the virtual school contactyou are the content specialistyou are the technologistyou run the labyou are the guidance counseloryou hold the short straw
What is your plan to ensure that the students succeed in the virtual environment?
WVVS Training Options:
WVVS Web SiteOn-Line Tutorial for Virtual School ContactsOn-Line Tutorial for FacilitatorsCourse Provider Web SitesTech Coordinator at XXHSSchool level virtual school contactWVVS registrar
Seat Time vs. Content
Virtual course time constraints depend on course providerCompletion of course depends on contentThere are no incomplete assignmentsThere are no grades without a transcript
Books and Materials
Under WV school law, school/county must provide books and materialsCheck course provider’s list—many use digital booksTime is of the essenceTime is of the essence
Choosing End Date
Virtual class completion could match your semester, block, trimester scheduleStudent can complete on his own timeframe—faster/slowerStudent can work into the summerVendor may set end date
Monitor Progress
Weekly meeting with studentOn-line monitoring Reports from course providerStudent “show me” progressChart progress of all students
Schedule Disruptions
No snow daysNo holidays (exception per vendor)No shortened schedule daysNo excused absencesRare extensions
Dropping a Course
What is the School VS Policy for dropping?What is the vendor’s policy for drops without cost?Did you notify the registrar by email?Did you notify your school counselor and VS contact?
How Grades are Reported
Class is entered in WVEIS as virtual courseAP course grades are reported as given under Policy 2515All other courses—numeric grade given by instructorOnly transcripted grades can be recorded
Course Providers and Effective Mentoring and Monitoring of Students
WVVS Course Providers
AMDG, Inc.BYUAPEX LearningAventa LearningFlorida Virtual SchoolMountaineer VirtualVirtual GreenbushWest Virginia Virtual School
General Recommendations for
Mentoring and MonitoringFamiliarize yourself with provider. Require that students periodically
meet with you to discuss progress and identify any barriers to participation.
Verify student progress via provider-recommended procedures.
Stay involved! Schools cannot abdicate responsibility for students.
The Facilitator is a good communicator.
Communicates with the student:
Dates and eventsEncouragementManagement skillsStudy skillsComputer skills
Communicates with the WVVS Registrar:Problems and Questions
technologylearning partnersobstacles to learning
Successesstudentteacher/learning partnertechnologyspecial processesdevelopments in technology
Communicates with the principal:
Student progressCourse progress and processQuestions from the teacherProblems with technology or servicesSuccesses
Communicates with parent:
Course process and progressStudent behavior and/or other concernsSuccesses and accomplishmentsParent/Teacher Conferences
Tips for Successful Facilitation
Good Practice is Good PracticeSelect Students with CareSet Expectations for Students and ParentsConference with Students to Monitor ProgressCheck Reports WeeklyReport GradesBring Issues to Registrar in Timely Manner
And now…
What are your questions?What are your concerns?What are your comments?
Contact Information:
Sharon Gainer, Registrar, West Virginia Virtual School
sgainer@access.k12.wv.us toll-free at 866-593-8065Anne Meadows, Asst. Director, WVDE Office of Technology ameadows@access.k12.wv.us 304.957.9833 Ext. 53433
The Facilitator in the Distance Learning
Classroom
*A partnership for learning**A partnership for learning*
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