The ABCs of Creating Your Own “Online Day”

What is an Online Day?What is an Online Day?

Students remain at homeStudents remain at home

Teachers prepare online assignmentsTeachers prepare online assignments

Students have flexibility in completing assignmentsStudents have flexibility in completing assignments

School is open for students who do not have online School is open for students who do not have online

accessaccess

Teachers are available to students by email and phoneTeachers are available to students by email and phone

Counts as a day of attendanceCounts as a day of attendance

Provides new learning opportunitiesProvides new learning opportunities

Provides additional time for professional developmentProvides additional time for professional development

Why Have an Online Day?Why Have an Online Day?

OverOver 20%20% ofof collegecollege studentsstudents hadhad atat leastleast oneone onlineonline classclass inin theirtheir scheduleschedule inin thethe fallfall (2007).(2007).

MichiganMichigan meritmerit curriculumcurriculum requiresrequires onlineonline experienceexperience asas aa prerequisiteprerequisite forfor highhigh schoolschool graduation.graduation.

MoreMore thanthan halfhalf ofof allall schoolschool districtsdistricts inin thethe U.S.U.S. offeroffer onlineonline courses.courses.

WorkforceWorkforce trainingtraining isis donedone usingusing onlineonline learninglearning 30-50%30-50% ofof thethe time.time.

TheThe questionquestion thatthat youryour schoolschool mustmust askask “What“What isis youryour schoolschool systemsystem doingdoing toto prepareprepare youryour studentsstudents forfor onlineonline learning?”learning?”

Moodle Becomes Available at PTSCMoodle Becomes Available at PTSC

Introduced about three years agoIntroduced about three years ago

Training through the Service Center - three teachersTraining through the Service Center - three teachers

Limited in-service training in the schoolLimited in-service training in the school

Used in several coursesUsed in several courses

Approval by the DOEApproval by the DOE

Initial PlanningInitial Planning

Early meeting with department chairsEarly meeting with department chairs

Present idea to staffPresent idea to staff

Form a committeeForm a committee

• Staff who use MoodleStaff who use Moodle

• Teacher leadersTeacher leaders

• Risk takersRisk takers

Prepare, Prepare, PreparePrepare, Prepare, Prepare

No stone unturnedNo stone unturned

Step by step - only so much information at a timeStep by step - only so much information at a time

Divide up responsibilitiesDivide up responsibilities

Maintain written recordsMaintain written records

Do not be afraid to fail, you will learn from itDo not be afraid to fail, you will learn from it

Include everyone in the processInclude everyone in the process

K.I.S.S.K.I.S.S.

Committee ResponsibilitiesCommittee Responsibilities

Create a timeline - 4 weeksCreate a timeline - 4 weeks

Survey students regarding access from homeSurvey students regarding access from home

Reestablish accounts for all staff membersReestablish accounts for all staff members

Establish training for teachersEstablish training for teachers

Check and establish training for teachersCheck and establish training for teachers

Brainstorm potential issues and problemsBrainstorm potential issues and problems

Training of StaffTraining of Staff

Acceptable activitiesAcceptable activities

Concentrated on four activities: linking, forum, glossary, Concentrated on four activities: linking, forum, glossary,

quizquiz

Assembled print information and video tutorials Assembled print information and video tutorials

Experienced staff worked with the less experienced Experienced staff worked with the less experienced

teachersteachers

Final PreparationFinal Preparation

Informed studentsInformed students

Parent meetingParent meeting

Teachers submit plan to principalTeachers submit plan to principal

Teachers prepare studentsTeachers prepare students

Make sure they have accessMake sure they have access

Provide enrollment keyProvide enrollment key

Preview the activityPreview the activity

Online DayOnline Day

Students had access to teachers by e-mail and phoneStudents had access to teachers by e-mail and phone

Computer lab available to students without access from Computer lab available to students without access from

homehome

Teachers used time to share ideasTeachers used time to share ideas

Introduced other Moodle modules Introduced other Moodle modules

Problems - Overloaded server - quickly fixedProblems - Overloaded server - quickly fixed

AttendanceAttendance

Based on completion of assignmentsBased on completion of assignments

Assignments could be completed within a range of timeAssignments could be completed within a range of time

Teachers recorded own attendanceTeachers recorded own attendance

EvaluationEvaluation

Surveys - Survey Monkey and MoodleSurveys - Survey Monkey and Moodle

• StudentsStudents

• TeachersTeachers

• ParentsParents

ParticipationParticipation

ProblemsProblems

Make improvements for future online daysMake improvements for future online days

ConclusionsConclusions

Positive experiencePositive experience

Staff worked togetherStaff worked together

Increased student participationIncreased student participation

New ways of learningNew ways of learning

Practice, practice, practicePractice, practice, practice

Teachers encouraged to use activities on regular class Teachers encouraged to use activities on regular class

days days