How Do You Spell Opportunity? NCVPS

NCVPS Logo

Students come from a variety of backgrounds.  Naturally, they also come to school with a variety of learning needs.  A traditional high school can often meet these needs, but not always.  As educators, we know that teachers must differentiate to meet the learning needs of their students.  Not every student responds to a traditional education.  Many students learn best when accessing technology.  For these learners, a program like North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) can bridge the gap. NCVPS began in 2002 under the direction of current Governor Bev Perdue and the E-Learning Commission

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NCVPS Executive Director Bryan Setzer touts the benefits of virtual learning as one way to prepare students to compete globally as adult members of the workforce.  He explains that the typical NCVPS student is not necessarily the best student or the most tech-savvy student.  Setzer claims that the NCVPS experience “turns them (students) into a different kind of learner,” students who are “self-motivated, directed, and engaged.”  To help ensure their success, NCVPS provides students with orientation lessons and with a checklist of dates and guidelines for completing the course through NCVPS.

NCVPS offers high school students across the state something they desperately need:

Opportunities

Opportunity to take classes that are not offered in their local high schools

2009-2010 NCVPS Participation Map

NCVPS, ranked eighth in the US for online education, recognized Davidson County Schools for its stunning enrollment increase from 32 students in the 2008-2009 school year to 578 students in August 2009, the highest enrollment in the state. In his blog, Seizing Opportunities for Students, David Edwards, the Virtual Learning Consultant for NCVPS, gives a nod to the leadership of Superintendent Fred Mock and Distance Learning Advisor Ben Terrell for their insight in promoting virtual learning within Davidson County Schools.  By adjusting the work schedule of the system’s Student Advancement Coaches, students are able to complete virtual assignments after regular school hours; they may utilize school computers until 5:00 PM.

While enrollment in NCVPS is high across the school system, one school that benefits in particular from the online learning program is South Davidson High School, a small rural high school with just over 400 students.  Because the school’s enrollment is low, the number of teachers allocated to the school is also low (15).  As a result, course offerings are quite limited.  Students are able to take NCVPS courses on the AP and honors level online instead of having to travel to a neighboring high school.  Making this choice results in student savings in both time and money spent on travel.  In addition, one must not forget the reduced risks incurred when students are driving between schools, rushing to avoid being late for the next class.

Opportunity to earn additional academic credits after school and during the summer

NCVPS recognizes that students are not learning during the traditional school day and during the traditional school year.  They offer 24 hour access to courses and to assistance through a help desk.  Students may enroll in NCVPS classes during the summer, providing them with the opportunity to take an extra class in which they are interested.  They may also either catch up with classmates in order to graduate on time, or earn enough credits to graduate early.

Opportunity for home-schooled and charter school students to take classes that are rigorous and meet North Carolina standards

Students log in through a Blackboard account to access their courses.  NCVPS instructor Dr. Karen Carroll describes NCVPS as “A different way to do school.”  She adds that the program is “…Grounded in the NC Standard Course of Study, grounded in research, and grounded in pedagogy.”  

Opportunity for homebound or hospitalized students to earn credits when they are unable to attend school

"Alexis broke her leg and was unable to attend school for an extended period. She enrolled in 4 Advanced Placement courses and 1 Honors course at the North Carolina Virtual Public School. Alexis’ mother says that the opportunity for Alexis to continue AP and Honors courses online was the only way that she could have successfully kept up with and completed her coursework. This semester Alexis was named a 2008 Morehead Scholar.”    - Alexis C., Senior, Jacksonville High School, Onslow County, NC

Opportunity for students to help each other by becoming Peer Tutors

We learn best when we teach others.  NCVPS offers a Peer Tutor program.  Students who have successfully completed at least one NCVPS course may use their skills in the content area and their desire to help others to assist students who are struggling with their virtual course load.

Opportunity for certified teachers to participate in the program

Students participating in NCVPS have many educational advantages; however, teachers are also benefactors of the program.  An educator who is certified to teach in North Carolina may apply to teach a course in the program.  The requirements and application are available through the Educators link on the NCVPS Home Page. 

NCVPS Learning Opportunities

Although there are many positive learning opportunities for both students and teachers, there are also a few negative aspects of NCVPS.  Because I am the Licensure Specialist for Davidson County Schools, I have to complete a report on teachers who are not Highly Qualified (HQ) according to No Child Left Behind guidelines.  One frustration I have is that for the past two years, several NCVPS teachers who instruct Davidson County Schools students are not HQ.  Usually a teacher becomes HQ by passing a Praxis II test in the area or by completing 24 semester hours in the area with a grade of at least a C.  I am sure these teachers know their content, or they would not be teaching; however, I feel quite strongly that the individuals who do the hiring for NCVPS could do a better job to ensure that teachers, especially those teaching foreign languages, are HQ.  While being certified to teach the area is a requirement for a NCVPS teacher, being HQ is not even mentioned on the list of requirements or on the application!

It seems immensely unfair that a school system’s HQ percentage is lowered because a teacher employed by NCVPS is not HQ.  The NCVPS teacher is given an identification number.  Unfortunately, the licensure specialist for the school system cannot use that number to access licensure information on the NCVPS teacher.  We do not find out that the teacher is not HQ until the end of the school year and by then it is too late.  The students have been in the classes and at that point, there is nothing we can do.

Even though the HQ issue is big for me, it does not outweigh the numerous benefits of the NCVPS program for NC students.  Overall, it is a quality program that is meeting North Carolina’s goal of preparing students for life in the 21st century.  Our students are very fortunate to have such visionary educational leaders so that they may take advantage of the many opportunities NCVPS offers.  

References

Davidson County Schools.  Average Daily Membership: Month 0.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from Davidson County Schools:  http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/education /page/download.php?fileinfo=TW9udGhfOV9QTVIucGRmOjo6L3d3dy9zY2hvb2xzL3NjL3JlbW90ZS9pbWFnZXMvZG9jbWdyLzEzNTNfZmlsZV80OTcyX21vZF8xMzA4MTQzMTQ4LnBkZg==.

Davidson County Schools.  Student Advancement Coach.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from Davidson County Schools:  http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=2696.

Google Docs.  NCVPS Online Application.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from Google Docs:  https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGgtVjQ4b0pYdWwwUG1ON2JBUUZWb3c6MA&ndplr=1 .

Google Docs.  Student Checklist Fall 2010.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from Google Docs:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uRBReC7r703k7pIV7LPFPkyfGGPo2ZLCtcoNI9yUZlo/edit?hl=en&ndplr=1# .

No Child Left Behind.  Answers to FAQs Regarding “Highly Qualified” Teachers.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from North Carolina Public Schools:  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/highly/faqs/ .

North Carolina Virtual Public School.  North Carolina Virtual Public School Blackboard.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from North Carolina Virtual Public School:  http://ncvps.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp.

North Carolina Virtual Public School.  North Carolina Virtual Public School Home Page.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from North Carolina Virtual Public School:  http://www.ncvps.org/ .

North Carolina Virtual Public School.  Peer Tutoring Vidcast.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from North Carolina Virtual Public School:  http://www.ncvps.org/index.php/peer-tutoring-vidcast/ .

North Carolina Virtual Public School.  Student Checklist.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from North Carolina Virtual Public School:  http://www.ncvps.org/index.php/students/student-checklist/ .

North Carolina Virtual Public School.  Students.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from North Carolina Virtual Public School:  http://www.ncvps.org/index.php/students/.

North Carolina Virtual Public School.  Summer 2011 Traditional Catalogue.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from North Carolina Virtual Public School:  http://www.ncvps.org/index.php/courses/catalogue/summer-2011-traditional-catalogue/ .

North Carolina Virtual Public School.  Teach For NCVPS.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from North Carolina Virtual Public School:  http://www.ncvps.org/index.php/teach-for-ncvps/ .

The Virtual Learning Consultant.  Seizing Opportunities for Students.  Retrieved July 23, 2011, from NCVPS the North Carolina Virtual Public School: http://www.thevlc.org/2009/08/seizing-opportunities-for-students.html .

You Tube.  NCVPS Orientation 1.  Retrieved July 9, 2011, from You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmJvFmSmhc4 .

You Tube.  NCVPS Video.  Retrieved July 9, 2011, from You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqH-mSK_G2A.

A Laptop For Every Student

Without question, students love technology.  It is their preferred mode of communication.  Our task as educators is to tap into students’ passion for technology and use it to spark their interest and as a result, enhance their learning. 

Logo for NC New Schools Project

In 2007 the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 1473, the North Carolina 1:1 Learning Initiative.  The bill recognized “the value of laptop technology as a means to preparing North Carolina's most disadvantaged students for the demands of a modern workplace and a 21st century economy.”  Public and private institutions help provide resources in order to enable these mostly low income students and their teachers to have 24 hour access to laptop computers.  Davidson Early College is one of eight schools who are participating in this program.  

Thomasville High School also provided laptops for the 2010-2011 school year for each student with $1.5 million in funding from an IMPACT grant.  Principal Deboy Beamon points out that although monies were saved by reducing the amount spent on textbooks, the laptops will soon be outdated and have to be replaced.  Currently no federal funding has been earmarked to replace the computers when they are obsolete.

Logo for Mooresville Graded Schools

School systems across the country are investing millions of dollars to purchase laptops for each student.  With every dollar counting more these days, what is this the best way to marry technology with learning?  The Mooresville Graded School District (MGSD) with its motto “Every Child, Every Day”, made the commitment in 2007 to an initiative called “Digital Conversion.”  The school system purchased laptops for all students in grades four through twelve.  Students are allowed to take these laptops home with them so they have 24 hour access.  Third grade classrooms have laptops on carts.  All classrooms from kindergarten to grade three also have SMART Boards, SMART Slates, and SMART Response Devices.  

On its website, MGSD shares its goal to improve teaching and learning by increasing student engagement: “It is imperative to note that this project is a curriculum and instruction project, not a technology project. Through this paradigm shift in methodology, we are changing the way teachers teach and students learn, while utilizing an awesome set of technological tools.”  MGSD set about accomplishing its goal in the right way.  Before they began issuing laptops to students, teachers received laptops themselves.  A year was spent in intensive training for teachers.  Training continues each year through the use of professional learning communities and staff development on early release days.

The results of providing students with laptops and with changing the focus of the classrooms from being teacher centered to student centered have been quite positive:  

• Lessons have been enhanced with more critical thinking, project based learning, and problem solving and inquiry based activities.  
• The district has a 40% free and reduced lunch population.  MGSD has “leveled the playing field” between the students who can afford home computers and those who cannot by providing the laptops to all students.  
• Student performance on North Carolina End of Grade Tests has increased since the Digital Conversion program began in the fall of 2007.  Composite student scores on North Carolina End of Grade Test increased four percentage points from 2009 to 2010.  

Source: NC School Report Card 2009-2010

Source:  NC School Report Card 2009-2010

The key to success in a laptop program for all students is commitment across the board.  The district must commit to providing the funding to maintain the equipment and offer adequate tech support to students and staff.  Providing students with their own laptops is one way to make students responsible for their own learning.    With their own laptops, students are more likely to commit to become more active participants in their education, completing their assignments and creating innovative projects.  Teachers must also dedicate themselves to learning how to teach with the computers in engaging and challenging ways.  In the MGSD, 85% of the teachers attended voluntary training over the summer to prepare for the Digital Conversion. With the combined efforts of students, staff, and district level support, making a laptop available for each student will result in increased student engagement as well as an increase in student learning.

References

Davidson Early College.  1:1 Information Center.  Retrieved July 14, 2011, from Davidson County Schools: http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/education/staff/staff.php?sectiondetailid=38268& .

High Point Enterprise.  Laptops Speed Learning at Thomasville High.  Retrieved July 14, 2011 from High Point Enterprise:  http://www.hpe.com/view/full_story/10503765/article-Laptops-speed-learning-at-Thomasville-High.

Mooresville Graded School District.  Mooresville Graded School District Homepage.  Retrieved July 14, 2011, from Mooresville Graded School District:  http://www.mgsd.k12.nc.us/MGSD/Home.html.

Mooresville Graded School District.  Mooresville Graded School District Homepage.  Retrieved July 14, 2011, from Mooresville Graded School District:  http://www5.mgsd.k12.nc.us/staffsites/digitalconversion/Digital_Conversion//MGSD_Digital_Conversion.html.           

NC School Report Card.  Mooresville City Schools High Student Performance Data 2009-2010.  Retrieved July 14, 2011, from NC School Report Card:  http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/distDetails.jsp?Page=2&pLEACode=491&pYear=2009-2010&pDataType=1.

NCTIES Blog.  The Mooresville Technology Revolution.  Retrieved July 10, 2011, from NCTIES:  http://www.ncties.org/blog/index.php.

North Carolina New Schools Project.  One to One.  Retrieved July 14, 2011, from North Carolina New Schools Project:  http://newschoolsproject.org/our-schools/school-models/one-to-one.   

You Tube.  Smart Boards:  Why Are They So Easy To Use?  Retrieved July 14, 2011, from You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U05WeXPGlk.

You Tube. What Does 1 to 1 Access Really Do For Students?  Retrieved July 14, 2011, from You Tube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxPpUmdDv6I.

Why Online Learning Works for Educators

Clip art from Microsoft Office archives

There are many advantages to educators for taking classes online.  First is the availability.  As online students, we may take classes from anywhere.  Being able to complete coursework from a university hundreds of miles away can be a huge benefit to educators living in remote areas, to those who have scheduled vacations during the semester, or for teachers with family or work commitments that interfere with attending class on campus. The variety of classes available online is a second advantage.  Taking classes online opens opportunities to take classes that will fulfill graduation requirements or to explore a new area of learning.  A third benefit is the cost savings derived from avoiding the expenses of transportation to campus.  Flexibility with time is one of the biggest advantages to taking classes online.  Time that would normally be spent in traveling to campus can be spent on actually completing the course requirements.  In addition, online students are able to complete work at a time that is convenient for them.  Night owls can work into the late hours of the night while the early birds can start working first thing in the morning.

Advantages of Online Learning

I began my first online learning experience in 1999.  I needed to add Business Education to my educator's license and East Carolina University offered the program.  Fortunately for me, they were pioneers in online learning so I did not have to spend my summers in Greenville in order to meet the required six semester hours of coursework a year for three years.  Overall the experience was great.  Most instructors were very understanding in their realization that since most students in the online program were also employed as teachers, time was a precious commodity.  Several courses offered immediate feedback on tests and quizzes.  One major disadvantage, however, was not being able to ask questions immediately.  We did not have the WebEx type of technology, so communication relied on the instructor answering his or her phone or replying to an email.  I had one professor who did not respond to emails until Friday, so I was guaranteed to work all weekend on my assignment if I had a question that prohibited my completion of the work without assistance.  

As the Licensure Specialist for Davidson County Schools, one of my responsibilities is to assist lateral entry teachers in obtaining their licenses.  Davidson County Community College teamed with our school system to create an 80 hour online lateral entry orientation course.  Lateral entry teachers must complete an orientation before they can even enter the classroom, so being able to take the course online is a major benefit to the lateral entry  teacher’s being eligible for employment as soon as possible.  In addition, many lateral entry teachers complete their yearly requirement of six semester hours of coursework by taking online courses from universities like the University of Phoenix because they prefer the option to complete a course in as little as three to six weeks.

Professional Development Opportunities

Another responsibility I have as the Licensure Specialist is to submit documentation to renew educator’s licenses.  Each year, many teachers realize they do not have enough renewal credits in technology and their licenses are getting ready to expire.  Davidson County requires 3 CEUs (30 contact hours) during the five year renewal cycle.  A teacher may take staff development classes to earn technology credit from Davidson County Schools’ Technology Department in face to face classes or with online classes.  In addition, the North Carolina Public Schools Professional Development Department offers several technology courses that meet the learning needs of educators throughout the state. The eBistro program offers a menu of training opportunities in topics ranging from basic technology skills (Hors d’ Oeuvres) to Virtual field trips and video production (Desserts).

Technology is not the only kind of professional development NC Public Schools offers its teachers.  Formative assessment training is offered online through NC Falcon’s website.  Training in the new evaluation process for teachers, assistant principals, and principals is also available.  NCWise Owl (NC Online Windows for Learning) links students to resources that are safe for student research.  LearnNC provides engaging lesson plans that have been contributed by teachers, as well as a number of valuable resources, including a link to the NC Standard Course of Study.

As educators, we should take advantage of online learning opportunities.  Lateral entry teachers can complete required coursework online while beginning their teaching careers.  Many teachers choose to earn their master’s degrees online.  Earning an educational master’s degree enables North Carolina educators to earn a ten percent salary increase.  Advanced degrees are also rewarded with salary increases.  We can make the best use of our time by taking online courses at the university level or to earn teacher renewal credits to keep our educator’s licenses current. In addition, using online technology will make us better informed educators because we will be able to learn by using cutting edge technology which we can implement in our 21^st century classrooms. 

References

Davidson County Schools.  Davidson County Schools Homepage.  Retrieved July 10, 2011, from Davidson County Schools:  http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1.

DCCC.  Education & Service Technology: Lateral Entry for Teacher Certification.  Retrieved July 9, 2011 from Davidson County Community College: http://www.davidsonccc.edu/academics/ase-lateral-entry.htm.     

Distance Learning.  Professional Development Courses and Resources.  Retrieved July 9, 2011, from Public Schools of North Carolina: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/distancelearning/professional/index.html.       

eBistro. Technology Training A La Carte.  Retrieved July 9, 2011, from Public Schools of North Carolina:  http://ebistro.org/.

Emerging Academic Initiatives.  Distance Education Student Orientation.  Retrieved July 9, 2011, from East Carolina University:  http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/DEOrientation/index.cfm.

Financial and Business Services.  Salary Guides.  Retrieved July 10, 2011, from Public Schools of North Carolina:  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fbs/finance/salary/

LearnNC.  LearnNC: K-12 Teaching and Learning.  Retrieved July 10, 2011, from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:  http://www.learnnc.org/.

NC Falcon. North Carolina’s Formative Assessment Learning Community’s Online Network.  Retrieved July 9, 2011, from Public Schools of North Carolina: http://center.ncsu.edu/falcon/.

NC Wise Owl.  Spread Your Wings.  Retrieved July 10, 2011, from NC Wise Owl: http://www.ncwiseowl.org/default.htm.

Professional Development.  Training Materials:  NC Professional Educator Evaluation Systems.  Retrieved July 10, 2011, from Public Schools of North Carolina: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/profdev/training/.

Staff Development.  Staff Development Brochure.  Retrieved July 10, 2011, from Davidson County Schools:  http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=28311&linkid=nav-menu-container-4-127031&PHPSESSID=2e20335de732cf801fa0acad75d5db14.

WebEx.  Web Conferencing and Collaboration Solutions.  Retrieved July 10, 2011, from Cisco:  http://www.webex.com/lpintl/us/sem/sem-together.html?CPM=KNC-sem&TrackID=1021381&semid=s8knUABxS_5578644626

You Tube.  University of Phoenix Video.  Retrieved July 10, 2011 from You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mFMiTcFdNQ.

Getting the Hang of It

My very first blog.  Tech-y enough to make my momma proud!  Now if I can just get tech-y enough to make my daughter proud!