Best PracticesBest Practices

To ensure that students get the most out of online learning.

School-Centered Best PracticesSchool-Centered Best Practices

School and district administrators can make specific decisions about the implementation of online courses in their school that can positively affect the impact of the Course Support team and the experiences of online students.

School-Centered Best PracticesSchool-Centered Best Practices

Make administrative decisions regarding the implementation of online courses that best support student learning.◦Authority◦Communication◦Schedules◦Release time◦Models

School-Centered Best PracticesSchool-Centered Best Practices

Authority. Give your CS team the authority to make decisions regarding the: ◦Identification of potential online students.

◦Selection of appropriate courses. ◦Logistical support of online students. ◦Application of students' online credits to their local transcripts.

School-Centered Best PracticesSchool-Centered Best Practices

Communication. Communicate the CS team members' responsibilities to school staff (who does what and who to talk to when staff have questions).

School-Centered Best PracticesSchool-Centered Best Practices

Schedules. Help accommodate CS team members' roles in supporting online students by adding some flexibility to their schedules.

School-Centered Best PracticesSchool-Centered Best Practices

Release time. If possible, give Student Facilitators release time to work with students during the school day and compensate them for time spent on their CS duties outside of their normally contracted hours.

School-Centered Best PracticesSchool-Centered Best Practices

Models. Designate a time and place for students to connect with their student facilitator and to their online courses. ◦Scheduling

Class period Student Facilitator period

◦Access School connection At-home connection Community access

◦Tech help

School-Centered Best PracticesSchool-Centered Best Practices

Appoint key staff members to serve on your CS team. ◦Schools can directly influence student success in online courses by appointing interested and suitable staff to the key Course Support team roles.

School-Centered Best PracticesSchool-Centered Best Practices

Give your CS team the opportunity to participate in training.◦Course Support team members are better able to influence student success in online courses when they have been given the opportunity to participate in training and support options and are compensated for their time. TxVSN system orientationStudent Online Learning Orientation

Site Coordinator Best Site Coordinator Best PracticesPractices

Review the CS team role descriptions. Read the Student Facilitator Best Practices

to learn how you can best support your colleagues.

Work with your CS team to designate a time and place for students to connect to their online courses.

Participate in the TxVSN System Orientation.

Site Coordinator Best Site Coordinator Best PracticesPractices

Gather or review the student information via the TxVSN registration system before completing the registration process.

Log in to the TxVSN registration system to monitor the status of registrations and charges to your school's invoice.

Student Facilitator Best PracticesStudent Facilitator Best Practices

Review the Course Support team role descriptions.

Read the Site Coordinator Best Practices to learn how you can best support your colleague.

Work with your Course Support team to designate a time and place for students to connect to their online courses.

Participate in the TxVSN System Orientation.

Student Facilitator Best PracticesStudent Facilitator Best Practices

Communicate regularly with your online students.

Communicate with your students' online instructors, counselors, and parents.

Help students establish strategies for success.

Monitor your students' progress and get them extra help if needed.

Policies Best PracticesPolicies Best Practices

Create policies addressing which students can take which courses, how, and according to what procedures. Make sure these policies are in place before students enroll in online courses. This enables schools to respond consistently and fairly to all students and their varied needs.

Policies Best PracticesPolicies Best Practices

Answering these common questions can help you create policies:

Do students have access to online courses otherwise available at the school?

Will online courses be used when a student's schedule prohibits enrollment in a local version of a course?

Are online courses used for credit recovery only? Or for enrichment only? Or other reasons?

Policies Best PracticesPolicies Best Practices

Can a student be required to take an online course when discipline or other problems make participating in a face-to-face course problematic, even when other options are available (such as taking the course at a later date, with another teacher, or at a nearby school)?

Policies Best PracticesPolicies Best Practices

Are students required to complete an "application process," which may include:◦parental/guardian permissions ◦teacher recommendations ◦verification of minimum academic standing

◦a statement of commitment to the completion of the online course, in order to participate in an online course?

Policies Best PracticesPolicies Best Practices

Were the ways in which credit values will be applied to student transcripts determined before the students registered for their courses? ◦Are online courses granted the same credit and value as face-to-face courses?

◦Are there limits to the number of online courses a student may enroll in? Can a full diploma be earned online?

Policies Best PracticesPolicies Best Practices

Should a printed copy of the registration be provided by the student with both the student and parent signature for approval?

Should satisfactory participation in the student online learning orientation be required to complete the registration process?

Policies Best PracticesPolicies Best Practices

Registration periodTransfer studentsHigh Risk StudentsTechnical RequirementsCourse FeeAttendanceDrops

Policies Best PracticesPolicies Best Practices

MaterialsGradesStudent DisciplineCheating/plagiarismSpecial Needs

Course Selection Best PracticesCourse Selection Best Practices

Start smallAcquire curriculum based on goals and

needs of the district/campus◦Purchased curriculum◦District created curriculum

Train course developers on copyright issuesTrain course developers on instructional

design for online learningEstablish Intellectual Property rights

Student Selection Best PracticesStudent Selection Best Practices

Student success depends on many factors, not all of which are technology related:

Is self-motivated -- often expected to branch out and find other resources.

Is self-disciplined; not a procrastinator -- will need to budget his/her own time.

Has good reading skills--all means of communication depend on good reading skills.

Student Selection Best PracticesStudent Selection Best Practices

Will question what he/she does not understand --- depending on the structure of the class.

Has good writing skills--being able to express your ideas clearly so you will not be misunderstood (there is no voice inflection or body language which help in understanding the spoken word).

Should set aside time for online study -- this is part of being self-disciplined.

Student Selection Best PracticesStudent Selection Best Practices

The online learner needs to know how...

To use the keyboard and mouse To use word processing, presentation, and

spreadsheet software To retrieve and edit a document To save and print files in different formats To protect hardware and software from

virus To install plugins on personal computer

Student Selection Best PracticesStudent Selection Best Practices

To access the Internet ◦Access sites on the Internet ◦Use search engines to search for specific information

◦Operate within a browser window: use Back icon, scroll bar, Stop icon, settings

◦Send and retrieve email ◦Send an attachment through email ◦Navigate and post to online discussions ◦Conduct online research & data retrieval

Student Selection Best PracticesStudent Selection Best Practices

Students should take the online quiz, “Is Online Learning for Me?”.