exploring new worlds: the virtual learning environment as a model for collaboration baltimore county...

Exploring New Worlds:The Virtual Learning Environment as a Model for Collaboration

Baltimore County Public Schools, Maryland

Magnet Schools of America2010 National ConferenceTampa, FL

Presenters:Maria Lowry, Principal

Jason Bullerman, Technology Education ChairJanine Holmes, Social Studies Chair

MiVida Parham, Business Education ChairCorinne Roche, STEM Coordinator

To provide an environment that fosters high standards for academics,

relationships, and goal setting through a rigorous STEM-based culture.

Mission StatementMission Statement

Chesapeake High SchoolSTEM Academy

Student Progression Flowchart

Graduation Requirements forEnglish, Social Studies, Foreign Language,

Phys. Ed., Health, & Fine Arts

Each student will also complete a 4-credit pathway in one of the STEM Academies below.

Minimum of 4 Credits in

Science


Mathematics


Science


Mathematics

Arts, Multimedia &

CommunicationsAcademy

____________

Photography Pathway

Multimedia & Communications

Pathway

Science, Engineering & Mathematics

Academy_____________Pre-Engineering

Pathway

Environmental Science Pathway

Biomedical Science/ Allied Health

Pathway

Mathematics Pathway

Business & Information Technology Academy

___________

Computer Science Pathway

Business Management

Pathway

Marketing Pathway

Leadership & Humanities

Academy

____________

Marine JROTC Pathway

Criminal Justice Pathway

Establishing the visionWhat is the VLE and why Virtual What is the VLE and why Virtual

Learning?Learning?

VLE stands for Virtual Learning Environment

Today’s students are digital natives, spending much of their personal time interacting in virtual environments.

Translating this to the classroom allows students to learn traditional

content in a way that is engaging and familiar to them,

Establishing the Vision for the VLEEstablishing the Vision for the VLE

• Traditionally it has taken 12-15 years for innovation to make its way to the classroom.

• A challenge was presented to BCPS to create access to real student learning opportunities through innovation and technology that we know the military and the simulation and gaming communities are using today.

We visited the JHU Center for Technology in

Education and the Applied Physics

Lab.Seeing their progress, we

embraced this major initiative and

Chesapeake High School was selected as the place to implement

this new learning environment.


The goal: to teach kids where they are and not where we were…through shared innovation.


The Virtual Learning EnvironmentThe Virtual Learning Environment

The new VLE at Chesapeake High School is a sophisticated learning tool that blends state-of-the-art 3-D gaming and

simulation technology with cutting edge classroom instruction. The VLE ushers in a new era of science,

technology, engineering, and math instruction in Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) and capitalizes on the success

of the existing STEM Academy at the school.

Virtual Learning EnvironmentsVirtual Learning Environments

Dr. Joe A. Hairston

Superintendent of Schools

Baltimore County, Maryland


All the partners were focused on one thing:

Advancing student achievement, not technological tools.

Purpose

To advance teaching & learning

through virtualvirtual experiences

Purpose

To advance teaching & learning

through virtualvirtual experiences

Entrepreneurs

HigherEducation

Educators

Executive &Engineers

Maryland State Maryland State Department of Department of

EducationEducation

Baltimore County Baltimore County GovernmentGovernment

Students, Faculty Students, Faculty and Staff of and Staff of

Baltimore County Baltimore County Public SchoolsPublic Schools

Educators

Entrepreneurs

American Design American Design AssociatesAssociates

Baltimore Sound and Baltimore Sound and EngineeringEngineering

BreakAway Games BreakAway Games

DataNetworksDataNetworks

PolysonicsPolysonics

TrainingPort TrainingPort StrategiesStrategies

HigherEducation

Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins University Applied University Applied

Physics LabPhysics Lab

Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins Center for Center for

Technology Technology in Educationin Education

University of University of Baltimore School of Baltimore School of Information Arts and Information Arts and

TechnologiesTechnologies

Executives &Engineers

URS CorporationURS Corporation

Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin

Northrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman

Phillips WayPhillips Way

The partnerships have opened The partnerships have opened doors to: doors to:

Teacher externship Teacher externship programs with Lockheed programs with Lockheed

MartinMartin

Mentorship programs Mentorship programs for our students with for our students with

engineersengineers

Real-world Real-world applications for the applications for the

classroomclassroom

Greater Greater student-teacher student-teacher

collaborationcollaboration

Student collaboration Student collaboration with higher-Ed and with higher-Ed and

engineersengineers

Timeline for Introduction of the VLETimeline for Introduction of the VLE

• January 2008:

• June 2008:

• October 2008:

• August 2009:

• September 2009:

• Identified potential partners and established shared vision

• First collaborative partnership meeting began

• Collaborative meetings continued, both facilities and curriculum

• Construction on the VLE is complete

• Science and Mathematics courses begin to work in the VLE

A Tour of the VLE at Chesapeake HSA Tour of the VLE at Chesapeake HS

The power of the overall partnership remains in its founding concepts: that business and higher

education can and should continually create ways to truly impact student success today

Virtual Learning EnvironmentVirtual Learning EnvironmentCurriculum DevelopmentCurriculum Development

Began with Science and Math Curriculums All facets of partnership have worked

collaboratively to develop the curriculum Emphasis on 21st Century Learning

Virtual Learning EnvironmentVirtual Learning EnvironmentCurriculum DevelopmentCurriculum Development

Content Areas and their Focus Science: Environmental Science Math: Geometry Social Studies: Economics and Psychology English: Creative Writing

Geometry VLE ExperienceGeometry VLE Experience

The purpose of the Virtual Learning Environment in Geometry courses is to:– Answer the question, “How can topics in geometry

help individuals make informed decisions?”– Allow students to work collaboratively on a year

long project.– Infuse geometry skills and concepts into a real

world scenario.– Incorporate the VLE SeaHawk program with

mathematics software (Geometer’s Sketchpad) to enrich the experience.

Geometry VLE ExperienceGeometry VLE Experience

Challenge 1: Survey Mt. St. Helen Hiking

and Camping Areas

Challenge 2: Identifying Regions and Locations for Emergency Evacuation Shelters

Challenge 3: Flight Paths

Challenge 4: Engineering Design

Proposal for Emergency

Evacuation Shelters

Sharing the background

Creating the Prototype

Integrating curriculum into the VLE Integrating curriculum into the VLE

Teaching Teaching ConceptConcept vs. vs. Content Content

Concepts Content

Incorporating Technology and VLE into these practices

Virtual Learning EnvironmentsVirtual Learning EnvironmentsProfessional DevelopmentProfessional Development

Conducting a Needs Analysis Identifying Focus Areas Developing a Plan of Action Identifying and Collecting Data Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions Refining the Plan of Action


Delivery Methods in Action Plan: Summer seminar Differentiated hands on workshops Lesson studies Book study Professional Development Portal


Delivery Methods in Action Plan: VLE Training Module C&I Staff Development for teachers of

the first VLE courses Ongoing update meetings with all

partnerships represented Data collection (surveys, benchmarks,

etc.)

Infusion of Web 2.0 ApplicationsInfusion of Web 2.0 Applications

The use of wikis has been integrated into all of the VLE curriculum applications.

Student CommentsStudent Comments

• “I enjoyed everything”

• “It was a fun way for me to learn”

• “I liked doing all the work on the wiki”

• “It’s fun listening to the people talking to me virtually”

• “Make it a take home learning game so we can play it at home”

Next StepsNext Steps

• Curriculum customizations by teachersGoal: customizations by students

• Development of additional virtual environments: Lunar Environment and Polar Ice Cap

• Continue to expand uses of the VLE Video Conferencing, Flight Simulators, CSI, Geometer Sketchpad, etc.

Visit the following wiki for session materials, contact information, and more information about

Chesapeake High School.http://ChesapeakeHighMSA2010.pbworks.com

Be sure to visit us during Session 3!

Hidden Treasures: Web 2.0 Applications in the High School Classroom

Marriott, Room 8

Thank You!Contact Information:Maria Lowry [email protected] Jason Bullerman [email protected] Janine Holmes [email protected] MiVida Parham [email protected] Corinne Roche [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]





exploring new worlds: the virtual learning environment as a model for collaboration baltimore county...

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