The ABCs of Creating Your Own “Online Day”

What is an Online Day? Students remain at home Students remain at home Teachers prepare online assignments Teachers prepare online assignments Students have flexibility in completing assignments Students have flexibility in completing assignments School is open for students who do not have online access School is open for students who do not have online access Teachers are available to students by and phone Teachers are available to students by and phone Counts as a day of attendance Counts as a day of attendance Provides new learning opportunities Provides new learning opportunities Provides additional time for professional development Provides additional time for professional development

Why Have an Online Day? Over 20% of college students had at least one online class in their schedule in the fall (2007). Over 20% of college students had at least one online class in their schedule in the fall (2007). Michigan merit curriculum requires online experience as a prerequisite for high school graduation. Michigan merit curriculum requires online experience as a prerequisite for high school graduation. More than half of all school districts in the U.S. offer online courses. More than half of all school districts in the U.S. offer online courses. Workforce training is done using online learning 30-50% of the time. Workforce training is done using online learning 30-50% of the time. The question that your school must ask “What is your school system doing to prepare your students for online learning?” The question that your school must ask “What is your school system doing to prepare your students for online learning?”

Moodle Becomes Available at PTSC Introduced about three years ago Introduced about three years ago Training through the Service Center - three teachers Training through the Service Center - three teachers Limited in-service training in the school Limited in-service training in the school Used in several courses Used in several courses

Approval by the DOE

Initial Planning Early meeting with department chairs Early meeting with department chairs Present idea to staff Present idea to staff Form a committee Form a committee Staff who use Moodle Staff who use Moodle Teacher leaders Teacher leaders Risk takers Risk takers

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare No stone unturned No stone unturned Step by step - only so much information at a time Step by step - only so much information at a time Divide up responsibilities Divide up responsibilities Maintain written records Maintain written records Do not be afraid to fail, you will learn from it Do not be afraid to fail, you will learn from it Include everyone in the process Include everyone in the process K.I.S.S. K.I.S.S.

Committee Responsibilities Create a timeline - 4 weeks Create a timeline - 4 weeks Survey students regarding access from home Survey students regarding access from home Reestablish accounts for all staff members Reestablish accounts for all staff members Establish training for teachers Establish training for teachers Check and establish training for teachers Check and establish training for teachers Brainstorm potential issues and problems Brainstorm potential issues and problems

Training of Staff Acceptable activities Acceptable activities Concentrated on four activities: linking, forum, glossary, quiz Concentrated on four activities: linking, forum, glossary, quiz Assembled print information and video tutorials Assembled print information and video tutorials Experienced staff worked with the less experienced teachers Experienced staff worked with the less experienced teachers

Final Preparation Informed students Informed students Parent meeting Parent meeting Teachers submit plan to principal Teachers submit plan to principal Teachers prepare students Teachers prepare students Make sure they have access Make sure they have access Provide enrollment key Provide enrollment key Preview the activity Preview the activity

Online Day Students had access to teachers by and phone Students had access to teachers by and phone Computer lab available to students without access from home Computer lab available to students without access from home Teachers used time to share ideas Teachers used time to share ideas Introduced other Moodle modules Introduced other Moodle modules Problems - Overloaded server - quickly fixed Problems - Overloaded server - quickly fixed

Attendance Based on completion of assignments Based on completion of assignments Assignments could be completed within a range of time Assignments could be completed within a range of time Teachers recorded own attendance Teachers recorded own attendance

Evaluation Surveys - Survey Monkey and Moodle Surveys - Survey Monkey and Moodle Students Students Teachers Teachers Parents Parents Participation Participation Problems Problems Make improvements for future online days Make improvements for future online days

Conclusions Positive experience Positive experience Staff worked together Staff worked together Increased student participation Increased student participation New ways of learning New ways of learning Practice, practice, practice Practice, practice, practice Teachers encouraged to use activities on regular class days Teachers encouraged to use activities on regular class days