1. Planning for Distance Learning

2. Distance Learning Distance learning is a method of accessing courses of study even though learners and their teachers, instructors, or tutor/markers may be in different physical locations.

3. Distance Learning in Manitoba Manitoba Education is committed to providing high quality distance learning options that respond to the different needs of students, schools, and school divisions in order to support flexibility and increased educational opportunities for learners in Manitoba, regardless of geographic location.

4. Distance Learning in MB Distance learning provides program flexibility and equitable access to diverse learning opportunities, while at the same time respects local community decisions regarding program implementation. http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/ http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/

5. Three Options in Manitoba: An Overview ISOTMOWBC http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/glance_11.pdf

6. Introductions Do you have students in your school who takes a distance learning course? Which DL options do your students have access to? Does your school or school division have a distance learning plan?

7. Responding to Local Needs Filling in gaps - students needing a course(s) Low enrolment courses Extended Absences –Medical leaves –Exchange trips –Incarcerated students –sports Homeschooling Adults

8. Planning for DL (Distance Learning)  Divisional plan to deliver/share DL  School plan to support students taking DL

9. Organizational Chart Research completed by Mike Nantais (Assistant Professor at Brandon University) http://sites.google.com/site/ictatbu/about-me While this chart was primarily intended for use with WBC, it is a useful framework for all forms of distance learning.

11. Setting Up Your Local DL Programs School divisions may want to organize their own distance learning programs and make it part of the regular programming options. Why?

12. Key Points to Discuss Do you need to setup a committee to work together? Are there any courses with low enrolments that can be shared? What are the needs of the learners? What can staff currently offer? What are their strengths? Who are the master teachers? Who are the new teachers?

13. Key Points to Discuss Is there a balance between required courses versus the electives? Will DL be used for students that need to repeat a course? Can any speciality courses be offered? Will distance learning be accepted in your community?

14. Learner Needs Do you know which courses your students need? Can match student needs and abilities with one of the three options?

15. The Ideal DL Student willing to take responsibility for their own progress high level of discipline as independent learners high level of motivation good writing and communication skills willing to initiate calls/emails to the instructor for assistance critically analyze and self-assess progress Internet and computer literate problem solvers and are able to find answers on their own serious attitude toward the course

16. Student Readiness Online Quizzes http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/iso/index.html http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/tmo/index.html http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/index.html

17. Staffing To Support DL School Facilitator – WBC Site Facilitator – ISO Facilitator – TMO Proctor School / Division Contact WBC Teacher or Tutor/Marker Other Support Staff

18. School/Site Facilitators Help students become aware of the skills needed to be successful Help students with the technology involved Provide or arrange for supervision of tests and exams Communicate relevant information to the teacher/tutor-marker, for example, lengthy absences, dropping out, etc Communicate with parents so that they are aware the students are taking an online course Communicating with DLU staff

19. School/Site Facilitators Monitor student progress and performance ensuring they do not fall behind Assist students in resolving any difficulties they may encounter during the completion of a DL course. Ensure the final mark is recorded in school’s records (administration system if any), EIS and in student’s transcript/report cards Provide students with on-going encouragement Contact administrators, clerks, guidance, teachers, tech, etc as needed

20. School/Division Contact help disseminate information to teachers and other staff help coordinate seat sharing http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/outsideregistrations.html provide leadership in developing supporting DL plans as part of a team http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/local.html Liaison with administrators Provide updated information for local website and other publications

21. WBC Teachers How do you select a teacher to teach a WBC course? What are the characteristics of an ideal online instructor?

22. WBC Teachers Preparation  read through the course and assignments before the students do Update the course and web links as necessary Ensure that all appropriate software is installed at all participating schools Become comfortable with the technology and make sure it works

23. WBC Teachers Be aware of the ICT skills required Be aware that good teaching in a face-to-face class is good teaching online Intentionally pace the course Communicate often Engage the students in learning

24. WBC Teachers expect spending a lot of time with emails follow up quickly with students who do not participate know the local support systems of students in receiving (remote) schools keep site facilitator(s) informed (remote schools) use announcements frequently to keep students informed

25. WBC Teachers Tell students how to succeed in your course Post your expectations and rules Make learning the focus, not the technology Create an online and emotional presence

26. Other Support Staff in DL The front office staff play a key role in DL courses, especially for ISO – All ISO assignments are returned to the school and it is expected that schools will return these assignments to the students Technology coordinator and technicians Other ?

27. IT Support does the student have access to the internet at school? does the student have access to the internet at home? are the school’s/division’s proxy serving and filtering software going to hamper access? does the course require other software to be installed? are their any computer settings that will prevent students from downloading and uploading files? e.g. when students have to submit a Word file do you have the support of the computer technicians/technology coordinator?

28. How else can distance learning resources be used in school? Credit recovery WBC and ISO courses are modularized and can be used to support Credit Recovery Programs. Does your school have a plan for credit recovery? Do you currently use distance learning resources? Could you use distance learning resources?

29. How else can distance learning resources be used in school? IEP - Modifications and adaptations ISO and WBC courses are written at grade appropriate numeracy and literacy levels. Can distance learning resources be used to support programming for students that require modification and adaptations? IEP - Gifted/Challenge Credit Do you have high achieving students or gifted students that are seeking more of a challenge. Could distance learning resources be used to address this need? How would you implement this?

30. How else can distance learning resources be used in school? SIP/Dual credits/career internships SIPs, dual credits and career internship credits are some ways that students earn credit towards graduation. Which ISO courses can be used for this? A blank WBC course be used to create a SIP

31. How else can distance learning resources be used in school? A Specific Example Grade 11 and 12 Physical Education/Health Education Credits WBC and ISO Courses can be used to assist students and/or teachers in offering the required PEHE credits. In what situation or circumstance would you recommend that a student take an ISO versus a WBC PEHE course? In what situations or circumstance would not recommend an ISO PEHE course?

32. How else can distance learning resources be used in school? Planning for Pandemics/Natural Disasters http://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/pandemic/guidance/continuity-recs.pd f Ensuring continuity of learning during individual or prolonged absences or during school‐wide dismissals Communication strategies and tools for the school, teachers, and students Accessing academic resources and other supports from home Planning for needed equipment and other resources Informing all parties involved and training teachers Pandemic planning chart available pandemic planning chart.pdfpandemic planning chart.pdf

33. How else can distance learning resources be used in school? Teacher Reference ISO and WBC courses are available as references for teachers. Support a new/beginning teacher Supplement IEPs Credit recovery programs Programming for gifted/exceptional children Accessing ISO  http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/iso/reference.html Accessing WBC  http://web4.gov.mb.ca/wbcrequests

34. Contacts Howard Griffith, howard.griffith@gov.mb.cahoward.griffith@gov.mb.ca Donald Girouard, donald.girouard@gov.mb.cadonald.girouard@gov.mb.ca Questions?

35. Distance Learning Guidebooks and Support Documents ISO Handbook http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/iso/handbook.pdf. School Facilitators Handbook http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/schoolfacilitator/index.html TMO Guidebook http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/iso/handbook.pdf. TMO School Proctors Handbook http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/tmo/school_proctors.html TMO Wiki http://teachermediatedoption.wikispaces.com/ WBC Handbook/Guidelines Developed locally by schools and school divisions WBC Wiki http://dluspace.wikispaces.com/ Webinars and Workshops for Blackboard Learn http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/training_workshops.html

36. References Adult Learning and Literacy http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ael/all/index.html. Alberta Distance Learning Learning Resource Centre http://www.lrc.learning.gov.ab.ca Distance Learning at a Glance http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/glance_11.pdf General Educational Development http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ael/all/ged/index.html Home Schooling http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/schools/ind/home_sch.html. ISO School Facilitator webpage http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/schoolfacilitator/index.html ISO Student Readiness Quiz http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/iso/index.html ISO Website http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/iso/index.html Manitoba Education Curriculum Development Process http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/process.html Manitoba Education: Distance Learning Website http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/ Mike Nantais http://sites.google.com/site/ictatbu/about-me Preparing for the Flu: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/pandemic/guidance/continuity-recs.pdf Senior 1 to 4 Mature Student Graduation Requirements http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/policy/mat_student.html. TMO School Proctor webpage http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/tmo/school_proctors.html TMO Student Readiness Quiz http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/tmo/index.html TMO Website http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/tmo/index.html TMO Wiki site http://teachermediatedoption.wikispaces.com/ Tutor/Marker Information http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/iso/tutormarker.html WBC School/Division Contact List http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/local.html WBC Seat Sharing http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/outsideregistrations.html WBC Student Readiness Quiz http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/index.html WBC Website http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/dl/wbc/index.html WBC Wiki site http://dluspace.wikispaces.com/ Web Base Course Request System http://web4.gov.mb.ca/wbcrequests

37. Some Research and Pedagogy http://www.jofde.ca/index.php/jde/index http://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/jtla/ http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/index http://www.inacol.org/research/ http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/06/29/report- online-learning-nearly-doubles-among-high-school- students.aspx http://www.edutopia.org/stw-online-learning- research-roundup http://www.inacol.org/research/nationalstandards/iNA COL_CourseStandards_2011.pdf