Virtual High School March 3, 2008

Presentation to the Watertown School

Committee

Virtual High School March 3, 2008

Presentation to the Watertown School

Committee

Virtual High School WebsiteVirtual High School Website

All information used in this presentation can be found on the VHS website

www.govhs.org

All information used in this presentation can be found on the VHS website

www.govhs.org

Virtual High SchoolBackground Information

Virtual High SchoolBackground Information

Established in 1997 Non-profit organization providing online

courses to high school students around the world

Provides teacher training to current and future VHS teachers

Established in 1997 Non-profit organization providing online

courses to high school students around the world

Provides teacher training to current and future VHS teachers

VHS Member ProfileVHS Member Profile Size of member schools is between 4

and 4,286 Total number of students enrolled per

year in netcourses - 9,111 Breakdown of VHS students by gender

57%female, 43% male 457 member schools currently

Size of member schools is between 4 and 4,286

Total number of students enrolled per year in netcourses - 9,111

Breakdown of VHS students by gender 57%female, 43% male

457 member schools currently

Location of Member SchoolsLocation of Member Schools

VHS member schools in the U.S. are located in 28 different states

35 international schools in countries including Canada, Italy, England, France, Australia, Brazil, China and Japan

VHS member schools in the U.S. are located in 28 different states

35 international schools in countries including Canada, Italy, England, France, Australia, Brazil, China and Japan

VHS Member Schools in Mass.

VHS Member Schools in Mass.

118 schools in Massachusetts Most are public high schools, including

those in Cambridge, Chelsea, Littleton, Reading. Peabody and Woburn

Some public middle schools and private middle and high schools are also VHS members, including Bishop Feehan, Mt. St. Joseph Academy

118 schools in Massachusetts Most are public high schools, including

those in Cambridge, Chelsea, Littleton, Reading. Peabody and Woburn

Some public middle schools and private middle and high schools are also VHS members, including Bishop Feehan, Mt. St. Joseph Academy

Types of VHS MembershipsTypes of VHS Memberships Student-only member ( Watertown High

School currently falls in this category ) Individual school member Consortium member Home-schooled students may also apply

for participation

Student-only member ( Watertown High School currently falls in this category )

Individual school member Consortium member Home-schooled students may also apply

for participation

VHS CoursesVHS Courses 241 courses currently offered Courses are offered at either a

standard, honors, AP or duel credit level Most classes are semester-long, running

for a total of 15 weeks AP courses are two-semester courses,

running for 33 weeks Maximum class size is 25 Average class size is approximately 19

241 courses currently offered Courses are offered at either a

standard, honors, AP or duel credit level Most classes are semester-long, running

for a total of 15 weeks AP courses are two-semester courses,

running for 33 weeks Maximum class size is 25 Average class size is approximately 19

VHS Summer CoursesVHS Summer Courses

Credit recovery courses in a few subjects ( e.g., Algebra, English, U.S. History, Health ) are offered during the summer

Enrichment courses are also available during the summer on a limited basis

Credit recovery courses in a few subjects ( e.g., Algebra, English, U.S. History, Health ) are offered during the summer

Enrichment courses are also available during the summer on a limited basis

If You Could Take a VHS Course, You Might Like…If You Could Take a VHS Course, You Might Like…

Science - DNA Technology Social Studies - Criminology Social Studies - Gods of CNN: The

Power of the Media

Science - DNA Technology Social Studies - Criminology Social Studies - Gods of CNN: The

Power of the Media

How About Taking…?How About Taking…?

Language Arts - Contemporary Irish Literature

Language Arts - Ghoulies, Ghosties and Beasties: Why We Like to be Scared

Language Arts - Contemporary Irish Literature

Language Arts - Ghoulies, Ghosties and Beasties: Why We Like to be Scared

You Might Consider…You Might Consider…

Mathematics - Number Theory: Patterns, Puzzles and Cryptography

Life Skills/Health - Career Awareness for the New Millennium

Arts - 20th Century History and American Pop Music

Mathematics - Number Theory: Patterns, Puzzles and Cryptography

Life Skills/Health - Career Awareness for the New Millennium

Arts - 20th Century History and American Pop Music

More possibilities…More possibilities…

Foreign Language - Basic Mandarin Business - Investing in the Stock

Market Technology/Tech Ed - Animation

Effects: Flash MX Basics

Foreign Language - Basic Mandarin Business - Investing in the Stock

Market Technology/Tech Ed - Animation

Effects: Flash MX Basics

The Site CoordinatorThe Site Coordinator

Student-only and individual member schools must have a site coordinator

Student-only and individual member schools must have a site coordinator

WHS Site CoordinatorWHS Site Coordinator

Alan Epstein is Watertown High School’s Site Coordinator

Alan Epstein is Watertown High School’s Site Coordinator

Role of the Site CoordinatorRole of the Site Coordinator

Acts as administrative liaison between the VHS teachers, the students, the VHS organization and the students’ school

Tracks students’ progress Handles media distribution and

shipment

Acts as administrative liaison between the VHS teachers, the students, the VHS organization and the students’ school

Tracks students’ progress Handles media distribution and

shipment

The Site Coordinator also..The Site Coordinator also..

Checks in with students and monitors students’ progress throughout their courses

Troubleshoots problems Encourages students when they

need a boost

Checks in with students and monitors students’ progress throughout their courses

Troubleshoots problems Encourages students when they

need a boost

2007 - 2008 School Year2007 - 2008 School Year Ten seats for Watertown High School

students were available in VHS courses each semester

Courses students took included AP Biology, AP Art History, Basic Mandarin, Creative Writing, Spanish Literature, Oceanography, Bioethics and Biotechnology

Ten seats for Watertown High School students were available in VHS courses each semester

Courses students took included AP Biology, AP Art History, Basic Mandarin, Creative Writing, Spanish Literature, Oceanography, Bioethics and Biotechnology

WHS Student FeedbackWHS Student Feedback

Feedback from Students Enrolled in Virtual High School Courses during the 2007-2008 school year

Feedback from Students Enrolled in Virtual High School Courses during the 2007-2008 school year

VHS StudentsVHS Students

Judy Choy and Hong Van Phan Class of 2008

Judy Choy and Hong Van Phan Class of 2008

Some Advantages of Taking A VHS Course

Some Advantages of Taking A VHS Course

Students have the opportunity to take classes with students and teachers from around the world

Online classes provide an excellent opportunity for motivated students who work well independently

Students have the opportunity to take classes with students and teachers from around the world

Online classes provide an excellent opportunity for motivated students who work well independently

Additional AdvantagesAdditional Advantages Students can select courses from a wide

range of offerings A VHS course provides students a more

flexible work schedule during a school week which runs from Wednesday through Tuesday

Students can select courses from a wide range of offerings

A VHS course provides students a more flexible work schedule during a school week which runs from Wednesday through Tuesday

Some Challenges To Taking An Online Course

Some Challenges To Taking An Online Course

Students have no face to face contact with their classmates or their teacher

Students with questions on assignments or technical issues must wait for their questions to be answered, which can take, at times, up to 24 hours, as opposed to receiving immediate responses

Students have no face to face contact with their classmates or their teacher

Students with questions on assignments or technical issues must wait for their questions to be answered, which can take, at times, up to 24 hours, as opposed to receiving immediate responses

Demo VHS CoursesDemo VHS Courses

The VHS website has three student demo courses, providing students and teachers the opportunity to experience a VHS course.

The VHS website has three student demo courses, providing students and teachers the opportunity to experience a VHS course.

Teacher Training Provided by Virtual High School

Teacher Training Provided by Virtual High School

Site Coordinator Orientation ( SCO ) NetCourse Instructional Methodology

( NIM ) Teachers Learning Conference ( TLC )

Site Coordinator Orientation ( SCO ) NetCourse Instructional Methodology

( NIM ) Teachers Learning Conference ( TLC )

Site Coordinator OrientationSite Coordinator Orientation

Four week online professional development NetCourse

Four week online professional development NetCourse

NetCourse Instructional Methodology ( NIM )

NetCourse Instructional Methodology ( NIM )

Ten-week course designed to train instructors to teach an existing VHS course

Ten-week course designed to train instructors to teach an existing VHS course