Building Bridges to
Better E-Learning
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Our Moderator
Michelle Davis
Senior writer, Education Week Digital Directions
Blogger at Digital Education
www.edweek.org/go/diged
Featured Guests
Donna Hutchinson
CEO, Idaho Digital Learning Academy
(Boise, Idaho)
Martha P. Rizutto
Superintendent, Tarrant City Schools
(Birmingham, Ala.)
Special Report
E-learning 2010 :
Assessing the Need for Change
This new special report aims to highlight
the progress made in the e-learning arena,
as well as the administrative, funding, and
policy barriers that some experts say are
slowing the growth of this form of
education.
Get it free at:
www.edweek.org/dd
Idaho Digital Learning Academy
Building Bridges to Better E-Learning
Dr. Donna Hutchison
Chief Executive Officer
Perrine Bridge, Twin Falls, Idaho
Idaho
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Clearwater, Idaho
8th largest state
82,747 square miles
41% forest
Population: 1.3 million
60 out of 115 school
districts meet rural
definition
• 37% of districts fewer
than 500 students
Meet Dustin Rinker
Rainbow Bridge. US 55 to Cascade, Idaho
Idaho’s Dilemma
• Dustin Rinker, 18
• Valedictorian/Star Athlete
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Riggins, Idaho
Population = 410
# of teachers = 8
# of students (7-12) = 67
• Nearest City/College =120 miles
Background & History: IDLA (Title 33, Chap 55)
• Created to serve as state virtual school in 2002.
• “…hereby created the Idaho digital learning
academy, a school-choice learning
environment…best technology with the best
instructional practices.”
• “The goal …is to provide choice, accessibility,
flexibility, quality, and equity ..for students in the
state.”
• “Provide for articulating the content … with college
and university courses in order to award both high
school and undergraduate college credit.”
Idaho Digital Learning Academy
• Growth 50% per year
• 2009-2010
• 14,300 enrollments
• 98% participation by
Idaho districts
• Ranked #3 in 2008 by
Center for Digital
Education
• Ranked #3 in Keeping
Pace in 2009 for
enrollments per capita
Bridge 1: Working with Local Schools
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IDLA Board of Directors
“Service”
Local Policy Trumps IDLA
Regional Rep in Local
Community
• Free Blended Learning
Resources
• 1st School District to Require
Online Learning
Blaine County Bridge, Sun Valley, Idaho
Bridge 2: Properly Train Educators
• Local Site Coordinators
– Required Training “Carrot”
– eLearning Conference
• IDLA Teachers
– Required & Ongoing
Requirement
– Bonus Pay Process
– Annual Summer Conference
• IDLA “PD”
– Free webinars for educators
– Online workshops, PLCs, etc
Lake Creek Bridge, US-95, Idaho
Bridge 3: Quality Online Courses
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“Build-Buy-Barter”
Learning Objects
Idaho Standards/Idaho Centric
Best Practices in Online
Pedagogy
Online Developer Course
Contract/Rubric/
Revision Cycle
Student & Independent
Evaluations/Reviewers
Perrine Bridge, Twin Falls, Idaho
Bridge to the Future: Build Capacity
• Knowledgeable Educators
• Blended Learning
• Role of the State?
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Online Teaching Standards
Online Endorsement
Online Courses
Online Requirement
• Quality & Accountability
Osborn Bridge, Pine Haven, Idaho
Revisit: Idaho’s Dilemma
• Dustin Rinker, 18
• “The only way for us to
compete is to take our
classes online.”
• 26 credits of AP/Dual Credit
through online learning
• 21st Century Learner
• Carroll College, Montana
Thank You!
Dr. Donna Hutchison
Chief Executive Officer
Donna.Hutchison@idahodigitallearning.org
www.twitter.com/idla_ceo
www.idahodigitallearning.org
Perrine Bridge, Twin Falls, Idaho
SAS® Curriculum Pathways® is Fully Funded by SAS –
Provided at NO COST to U.S. Educators & Students
•1200+ Online Lessons and
Resources in Five
Curriculum Areas
•Integrates Curriculum &
Technology
•Aligned to State Standards
•Engages Students
•Promotes Critical Thinking
Skills
•For use in both traditional,
online, and home
environments
Learn more and register for your FREE subscription at
www.sas.com/cp
Questions? Please contact Lee Ellen Harmer at LeeEllen.Harmer@sas.com
Copyright © 2010, SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.
Online Learning at Tarrant
High School
Dr. Marti Rizzuto
Superintendent of Schools
Tarrant City Schools
1318 Alabama Street
Tarrant, AL 35217
rizzutom@tarrant.k12.al.us
ACCESS Distance Learning


The State of Alabama provides equal
access to high quality instruction to
improve student achievement through
distance learning.
Students are able to take classes online
and through video teleconferencing in a
classroom environment.
On Time Graduation

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ACCESS allows students to take
classes online in order to makeup
credits. Students can complete the work
at home, before school, and after
school.
Students say that this helps them
graduate on time and encourages them
to stay in school.
Opportunity
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Distance Learning provides students the
opportunity to take classes that are not
offered at their base school.
For example, a group of advanced students
who want to take a higher level math class
but the class is not offered at the base school
can elect to take the class from another
school across the state of Alabama.
Culturally Diverse


Some students enjoy the interaction the
virtual classroom allows them with
students from different communities.
This allows students access to a variety
of different viewpoints.
Students have gained confidence in
their ability to compete with students
across the state.
Friendships

Students have formed lasting
friendships with students and teachers
via distance learning. Some teachers
have visited their distance learning
location and met their students
personally.
Foreign Language



Two years of a foreign language is required
for graduation in Alabama.
ACCESS allows students to take classes (i.e.,
foreign language) so they can fulfill the
requirement for graduation.
In small schools, financial constraints do not
allow for a teacher to be hired for classes
requested by only a few students.
Question & Answer Session
Questions and Answers
Special Report
E-learning 2010 :
Assessing the Need for Change
This new special report aims to highlight
the progress made in the e-learning arena,
as well as the administrative, funding, and
policy barriers that some experts say are
slowing the growth of this form of
education.
Get it free at:
www.edweek.org/dd
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The Editors @ edweek.org
SAS® Curriculum Pathways® is Fully Funded by SAS –
Provided at NO COST to U.S. Educators & Students
•1200+ Online Lessons and
Resources in Five
Curriculum Areas
•Integrates Curriculum &
Technology
•Aligned to State Standards
•Engages Students
•Promotes Critical Thinking
Skills
•For use in both traditional,
online, and home
environments
Learn more and register for your FREE subscription at
www.sas.com/cp
Questions? Please contact Lee Ellen Harmer at LeeEllen.Harmer@sas.com
Copyright © 2010, SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.