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NORTHCENTRAL UNIVERSITY
ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET
Learner: Nicholas Acha
EL7001
Dr. Glen Gatin
Principles and Practices in E-Learning
Assignment 8
Faculty Use Only
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1. Introduction
Charles Herbert Flowers High School (CHFHS) is a comprehensive high school
located in Springdale, Maryland, with a science and technology program. The
academic academies across disciplines provide the structure to facilitate
increased student achievement, support instructional proficiency, foster
administrative leadership, and monitor school wide accountability. Charles
Herbert Flowers believes that the vision of utilizing a school within a school
model to implement academic academies will provide comprehensive services
thereby increasing student achievement. Charles Herbert Flowers High School is
now in its eleventh year of operation and has now graduated nine classes. We
serve a population from our surrounding communities of Springdale, Glenarden,
Landover, Palmer Park, Bowie, Lanham and Mitchellville. The socio economic
level ranges from poverty to upper middle class.
In addition to these
communities, the Science and Technology program draws 550 students from
other central Prince George’s County Maryland communities.
Our largest
student sub-group is comprised of 2,292 African American students and is 94.28
% of the student population.
Other student subgroups include 139 students
who are .49 % White, 2.38 % Hispanic, .49 % Asian, and .49 % Indian. Two large
apartment communities are being closed in the Glenarden community which will
decrease the student population and the number of staff positions.
The
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community has been affected by the economy which has also affected funding to
the school system.
Over the past five years the school’s budget has been
drastically slashed. School positions such as parent liaison, Peer Medication
Coordinator and in house Pupil Personnel Workers, have been eliminated.
Teacher positions have also been eliminated creating larger class sizes.
Additionally, all administrators, faculty and staff have been furloughed and have
not received salary increases. Having lost approximately 30 teachers in the last 5
years, class sizes are larger and the number of course offerings has decreased.
For the academic year 2011-2012, the statistics of staff serving some 2300 students
is shown on the table below.
Academic Year 2011-2012
Library Services Personnel
1
Administrators
8
Health Services Personnel
2
Classroom Teachers
119
Paraprofessionals
8
Special Needs Teachers
19
Secretaries & Clerks
8
Guidance/Career Counselors
8
Custodial and Maintenance
16
Food Services Personnel
13
Security Personnel
8
Technology
Services 1
Personnel
(CHFHS Self-Study Document, 2010)
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2. Student Online Learning (SOL) in Prince George’s County Public Schools
Charles Herbert Flowers High School is one the schools in the Prince George’s County
Public Schools system. Student Online Learning (SOL), through the Prince George's
County Public Schools, is a way for high school students to take courses outside of the
traditional classroom setting.
(Retrieved on July 16, 2012 from http://www1.pgcps.org/online/)
3. Program Description
The Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) believes that online courses
provide new opportunities in the delivery of instruction for students. Courses are
designed to expand student access to challenging curricula aligned to the Maryland
Content Standards and the Maryland Voluntary Curriculum through the delivery of high
quality online courses for high school credit. These courses are consistent with the
regular school program; however, teaching is primarily conducted online with the teacher
physically separated from the students. Students work independently and at various times
of the day or week. Teachers communicate with students online and via telephone. Each
school will create a support system for students taking online courses.
(Retrieved on July 16, 2012 from http://www1.pgcps.org/online/)
4. Readiness of Learners for E-Learning at CHFHS
In the 2011-2012 school year Prince George’s County Public Schools offered the
following online courses; Advanced Placement Calculus AB, Advanced Placement
Calculus BC, Advanced Placement Environmental Science, Advanced Placement US
Government & Politics, and Advanced Placement US History, free of charge, under the
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coordination of David Eagle (david.eagle@pgcps.org). Three students participated in this
SOL initiative from CHFHS in the 2011-2012 schools year.
5. E-Learning Type for CHFHS
The Leader-Led type of e-learning is what is in place now for the entire schools district
with a mentor being assigned to each student enrolled in the program from the local
school. It is also the best type suitable for students at CHFHS since the students;

Are somewhat independent learners

Have moderate computer knowledge

Lack ability to discuss, write, or think clearly about a topic without guidance

Have access to local libraries where the can available at various times and also
have internet access

Can listen, read, discuss, and carry out online activities

Can benefit from individualized delivery given the large class sizes
6. Support System needed to maintain E-Learning at CHFHS
Three computer labs of 30 computers each were recently updated with new computers, a
mobile cart of 30 IPADS has been acquired for the 2012-2013 school, and teachers’
laptops have also been updated to new ones. CHFHS is networked like any other school
in the school district and has wireless access. Each student is provided with an email and
a login username and password to enable them get into the school’s network. There’s
only one technology services personnel for the entire school which makes it difficult if
not impossible for prompt technology and technical assistance. More of such personnel
need to be recruited. Bandwidth needs improvement and an opportunity to incorporate
other e-learning platforms encouraged.
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7. E-Learning Curriculum Development at CHFHS
There is no e-learning curriculum development team at CHFHS. At this time all elearning courses are being developed and managed at the level of the department of
Academics and Curriculum Development of the District’s Board of Education in
conformity with the expectations of the standards of College Board, for advanced
placement courses, and the state department of education in Maryland for all other
courses.
8. Software and Hardware Needs to Support E-Learning at CHFHS
CHFHS is fairly good with hardware needs except that some students either do not have
computers at home or cannot access the internet at home. This challenged could be
resolved by providing after access to the computer labs for a limited amount of time for
those that are interested. All software must be approved by the schools system.
Presently, Moodle is used as the platform for delivering online instruction county wide.
9. Skills needed to Deliver and Participate in E-Learning at CHFHS
Not many teachers are interest in e-learning at CHFHS even though most teachers have
the average computer knowledge which permits them to acquire further knowledge on the
delivery of e-learning. This means that teachers will need to be motivated by way of
incentives or evaluation in order to create some awareness for the need for e-learning.
Information and communications technology personnel of the schools district continue to
organize workshops on using Moodle but the process is slow since training is centralized.
10. Overall Cost
At this stage in the process of motivating and encouraging both students and teachers to
be part of the SOL program, most of the cost has to be incurred in hiring more technology
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and technical support staff, improving on the network, providing adequate training to
staff, creating local e-learning development and evaluation teams, and providing
incentives to teachers in order to encourage them participate in SOL.
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References
1. CHFHS Self – Study Document (2010). Middle States Commission on Elementary and
Secondary Schools
2. http://www1.pgcps.org/online/
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