Mar 23

Written by: shines-2
3/23/2010 9:41 AM 

Notes from session #TXDLA-133 Spanning the Distance Learning Divide - Hybrids and Pure Virtual Models

Houston has an Advanced Virtual Academy Advanced Virtual Academy . Students must apply for a transfer to attend the Advanced Virtual Academy. Students must be interviewed before acceptance to Advanced Virtual Academy. They also have a Virtual School that uses the blended model of instruction and students select from the time options where they must come to school.

They use vendors to provide the online courses and do not create their own courses. APEX, PLATO, The teacher of record modifies the courses for individual students and for the course.

Teachers are paid differently for different courses depending on the amount of work involved and they are paid by the student.

One thing I did not realize. A student cannot graduate in Texas from a virtual school without getting some credit from a face to face school PE credit cannot be earned online.

All virtual courses give the same weight and credit as the face-to-face equivalent.

Counselors are key to the enrollment in the virtual courses to make sure they need the course and that they are good candidates for virtual courses.

Exams are proctored in a central location.

Houston does accept students from other districts and collects no ADA for those students.

 

Copyright ©2010 Sandra Hines