mtda administrative webinar 14 april 2010

…you can learn anywhere in Big Sky Country!

April 14, 2010April 14, 2010

Information Webinar for Administrators

Presenting:

Robert Currie, Executive Director

Jason Neiffer, Interim Curriculum Specialist

Today’s Agenda

• Introduction to the Adobe Connect Platform

• Welcome from Robert Currie, MTDA Executive

Director

• Introduction to MTDA• Introduction to MTDA

• The 2010-2011 Program

• The Role of Teachers and School Districts

• Enrollment Procedures

• Your Questions!

Introduction to the

Adobe Connect PlatformAdobe Connect Platform

Presenting today…

Robert CurrieRobert CurrieExecutive Director…located at the Phyllis J. Washington Education Building

at the University of Montana

Presenting and moderating today…

Jason NeifferInterim Curriculum Specialist…located at Capital High School in Helena…located at Capital High School in Helena

Welcome from Robert Currie,

MTDA Executive DirectorMTDA Executive Director

Introduction to MTDA

House Bill 459/

MCA 20-7-1201

• The purposes of the Montana virtual academy are to:

– (a) make distance learning opportunities available to all school-age children through public school districts in the state of Montana;in the state of Montana;

– (b) offer high-quality instructors who are licensed and endorsed in Montana and courses that are in compliance with all relevant education and distance learning rules, standards, and policies; and

– (c) emphasize the core subject matters required under the accreditation standards, offer advanced courses for dual credit in collaboration with the Montana university system, and offer enrichment courses.

MTDA Board

• Positions named by MCA 20-7-1201

• Current Board:Bruce Messinger, Chair, Superintendent of Helena Public Schools

Dennis Parman, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction

Sheila Stearns, Commissioner, Office of Higher EducationSheila Stearns, Commissioner, Office of Higher Education

Barbara Fettig, Teacher, Billings School District

Bryan Duvall, Trustee, Geraldine School Board

Roberta Evans, Dean, The University of Montana School of

Education

MTDA Staff

• Robert Currie, Executive Director

• Jason Neiffer, Interim Curriculum Specialist

• Rayleen Hicks, Administrative Associate

• Collier Kaler, Project Assistant• Collier Kaler, Project Assistant

Deployment Schedule

• ** Course Enrollment for Fall 2010 available

NOW!

• April-May: Public Information Campaign,

Teacher and Course Developer RecruitmentTeacher and Course Developer Recruitment

• May-August: Course Development and

Teacher Training

• June-August: Pilot Test Run of MTDA Courses

• Late August: Fall Course Open

The 2010-2011 Program

Program Overview

• 43 courses available, including a mix of core

courses, electives and AP offerings

• Courses available at 9-12 levels; K-8 courses

available in later yearsavailable in later years

• Due to funding, 2010-2011 courses available

free of charge to Montana Students

Overview of Online Learning

MTDA courses are…

• Asynchronous: courses are available via

Moodle, MTDA’s learning management system

24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet a

students available schedulestudents available schedule

• Taught by Montana Teachers: courses are

taught by licensed Montana instructors

• Built to be exclusively online: courses are

utilize e-books, online text, and online

multimedia

What students will see…

Resources: English Language

Arts

Mathematics

Physics

Social Studies

Resources: Electronic Textbooks

(E-text)

Resources - Science Labs

Online Resources – Grammar

Handbook

Netiquette – Rules of the Net

Interactivity with Instructors

Moodle Discussions, Video Conferencing,

Audio, Video and Text Chat

Meeting the Needs of Students

• Eliminate a scheduling conflict

• Graduate on time

• Learn at a pace that is right for them• Learn at a pace that is right for them

• Take a summer school course conveniently

from home or another location

• Recover course credit in a discreet manner

Meeting the Needs of Schools

• Helping at-risk students

• Assisting schools with unique staffing and

curriculum challenges

• Customizing solutions to meet school needs• Customizing solutions to meet school needs

• Providing leadership in researching and

developing e-learning solutions

The Role of Teachers

and School Districtsand School Districts

Teachers Involved in Every Step

of Development and InstructionS

ub

ject

Ma

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ub

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rt Works with MTDA curriculum teach to develop courses using a mix of commercial

Works with MTDA curriculum teach to develop courses using a mix of commercial

Lea

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ad

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er Responsible for

teaching the first section of each course and monitoring the

Responsible for teaching the first section of each course and monitoring the

On

lin

e T

ea

che

rO

nli

ne

Te

ach

er Responsible for

teaching subsequent sections of each course.

Responsible for teaching subsequent sections of each course.

Su

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ct M

att

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Exp

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Exp

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a mix of commercial resources, course add-ons and widgets and electronic texts. Courses are carefully developed to meet Montana Standards and IEFA expectations.

a mix of commercial resources, course add-ons and widgets and electronic texts. Courses are carefully developed to meet Montana Standards and IEFA expectations.

Lea

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and monitoring the course for redevelopment opportunities.

and monitoring the course for redevelopment opportunities.

On

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course.course.

Teachers are…

• Licensed in Montana

• Employed by Montana school districts

• Trained by MTDA on course development and

online pedagogyonline pedagogy

• Monitored and mentored by MTDA staff

Districts are a Critical Connection

Between the MTDA and Students

• Districts are responsible for enrolling students

in MTDA courses

• Districts can assist students in providing

resources and assistance to support student resources and assistance to support student

success in the online learning environment

Supporting a Model for Student

Success

Determining Readiness for

Student Success

• Profile of an online student - varies

• Readiness assessment – principal, counselor,

parent and teachersparent and teachers

• Determine student interest and motivation

Student Orientation

• Develop an introduction to MTDA and online

learning

• Provide some modules to be used for practice• Provide some modules to be used for practice

• High interest electives are good starters

• Offer an incentive to schools to ensure

students participate in orientation

Enrollment Procedures

Goal: Online Student Management

System with Data Features

Current Enrollment via Website

http://www.montanadigitalacademy.org

Click on MTDA Enrollment and “Enroll Now”

Your questions!

Thank you for attending today!

• These slides and a recording of today’s

presentation are available at:

http://www.montanadigitalacademy.org

• Counselor webinars will be held:• Counselor webinars will be held:

April 29, 9am

May 12, 4pm

Robert Currie

Executive Director

406-243-4619

robert.currie@mso.umt.edu

Jason Neiffer

Interim Curriculum Specialist

406-202-2761

jason.neiffer@mso.umt.edu