rural education congress

E Learning Solutions for Rural Storefront Schools

National Congress on Rural Education

Presenters:Sheila Silcox – Nipawin Storefront Teacher Helen Gress – Principal, Arborfield School

Robert Nystuen – NESD IT ConsultantThad Swidzinski – NESD IT Consultant

Presentation Outline

• History of E Learning in the North East• Storefront Schools in the North East School Division• Why merge E Learning and Storefront• Storefront Uses of E Learning• Delivering ELA to the Storefront Students• Benefits• Challenges• Future Directions

E Learning in the North East

• Initiated in 2003 in the Tisdale Legacy School Division•4 modes of delivery – client based•Blend in face to face and online students• ELN

Video

Storefront Schools in the North East

• Storefront Web Page• Tisdale, Nipawin and Melfort

Why Merge E Learning and the Storefront Schools

• a variety of online tools and course materials developed• (link to Moodle)

•Sheila will talk about her challenges of teaching multiple classes

NESDStorefrontSchools

NESD E LearningMachine

Storefront Uses of E Learning

• access to Moodle, Skype and Adobe Connect• digitizing resources• copying existing online courses• receiving instruction externally (Asynchronous Flex Delivery)

Delivering ELA to the Storefront

•Workspace•Technology Used

• Moodle, blackboard, Drupal• Breeze• Skype• Voicethread• Dim Dim• Micro Laptops

Video

Role of the Storefront Teacher

•Select appropriate students•Communication with instructor•Monitor student understanding•Assisting in online delivery•Encouraging participation in synchronous meetings•Motivating student completion•Cover material face to face as required•Accommodating individual learning styles

Role of the Online Teacher

• Customizing the Moodle course• Engaging the Learner• Synch meetings• Increase Flexibility

Benefits

•For the Storefront Teachers•Less of a course load•More proficient at classes taught•Team teaching•Allows for more electives

•For the Students•Varied instruction•Different teacher•“not in your face” instruction – intimidation factor• flexibility to work at home• introduce students to technology• (Student Outcomes Video)

Challenges

•For the Storefront Teachers•Becoming familiar with content chosen by instructor•Lack of immediacy•Technology glitches

•For the Students•New learning mode•Change•Students not as forgiving

Future Directions

•Expanding course options•Balancing technology needs in storefronts•Storefront Teacher delivering to other locations•More strategic use of online tools•Technical support•Uncovering more multimedia options

Future Directions

•Expanding course options•Balancing technology needs in storefronts•Storefront Teacher delivering to other locations•More strategic use of online tools•Technical support•Uncovering more multimedia options

Questions and Comments

•Sheila Silcox - silcox.sheila@nesd.ca•Helen Gress - gress.helen@nesd.ca•Thad Swidzinski – thad@nesd.ca•Robert Nystuen – robert@nesd.ca

•PowerPoint available at:

•http://eln.nesd.ca

NESD E Learning Network

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ELA Workspace

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Student Thoughts

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