Are You Ready for Online Classes?

By Tina Burkhart - September 26, 2008

The past ten years have seen online classes for adults increase dramatically, growing from a few technology classes or limited graduate school lessons to a broad array of routinely offered classes, covering many different subjects.

Online classes have also become a common learning tool for professional development in the work place and in many industries, with the goal of meeting professional growth requirements.  In addition, most colleges now offer at least some classes online, and some colleges offer degree programs that are completely online.

Acceptance of online classes in the K-12 arena has taken longer, but the number of districts offering classes has increased dramatically in the past few years. 

According to the American Council for Online Learning, 42 states now have significant full-time or supplemental online learning programs in their K-12 schools.  The Hoover Institute (in their publication Education Next1) projects that by the year 2014, ten percent of all high school classes offered will be online classes, and that by 2019, fifty percent of all high school classes will be offered online.

Schools are adopting online classes for many reasons including:

• The ability to offer classes the district can’t offer in a conventional setting because of limited student enrollment, or teacher availability
• The ability to offer classes without the limitation of traditional class scheduling
• To facilitate credit recovery

Most district technology leaders are in support of the concepts of online learning and the use of technology to enhance student learning.

However many directors of technology in school districts are trying to balance the current multiple demands for technology support with the finite staff resources in their department, including technicians who have limited expertise in supporting online classes.

How do you prepare for the technology needs for online classes?

For online learning programs to be successful, the technology staff needs to be included in planning from the outset, beginning with the earliest discussions of online classes.  This will help ensure the classes are supported and the various support issues resolved.  Some of the issues to be discussed include:

• Where and when will the online classes occur?
• How will technology support be provided to teachers and students on the school site?
• How will technology support be provided when the online class is being taken at home?
• If district teachers will be teaching the online classes, what support will the teacher need?  This support may include a specific classroom with a permanent setup of video equipment or mobile equipment.  Will the class have recorded lectures on district servers for later playback? Will some of the classes be held live?  Will the teacher need someone to operate the equipment during the class time?
• What equipment accommodations will be needed for students with disabilities to participate?  The discussion may initially deal with current student needs, but should include support for the most common disabilities.
• How will you collect the data required by the course provider or your district requirements?
• Will students in these classes require special equipment or different network access than is currently provided?
• What online security needs must be reviewed prior to giving students and teachers access?  How will students and teachers access files and information securely? How will student behavior on the network be monitored when the student is working from home?  How can the district network provide the access needed and also keep the network secure from hacking?

Recommended suggestions for a smooth online implementation include:

1. Talk with other districts who have established online programs. Their advice could save you many surprises.
2. Discuss with district legal counsel the areas to be reviewed in student and teacher acceptable use policies.
3. Consider having a security review of your network prior to classes beginning.
4. Plan for the needs of online classes during modernization of existing buildings, design of new buildings and in the purchase of technology equipment and network design.
5. Provide training for technology department technicians to support the network and equipment needs.

Now is the time to begin planning for the successful implementation of online classes.

 

Note: 1. “How Do We Transform Our Schools?” by Clayton M. Christensen and Michael B. Horn, published Education Next 2008.

Editor's Note: Tina Burkhart is the Director of District Support Services for the educational consulting firm Total School Solutions.