Transcript SC Virtual School Program Guidelines 2013-2014

Virtual Learning
in Adult Education Programs
2013-2014
SC Virtual School Program
Guidelines 2013-2014
The following guidelines are mandated by the legislation that
formed the SCVSP and must be adhered to by all schools
participating with the SCVSP:
• The SCVSP is a program; therefore, not
authorized to issue diplomas – the diploma must
be issued by the Sponsor.
• The SCVSP legislation has recently been
amended to lift the credit limitations placed on
students. There are now no limits on the number
of credits that a student may earn toward a high
school diploma through the program.
SC Virtual School Program
Guidelines 2013-2014
•
Partnership between SCDE Offices of Adult
Education and Virtual Learning that allows adult
students to participate in the program:
no age limit!
•
Adult education programs have been previously
registered as Sponsors and assigned an
administrative password.
•
Office of Virtual Learning sometimes refers adult
students to local adult education programs
https://scvspconnect.ed.sc.gov/
SC Virtual School Program
Guidelines 2013-2014
►A
Sponsor may not give approval
to a student to retake a course
through the SCVSP if a unit of
credit for that particular course is
already recorded on his or her
official transcript.
SC Virtual School Program
Guidelines 2013-2014
The student must furnish his or her own computer, or have
access to one, and must have internet access in order to
take the SCVSP courses, although the sponsor is not
prohibited from providing these.
An iPad can be used; however, since an iPad does not run
Flash content, there may be some instances where students
will need to access content requiring Flash on another
computer. While the courses are not “Flash intense”, the
teacher of each course would be the best one to address the
content and how much requires access to Flash. SCVSP
suggests the student ask the question to the teacher of the
course during the first few days.
Adult Ed SCVSP Students
► Recommended
score of 9.0 or better on
TABE D or A
► transcript shows an ability to benefit
► must exhibit characteristics of a successful
online learner
► may transfer course credit BACK to high school
► may finish a virtual course started in high school
► may repeat a course if warranted
► high school graduates may take single courses as
needed (for acceptance into post-secondary
programs)
SC Virtual School Program
Guidelines 2013-2014
•
Every credit-bearing course has a content-area
certified teacher assigned to the course, including
Credit Recovery courses.
• Courses offered :
https://scvspconnect.ed.sc.gov/index.php?q=currentcourse-offerings
Course Availability
► Three
sessions for regular Carnegie units: Fall;
Winter; Summer
► Year-long version recommended for courses with
End of Course Exam (EOCE)
► SCVSP courses do have a maximum number of
students per class, just like traditional school
classes.
► Courses do fill up fast, so have students register
as early as possible to insure that they will have a
spot reserved.
Course Availability
► If
courses are full, students will be placed
on a wait-list. It is the student’s
responsibility to log into their VSA account
to see if they have made it into the course.
► Students will be added to courses as seats
become available; they should check their
VSA account daily during the first 2 weeks
of classes to see if they have placed in the
class.
Deadlines & Course Availability
Dates & Deadlines Matrix:
Use this tool to make sure students meet semester
deadlines. This is also posted on the SCVSP website:
http://scvspconnect.ed.sc.gov. Please check this document
frequently as there may be changes.
Missed dates will result in students not being able to begin
the course until the following enrollment period.
RECOMMENDATION: If you have a student that MAY need a
course due to a course failure and deadlines are
approaching– be proactive and register the student – then
drop them later if the course is not needed.
Student Registration Process
Students register through Virtual School Administrator
(VSA). To enroll with the SCVSP, students should
create an account in VSA.
Student Registration Process:
https://scvspconnect.ed.sc.gov/index.php?q=node/88
It is strongly recommended by the SCVSP that the
student—NOT the VLC—complete the account
creation process.
Technology Assessment
After creating a student account and logging into VSA, the student must
take the technology assessment prior to being approved for any courses.
The purpose of the assessment is to determine if a student is ready to
take an online class and has the skill set needed to handle the technology
and working on his/her own.
 The SCVSP does not deny any student admittance, but VLCs can if they
think the student should not be placed in an online class.

Not all students are successful in online classes!
 Students enter the VLC’s email address so the VLC will receive the score.
Use the score as one tool to determine if a student should take an online
course (a minimum of 70 is suggested; an 80 is recommended)– if you do
not feel that a student is a good online learner, you should not approve
the student.
 Students only need to take the assessment one time –
when they first enroll – they do not have to take it additional
times.
Requesting Courses




After completing the technology assessment and
establishing student’s suitability for online learning,
the student requests a course.
Student enters parent/guardian information. Adult
students may enter themselves as the guardian.
Students secures sponsor approval.
As soon as the student receives all of the required
approvals, he will be enrolled in the course. CR
students are enrolled the next Monday.
Credit Recovery Courses
► Credit
recovery courses offered on a rolling enrollment
basis. Students can enroll in a credit recovery course
at any time throughout the year. Students begin
classes the Monday following their registration.
► Normal registration procedures remain the same.
► Teachers will send their contact information to
students in VSA.
Student Expectations
Communication:
• Students are expected to keep in close contact with their
instructors.
Students are expected to communicate with instructors if
there is an issue and work cannot be completed or if an
extension is needed.
Course Deadlines:
• All courses have weekly or unit deadlines. Students are
expected to follow the schedule and turn in assignments
on time.
If deadlines are not met, student may be administratively
dropped from a class. Students may work on their own and
develop their own schedule, but must adhere to the course
deadlines.
Drop Policy & Administrative Drop
Drop Policy:
•
•
Adult Ed students have 20 days from the start date of the course to
fill out a drop form and be dropped from a course without penalty
(WNG).
After 20 days, the student will be dropped with a status of Withdrawn
Failing (WF).
Administrative Drop Policy:
•
•
Students are responsible for logging in and completing coursework on
a regular basis. If during the first 20 days of a course a student falls
behind, the teacher will drop the student with a status of Withdrawn
No Grade (WNG).
After the first 20 days, students will receive warnings. If a student
continues to be behind pace and unresponsive to calls or messages
from his/her instructor, he/she will be dropped with a WF by the
instructor.
Sponsor Guidelines
•
•
•
•
•
Sponsors must arrange for students to take the EOCEP exam in any
course that requires this type of test.. The exam counts 20% of the
student’s final grade.
All sponsors must ensure that the final examination for each initial credit
course is conducted in a proctored environment. Proctored exam counts
20% of the student’s final grade.
Credit recovery (CR) courses are review courses. Students will have a
cumulative test, but it is not taken in a proctored environment, as there
are no final exams in CR courses. SCVSP issues a final CR grade, but
schools determine the grade that goes on the student’s transcript
according to district guidelines.
All sponsors must award the numeric grade and unit value to the student
enrolled in a course through the SCVSP by recording them on the
student’s transcript in his or her permanent record.
All sponsors must retain for a period of ten years the residency records of
every student enrolled in the SCVSP.
Recording Attendance Hours
 The SCVSP uses the Moodle Learning Management System to offer creditbearing courses in a proficiency-based system. For this reason, the system
DOES NOT record a student’s time-on-task in the course.
 Since adult ed programs MUST record student attendance hours, SCVSP
teachers have assigned minimum proxy hours spent on coursework
according to the final grade received.
 VLCs use these guidelines for reporting minimum proxy contact hours and
then add other proxy hours as directed.
Grade
Full Credit
Half Credit
A
150 hours
75 hours
B
120 hours
60 hours
C
90 hours
45 hours
D
60 hours
30 hours
F
30 hours
15 hours
WF
Assign hours equivalent to grade of F if no other
count of hours is available
WNG
Determine through student interview number of
hours spent on course.
Virtual Learning Coordinator
Main point of contact for all SCVSP issues
 Works with intake person to provide advisement (i.e.
Keyboarding before Computer Applications)
 Student transcript shows an ability to benefit
 Student must exhibit characteristics of a successful online
learner
 Registration & orientation of students:
contract
technology assessment
https://scvspconnect.ed.sc.gov/index.php?q=technology-assessment
SCVSP dates/deadlines
https://scvspconnect.ed.sc.gov/sites/default/files/201314%20Dates%20and%20Deadlines%20Matrix%20Final%20SSL.pdf
Characteristics of Successful
Online Learners

Discipline to complete projects by deadlines instead of waiting until the end of the semester
 Motivation to read, write, and participate fully in class activities

Time to devote approximately 12 hours a week for a one credit course
 Ability to work independently and in teams

Flexibility in dealing with technology problems
 Self-starter; does not procrastinate

Able to learn from the printed word (Majority of material and communication happens through
reading and writing)
 Able to set aside specific times on a routine basis to ‘participate’ in the course

Asks questions when he/she does not understand
 Access to a current computer and high-speed Internet

Good, basic computer skills
 Time management skills
Virtual Learning Coordinator
 Observation of student’s ability to navigate course,
including initial registration and a successful start in
the course
 Monitor student progress; communicate with virtual
teachers as needed; assist with withdrawal if
needed; keep awareness of 20 day drop period
 Trouble-shoot technology issues
 Ensure final exams are proctored appropriately
 Ensure grade report is downloaded, explanation
added if WF and grade recorded on transcript
 Reporting data as requested, including Distance
Learning hours
How we did in 2012-2013*
► 176
students attempted 48 different courses
330 times.
► 330 course attempts:
 91 Withdrawn No Grade (WNG)
 181 courses completed
 58 courses in progress 20122013
20112012
20102011
144 = 80% 143 = 73% 78 = 64%
Courses completed successfully
Courses completed failing 16 = 8%
Withdrawn from course failing 21 = 12%
► WF
18 = 9%
7 = 6%
36 = 18% 37 = 30%
receives grade of 61 on transcript
*As of August 1, 2013, with summer classes still in session.
How We Did in 2012-2013
► 23
programs offered credit-bearing courses
► Grades: A= 27; B=47; C=48; D=22; F=16
► Average
age: 22
► Oldest successful student: 53 years old
► More female students than male
► Ethnicity of majority of students is AfricanAmerican or White
► Most attempted courses: Statistics CP, English 4,
English 4 CR, and Algebra 2 CP
► 157
students enrolled in HSAP course
USA Test Prep
► HSAP
English Language Arts and
Mathematics Reviews are available
► does not require TABE Reading score
of 9.0
► computer-assisted instruction only; no
teacher assigned
► new students can register at any time;
students added every Tuesday
SHMOOP
ACT, SAT, PSAT Test Preparation Reviews
The South Carolina Virtual School Program
(SCVSP) is excited to offer Advanced
Placement exam reviews FREE OF
CHARGE to all South Carolina students for
the 2011-12 school year.
To gain access to the test reviews, students will need to follow the
steps listed below:
• Go to the SCVSP’s web site at http://scvspconnect.ed.sc.gov/
• Click on the Course Information tab
• Click on Test Preparation
• Follow
the Starter Guide to
Getting Your Shmoop On - 3 easy steps.
Since the reviews are for practice only, students may register at
any time, without parent/guardian or sponsor approvals.
Contact SCVSP for more information concerning:
• Login Issues:
• Credit-bearing courses: please contact the course
teacher first. If you cannot reach the teacher, visit
the Help Center on the website
https://scvspconnect.ed.sc.gov Monday-Friday,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• HSAP course: contact Vickie Williams,
[email protected] , 803-734-0016
• Accessing information in the classroom: Contact the course
teacher.
• All other student issues: Please contact the course
teacher first. If he/she cannot resolve the problem, contact
Student Services.
SCVSP
Contacts
Tiffany Holman – Student Services Coordinator (Student's last name
begins with L-Z) 803-734-8039 or [email protected]
Courtney Howard – Student Services Coordinator (Student's last name
begins with A-K) 803-734-8039 or [email protected]
SCVSP Staff includes:
Suzette Lee – SCVSP Team Leader - [email protected]
Tracy Sanders – Blended Learning Coordinator - [email protected]
Deirdre Edwards – Curriculum Coordinator – [email protected]
Content Recovery in SC
High School Diploma Programs
► Content
Recovery courses –Individual
districts set specific guidelines using SCDE
Division of Standards and Learning : Credit
Recovery - A Guidance Document for
Service Delivery (12/08)
► Districts
should provide “certified, contentspecific” instructors
Content Recovery in SC High
School Diploma Programs
► Recommended
Online and Credit Recovery
Courses document (6/10) gives some
guidance on curricula aligned to SC’s
academic standards
► NCAA has specific guidelines for Softwarebased Credit Recovery and Online Courses;
SCVSP CR courses are NOT approved
courses
► Information on a high school’s NCAA denied
courses found on the NCAA web-site
Using Online Curricula for
Carnegie Units in Adult Ed
► Adult
ed programs can offer credit-bearing
courses using the same online curricula their
local high schools use. Examples: Nova Net;
Apex; PLATO
► Courses must be monitored by instructors
certified in the content areas of the offered
courses and employed by the adult ed program
► Off-site hours spent working online can be
counted as distance learning if the curricula
features time-on-task
Proficiency-Based Courses in
Adult Ed
 An adult ed program can offer proficiency-based
courses if their district has an SCDE approval to do
so. Examples: Nova Net; Apex; PLATO
 Courses must be monitored by instructors certified in
the content areas of the offered courses and
employed by the adult ed program.
 Off-site hours spent working online can be counted
as distance learning if the curricula features time-ontask.
Questions?
Terry Phillips, Education Associate
SCDE Office of Adult Education
[email protected]
803-734-8080