Data Management Considerations for Online High Schools Katie Logan Wyoming e Academy of Virtual Education & Fort Washakie High School Technology Director David Glick David B. Glick & Associates, LLC External Evaluator Innovative Learning Conference October 15, 2008 San Jose, CA

Questions that need answers About students: –Are they learning the content? –Are they completing courses at a reasonable pace? –Are sufficient numbers passing classes? –In what subjects do they excel or lag? –Compared to what?

Questions that need answers About teachers: –Are they effective? –Are they improving their teaching? –Are they satisfied with their jobs and with school leadership? –Are their technology skills sufficient? Where do they need to be improved? –Compared to what?

Questions that need answers About the school: –What are the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum? –How well is our model (e.g. hybrid, ITV, fully online) working? –Will we make AYP? –Are our kids’ parents satisfied? –Are our public relations/marketing efforts successful? Compared to what?

What data do we track and what reports do we need to answer all those questions?

Why are virtual schools unique for data collection? Student Information System Attendance, transcripts, discipline, health, state data Family info Student Info Learning Management System Course access Course enrollment Communication Assessment Course access Course enrollment Communication Assessment Text Video Audio Animation Gradebook Dropbox Quizes Exams Feedback AssessmentContent StudentsInstructors

Why are virtual schools unique for data collection? Part 2 Flexible scheduling (day and year) Different definitions of attendance Students from multiple districts Teachers from multiple districts Individualized pacing Full-time and part-time students

Who Are the Stakeholders? StakeholdersQuestions on their minds Students Is this the right school for me? Will this school help me meet my goals? Am I prepared for life after high school? Parents Is this school right for my student? Will my student receive a good education? Will my student be ready for college? Do the teachers treat my student fairly? Community/School Board Is this school educating our kids? Will our kids be prepared to go to college or start a vocation? Is the school spending its money wisely? Teachers/Staff Am I teaching effectively? What can I do to help my students? Will my students be prepared for life after HS? Administration Is this school effective? Is the school running efficiently? State Dept. of Education Is this school effective? Is the school running efficiently? NCLB and AYP Larger K-12 community Best practices, research, stories of success

Student Information System Manage common school tasks –Report cards –Letters home –Attendance –Health Records –Discipline Records Reports to State –NCLB driven Parent Access (web portal) –Report Cards –Attendance –Fee Balance(s) –Discipline Attendance, transcripts, discipline, health, state data Family info Student Info

Learning Management System Facilitate asynchronous learning –Content presentation –Communication student/instructor student/student student/admin instructor/admin –Assessment –Grading Course access Course enrollment Communication Assessment Course access Course enrollment Communication Assessment Text Video Audio Animation Gradebook Dropbox Quizes Exams Feedback AssessmentContent StudentsInstructors

DATA THAT RESIDES IN BOTH SYSTEMS LMS SIS Grading Cumulative course grades (LMS) Final grade for transcript (SIS) Course assessments (LMS) Assessments (local, state, national) (SIS) State Standards (SIS) Attendance User Activity (LMS) By day By course By sub-section of course Seat Time (SIS) State Requirements Courses Schedule (SIS) Transcript Info (SIS) Rosters (LMS) & (SIS) Content (LMS) Grading Attendance Course Data

Possible Solutions

ONE SYSTEM; THREE FUNCTIONS LMS “like” data SIS “like” data Virtual School data Pros Single sign-on Single database No data duplication Cons Get rid of existing management systems Only viable for new programs Does this product exist for K12? Cost Fulfills NCLB reporting?

Two Systems, New Interface LMS Communication Content Assessment SIS NCLB School Student Parent New Interface Virtual school specific Parent access Partner access Pros Keep existing systems Single Sign-on LMS/SIS invisible to end users Cons Custom programming Inflexible after initial design Does this product exist for various LMS/SIS combos? Cost Training and maintenance

TWO SYSTEMS, BACK END DATA EXCHANGE Data Exchange LMSSIS Pros Keep existing systems Data exchange w/out errors Maintain NCLB reporting Cons Custom programming Inflexible after initial design? Data not “real-time” (Batch, APIs) Cost No parent access No virtual school specific data

Questions for the audience How do you manage your data? What about rolling enrollment? What about leveled access? Do you have support from your State education department? What are the vendor responsibilities? (SIF, SCORM, etc…)

Issues and Solutions Issues, pitfalls, what ifsSolutions, fixes, ah-ha’s

Contact Us Katie LoganDavid Glick Wyoming e Academy of Virtual Education [WeAVE] David B. Glick & Associates, LLC Phone: x3100Phone: