Wimba and the Virtual School: Embracing the Digital Age Presenters: Yahrasiel Colbert Amanda Brooks

Embracing the Digital Age

The Virtual School: DeKalb Online Academy DeKalb Online Academy (DOLA) is a part of the DeKalb County School System (DCSS) DeKalb Online Academy (DOLA) is a part of the DeKalb County School System (DCSS) DCSS serves 102,000 student in 143 schools and centers. DCSS serves 102,000 student in 143 schools and centers.

The Virtual School: DeKalb Online Academy Conceptualized in 2003 Conceptualized in 2003 Launched in 2004 with 74 students and 12 course offerings Launched in 2004 with 74 students and 12 course offerings Currently serve over 2,250 students and 40 course offerings including six Advanced Placements courses Currently serve over 2,250 students and 40 course offerings including six Advanced Placements courses

The Virtual School: DeKalb Online Academy Dr. Regina Merriwether- Principal Dr. Regina Merriwether- Principal Meta Lee- Instructional Technology Specialist Meta Lee- Instructional Technology Specialist Angela Robinson- Computer Support Specialist Angela Robinson- Computer Support Specialist LaSonya Kirkland- Instructional Paraprofessional LaSonya Kirkland- Instructional Paraprofessional Amanda Brooks- Social Studies Instructor Amanda Brooks- Social Studies Instructor Yahrasiel Colbert- Health/Physical Education Instructor Yahrasiel Colbert- Health/Physical Education Instructor Dr. Diane Langston- English/Language Arts Instructor Dr. Diane Langston- English/Language Arts Instructor Sharon Sutton- Career Technology Instructor Sharon Sutton- Career Technology Instructor Ashleigh Thacker- World Languages Instructor Ashleigh Thacker- World Languages Instructor Steven Thedford- Science Instructor Steven Thedford- Science Instructor Melissa Walker- Mathematics Instructor Melissa Walker- Mathematics Instructor

The Virtual School: DeKalb Online Academy The Mission of DeKalb Online Academy is to provide virtual educational experiences that afford access to learning and achievement which are accessible anytime, anyplace, and at any pace, which reflects the desires and needs of the community. The Mission of DeKalb Online Academy is to provide virtual educational experiences that afford access to learning and achievement which are accessible anytime, anyplace, and at any pace, which reflects the desires and needs of the community.

The Virtual School: DeKalb Online Academy The Vision of DeKalb Online Academy and all stakeholders is to create a virtual K-12 school that prepares students to be global learners in the digital age, ensuring their individual potential to become contributing citizens and life-long learners. The Vision of DeKalb Online Academy and all stakeholders is to create a virtual K-12 school that prepares students to be global learners in the digital age, ensuring their individual potential to become contributing citizens and life-long learners.

What DOLA Offers… English/Language Arts English/Language Arts Mathematics Mathematics Science Science Social Studies Social Studies Health/Physical Education Health/Physical Education World Languages World Languages Latin Latin Spanish Spanish French French Business/Instructional Technology Business/Instructional Technology AP Courses AP Courses Calculus Calculus English Lit/Comp English Lit/Comp World History World History U.S. History U.S. History Computer Science Computer Science

The Many Facets of DOLA… “ During the Day” “ During the Day” “Beyond the Day” “Beyond the Day” “Credit Recovery” “Credit Recovery” Senior 20-Day Mini Session Senior 20-Day Mini Session

Why Our Students Love DOLA… “During the Day” courses are at no cost to the student. “During the Day” courses are at no cost to the student. Great options for scheduling conflicts, singletons, remediation and acceleration. Great options for scheduling conflicts, singletons, remediation and acceleration. Teacher shortages in World Languages, Science and Mathematics Teacher shortages in World Languages, Science and Mathematics Hospital Homebound Students Hospital Homebound Students Alternative Schools Alternative Schools Students needing half Carnegie Units Students needing half Carnegie Units Transfer students who need additional credits Transfer students who need additional credits

How Wimba Enhances DOLA…

Wimba Bridging the Gap: Benefits of the Wimba Classroom PowerPoint Guided Instruction PowerPoint Guided Instruction Multi-way and follow the speaker video Multi-way and follow the speaker video Polling and survey capabilities Polling and survey capabilities Application Share feature: Application Share feature: Webquests Webquests Simulations Simulations Access to desktop Access to desktop Web Share feature Web Share feature E-Board features E-Board features Wimba. (2009). Wimba Classroom for K-12 and Schools. Retrieved from on March 23,2009.

Wimba Bridging the Gap: Benefits of the Wimba Classroom Anytime Access Anytime Access Office Hours Office Hours Tutoring Sessions Tutoring Sessions Study Groups/Meetings Study Groups/Meetings Call in feature Call in feature Text/Chat capabilities Text/Chat capabilities Eliminates Traditional Classroom Distractions Eliminates Traditional Classroom Distractions Engages Multiple Intelligences Engages Multiple Intelligences Archiving Capabilities Archiving Capabilities Wimba. (2009). Wimba Classroom for K-12 and Schools. Retrieved from on March 23,2009.

Wimba Bridging the Gap: Benefits of Wimba Voice Voice Recorder Voice Recorder Voice Podcaster Voice Podcaster Voice Presentation Voice Presentation Voice Discussion Board Voice Discussion Board

Wimba in Action…

Polls and Surveys… Icebreakers Icebreakers Data Collection Data Collection Promotes interaction amongst students Promotes interaction amongst students

Simulations… PowerPoint Games PowerPoint Games Flash Games Flash Games Web Links Web Links Web Quests Web Quests

Breakout Rooms… Collaboration Collaboration Group Assignments Group Assignments Multiple Content Management Multiple Content Management

The eBoard… Acts like a white board Acts like a white board Annotate Slides Annotate Slides Import Images Import Images Take Screenshots Take Screenshots Ability to enable participants to use eBoard tools Ability to enable participants to use eBoard tools

Wimba Voice Recorder Add instructor’s voice to enhance presence Add instructor’s voice to enhance presence Verbally explain complex material Verbally explain complex material Add spoken announcements to course sites Add spoken announcements to course sites Teach pronunciation, rhythm, stress, and emphasis Teach pronunciation, rhythm, stress, and emphasis

Wimba Voice Podcaster Create and Distribute podcasts Create and Distribute podcasts Import/ Export Capabilities Import/ Export Capabilities Subscribe Features Subscribe Features RSS Feed RSS Feed

Wimba Voice Presentation Vocal messages with web content Vocal messages with web content Author Narrated Web Tours Author Narrated Web Tours

Wimba Voice Discussion Board Engage in audio based threaded discussions Engage in audio based threaded discussions Verbal Assessment Verbal Assessment

The Benefits of DOLA… Enjoyed an 88% passing Rate!

Questions and Answers…

Contact Information Yahrasiel Colbert- Yahrasiel Colbert Amanda Brooks- Amanda Brooks

References