Valenta Wade

Distance Learning programs for High School Students

Need Need: What problem or need existed that gave rise to your innovation? Decrease in “highly qualified” teachers in urban locations. Distance learning options for high school students would allow students to connect to a classroom with a highly qualified teacher. Increase in high school dropout. If students knew they could take some of their courses from home (during their Junior and Senior years, they may be less likely to dropout of school. Increase in bullying. Although bullying should never be tolerate, it is a known fact that some students are more prone to bullying. Distance learning options could help students that are being bullied to focus on their schoolwork.

Commercialization Today, many states offer distance learning/online classes for their students in middle and high schools. Some of these programs are limited to a few selections while some states offer an entire distance learning curriculum. These programs are typically funded by their local government.

Commercialization North Carolina Virtual Public Schools Virtual Learning Academy Charter School-NH Texas Virtual Schools

Development What problems did your innovation encounter in the development process? Finding a program that provided social skills within their curriculum Who was the intended audience for your innovation? The intended audience are parents and government officials.

Innovation-Decision Timeline Confirmation Teacher staff retention rates-on time graduation rate of change- Implementation Select subject(s) that will be offered online -Decide who will teach online classes-Student Registration-staff training and student orientation Decision-The parent would decide if distance learning is best for their child. Persuasion-The student will be able to stay at home and earn high school credits-Teaching will transform to a facilitator's role, and the parents can be sure that their child is learning in a safe environment free form peer pressure and bullying. Knowledge Distance learning options in secondary school could benefit students, teachers, and parents.

S-Curve High school drop-out rate: Traditional schools vs. distance learning

S-Curve Teacher Retention Rate: Traditional school without distance learning options vs. High school with distance learning option

Adopter Categories and Attributes for Achieving Critical Mass Innovators and Early Adopters Students Teachers that are technically savvy and/or willing to embrace technology as a learning tool in the 21 st century Laggards Teachers that are unwilling to change (This could be overcome with detail training session on the impact technology has on education. Trialability and Observation These two attributes will persuade others to accept online classes in secondary school because it would provide practice and data.

Change Agent The seven roles of a change agent can be used in implementing distance learning in secondary schools: Develop a need for change. Establish an information-exchange relationship. Diagnose problems. Create an intent in the client to change. Translate an intent to action. Stabilize adoption and prevent discontinuance. Achieve a terminal relationship.

Reaching Critical Mass ➢ Target highly respected people for initial adoption ➢ Communicate the inevitability of adoption and the impending occurrence of critical mass ➢ Introduce the innovation to groups who are more innovative ➢ Provide incentives for early adoption

Need Offering online classes in secondary schools is important because it will: Allow students that opportunity to work on school work from home-which will cause the dropout rates to decline Provide equality in instruction Reduce teenage bullying Reduce educational cost

References/Research Cavanaugh, C.. (2009). Effectiveness of Cyber Charter Schools: A Review of Research on Learnings. TechTrends, 53(4), Retrieved July 2, 2011, from ProQuest Central. (Document ID: ). Luis A Huerta, Chad d'Entremont, & María-Fernanda González. (2006). Cyber Charter Schools: Can Accountability Keep Pace with Innovation? Phi Delta Kappan, 88(1), Retrieved July 2, 2011, from ProQuest Central. (Document ID: ).