1. Virtual High School at Shelton High School

2. VHS History
Founded in 1996
Concord Consortium & Hudson Public Schools, Hudson, Massachusetts
$7.4M funding : US Dept of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant
Purpose
Develop Internet-based online courses for high school students
Research and evaluation by SRI (Stanford Research International)
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (MSCSS)

3. VHS Mission and Beliefs
Any school’s instructional process can include a high quality collaborative learning environment
Education should not be limited by barriers of time, place, or lack of qualified faculty
Online learning should augment (not replace) traditional teaching
A collaborative network provides an abundant and generous community to share resources

4. Benefits to Students Learning with Technology
Extensive selection of courses AP
Honors
G&T
Middle School
Classes of 25 student-participants from:
717 schools
33 states
43 countries
459 Teachers
>13,000 students
21st Century Skills
Learning with Technology

5. 20 Advanced Placement Courses
Art History
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Computer Science A
Economics: Micro & Macro
English Language and Composition
English Literature and Composition
Environmental Science
European History
French Language
Government and Politics
Music Theory
Physics B
Physics C
Psychology
Spanish Language/ Spanish V
Statistics
US History
World History
VHS is qualified through AP Course Audit
to label their courses “AP”

6. 38 Honors Courses 101 Ways to Write a Short Story
Advanced Topics in Chemistry
Algebra 2
Anatomy and Physiology
Animal Behavior and Zoology
Art History
Arts and Ideas
Astronomy Basics
Bioethics Symposium
Computational Science and Engineering Using Java
Criminology
Cultural Identity through Literature
Eastern and Western Thought
Environmental Chemistry
Folklore and Literature of Myth, Magic and Ritual
Genes and Diseases
History of Photography
Introduction to:
Calculus AB
Chemistry
Computer Science
Economics
English Literature
Environmental Science
Government
Physics B
Psychology
Statistics
U.S. History
Modern Middle East
Oceanography
Philosophy
Preveterinary Medicine
Psychology of Crime
Shakespeare in Films
Spanish Culture
The Glory of Ancient Rome
The Golden Age of Classical Greece
Twentieth Century Women Authors

7. Select Standard Courses
Academic Writing
Advanced Web Design
Algebra 1
American Foreign Policy
American Popular Music
Animation and Effects
Bad Boys in Literature
Basic Mandarin
Biotechnology
Blogs, Wikis and Web Tools
Business and Personal Law
Career Awareness
Caribbean Art History
Contemporary Irish Literature
DNA Technology
Entrepreneurship
Epidemics
Forensic Science
German Language and Culture
Heroes
History and American Pop Music
Investing in the Stock Market
Journalism in the Digital Age
Kindergarten Apprentice Teacher
Latin 1 and 2
Literacy Skills for the 21st Century
Maritime History
Math You Can Use in College
Meteorology
Music Composition
Mythology
Nuclear Physics
Peacemaking
Personal Finance
Perspectives in Health
Poetry Writing
Portuguese 1
Screenwriting Fundamentals
Sports and American Society
The Human Body
The Holocaust
World Religions

8. Benefits to Schools Affordable sharing of professional resources
Chickering and Ehrman Seven Best Practices for Technology-Based Education*
Emphasizes time on task
High Expectations
Rich, Rapid Feedback
Active Learning
Interaction with Faculty
Interaction with Peers
Respect for diversity of learning styles and worldviews
*postsecondary
Affordable sharing of professional resources
Average years teaching: 16
85% hold Master’s Degree
Quality Benchmarks (QBI history – 12 years)
National and global community
Expands scope and depth of teacher instructional skills
Teachers: 10-Week Netcourse Instructional Methodologies
Extensive delivery tools

9. Why VHS? Access to hundreds of courses to fill resource gap
Flexibility for scheduling
Computer Lab
Library
Cost effectiveness (non-profit consortium)
VHS leadership in high school distance learning

10. Roles & Responsibilities
To Ensure:
Quality of Courses
Quality of Professional Development
Quality of Services & Program
Administration
VHS
Site Coordinator
Instructor
Instruction (Requires 10-week NIM course)
Communication
Regular Assessment
Course Design
New Course Development
Recruitment
Registration
Technical Support
Represents the Instructor “on the ground”
Communication with parents, VHS, instructor
Monitor and report progress

11. Course Delivery Asynchronous Mode Desire2Learn platform
Classes follow a semester (15-wk) schedule
Most courses semester length
AP, language, and some core courses are full-year
Assignments due at specified intervals
Students complete work, including discussions, anytime during the week

12. 21st Century Learning Digital-Age Literacy Includes: Basic Language
Scientific
Economic
Technological
Visual
Information
Multicultural
Global Awareness

13. 21st Century Partnership
Skills for life and work in the 21st Century
Founded by industry leaders, including Apple, Cisco, Dell, and Microsoft in partnership with NEA
Students not prepared for demands of 21st century
In addition to curriculum’s rigorous content, it must have real world relevance
Employability and enterprise skills
Creativity, Innovation
Information literacy
Flexibility, adaptability
Critical thinking
Collaboration
Initiative, self-direction
Problem solving
Research, inquiry
Productivity
Decision making
Media literacy
Leadership and responsibility
Communication
Digital citizenship
Information and communication technologies

14. Why VHS VHS sets the standard for excellence in online education
United States Distance Learning Association Awards:
Best Practices in Distance Learning
Best Practices in Online Technology and K-12 Education
Online Programming Excellence – Gold Recipient
Insert a map of your country.

15. Additional VHS Awards
2001 Stockholm Challenge Award for Global Excellence in Information Technology
American School Board Journal’s Magna 2000 Award for exemplary use of technology in Education
Model for National Education Association online learning standards

16. Student Success Factors
Self-direction and motivation
Good time management skills
Good organizational skills
Comfortable with technology
Good reading and writing skills
Inquisitive

17. 2008 University of Tennessee Study
VHS teachers surveyed to determine factors for course success
Major factors:
Time management
Organization skills
Frequent participation
Learning style
Reading (visual)
Listening (auditory)
Seeing (visual)
Speaking (auditory)
Doing (tactile/kinesthetic)
Minor factors:
Technology skills
Record of academic success
Podcasts
Interactive Activities
Discussion Threads & Journals
Team Projects
Active Learning

18. Student Survey Findings…
Students developed independent learning skills (43 percent).
[I valued] the independence we are given to complete our assignments on time without a teacher physically reminding us every day. The flexible schedule is also awesome as a senior to help prepare us for college.
Students appreciated the quality, content, and structure of their courses (34 percent).
VHS courses let me learn, the way I want and need to, and not just memorize data for standardized tests.
Students valued the opportunity to interact with new people (17 percent).
You get to meet many different people from all different backgrounds which provides a very interesting learning atmosphere.

19. …Continued Students liked the expanded access to courses (14 percent).
The online courses that are available were not part of my in-school curriculum so I decide[d] to expand my learning and prepare for college.
Students felt they had quality instructors (8 percent).
My instructor gave us problems that are related to real things in life and other problems that made us think.

20. Frequently asked questions
How do I sign up for a VHS Class at SHS?
Students must obtain the SHS Online Course Application which is available from your guidance counselor, VHS Site Coordinator (Mrs. Tichy) or on the Shelton High School Website under Access to: Forms
Complete the Online Course Application, include all required signatures, and submit it to the Headmaster. A copy of the course description/curriculum syllabus from the program must be submitted with the completed application. Deadline for the submission is ten days from the first day of the semester.
The Headmaster or Headmaster’s designee will approve/deny the application.
After an application is approved by the Headmaster or Headmaster’s designee, the Headmaster or designee will add the course to the student’s schedule, notify the student’s counselor, and forward the application to the student’s counselor and VHS Site Coordinator.
What are VHS classes like?
Click here to walk in the shoes of a VHS participant for one day.
Where will I complete my work?
You may complete your work at home or in the SHS Library Media Center.
Who is my VHS Liaison or Support Person?
Mrs. Tichy is the Primary VHS Site Coordinator for Shelton High School.

21. Interested?
Contact :
Mrs. Tichy, VHS Site Coordinator, VHS Media Manager, VHS Student Support, Media Specialist/District Department Chair
Library Media Center and VHS Technology Support
120 Meadow Street
Shelton, CT 06484
x1801