1. A System Approach for Introducing Web Based Learning: The Model and Practice of “AVIV” Virtual School
Eyal Sassoon
Project Director
ORT Israel R&D Center
Pedagogic director
ORT Snunit Aviv Virtual School

2. What constitutes Aviv ?
Aviv
Assimilation
Courses
Students

3. Who is Aviv ? http://aviv.k12.il ORT Israel & the Hebrew University
ORT - an international educational organization
ORT Israel - runs Junior High schools & High schools (age 12-18)

4. Anyone Anytime Anywhere ?
Courses
Students
Assimilation
Schools NO

5. Schools, Teachers & Students
12 schools (17 accepted, 40 applicants)
60 classroom- teachers , 15 virtual teachers & 2,000 students
22 schools
160 classroom- teachers 25 virtual teachers & 6,000 students
These schools represent the various religious, national and geographical sectors of Israel and of Israeli society.

6. Criteria for recruiting schools
An enthusiastic and supportive principal
A networked computer lab linked by a high-speed line to the Internet (e.g. frame relay).
Available technician or system operator.
A minimum enrollment of 4 yearly classes.
Designating a coordinator for Aviv activities.

7. Assimilation - 3 Layers of support
Training program & courses
Teachers
Regional coordinator
School + Teachers
Virtual support
Students + Teachers

8. Training programs & courses
Internet literacy communicating: , forums
surfing: finding & using information
Courses in the subject matter
Didactics, presentation method, activities and evaluation.

9. In-school support: The Regional coordinator
Issues:
School-wide acceptance
Before, after and in-class support.
Method:
On-site: meetings on a weekly basis.
Remote: , discussion groups & phone.

10. The Virtual Teacher: Expert subject matter support
Student learning support - responding to within 24 hours.
School teacher support: , phone
Directing the course’s forum
Evaluating the students participation in the learning process.

11. Courses Curricular e.g. Ecology for Junior High, Translation
Skills e.g. Information Literacy
Excel
Courses Scope:
Integrative Courseware
Lab
Guiding Axis

12. Courses Building Blocks
Guided forums: embedded meta questions
Open forums: always available
Polls: student reflects & participates
Self test: how am I doing?
Short papers: activity & evaluation
Links: not everything is included
to demonstrate a concept or an idea
to perform research
Stick-it notes