For high school students in North Carolina, the walk to their next class just got shorter. With 70,000 students enrolled since 2007, North Carolina Public Virtual School is the second largest virtual school program in the country and is growing.
“We have a very strong curriculum, and a very strong teacher support and a school based support that really helps to promote the growth and improve the quality of the program. Any student enrolled in a North Carolina public school or charter school is eligible to take the courses offered in this program,” said David Edwards, chief communication and professional learning officer at NCVPS.
Students who want to enroll in online courses can meet their school’s distance learning advisor. They can get credit for them, just like conventional classroom courses. “Some of the programs have what is called a rolling enrollment, which are the credit recovery programs,” Edwards said.
Some high school courses in science, math, language, history and arts can also be taken by middle school students for high school credit. High school students can also take AP courses, for college credit, that are recognized all over the country.
“I would have loved to take an online course when I was in high school if such an option would have been available then,” said Ashley Johnston, a senior in political science. ”I really could have taken some language courses which were not available in my school as there was no teacher to teach them. My sister is in high school, and has taken some online course. She likes them better than some of her in-class courses,”
The Friday Institute at N.C. State has been conducting external evaluations for NCVPS since 2007. The main purpose of these evaluations has been to provide data for NCVPS administration to improve their program.
In the initial surveys in 2007-2008, around 53.9% of students indicated that the online courses were more difficult than similar face to face courses. This difficulty was attributed to the complexity of the courses as well as the depth of study required. Based on the findings, NCVPS has improved on its program. The latest survey found that online math and foreign languages courses were less popular than online English or language art subjects. A possible reason for this discrepancy is an inherent difficulty in synchronous dialogue, and teachers visually working out problems online.
According to Kevin Oliver, an assistant professor in curriculum, instruction, and counselor education at N.C. State, the evaluation work with NCVPS is tied to the state’s recent Race to the Top grant.
“Over the next three years evaluators will be investigating blended courses piloted in underserved districts to determine impact on student interest in STEM careers, among other outcomes,” Oliver said.
NCVPS courses use a combination of real time and on demand media, allowing students the freedom to choose when to engage in their online course. Discussion boards, email, file exchange and collaborative groups are used as on-demand tools that are available to students at any time. Real time media like telephone, text based chat and V.O.I.P (Voice Over Internet Protocol) are used to aid students. According to Edwards, 24/7 help desk services are also available.
“I think that there is a myth that virtual lectures are not personal. But when you can see the teacher on the screen and in addition if you can follow up with email or text, then the whole experience is quite personal,” said Jacob Smith, a foreign languages freshman.
Teachers who participate in this program have to be certified in North Carolina, according to Edwards. They also have to be a part of a program called Carolina Online Teacher Program. Teachers then work for NCVPS as contracted employees.
Edward McCoy, a junior in Industrial engineering, says that online classes have their benefits.
”There are several students who do not participate in face to face discussions, but participate online. I had some video courses this semester, and I think that I had a very good experience [with them],” McCoy said “And it is not as if I don’t meet friends, or make new friends. Classes online are just more convenient. I don’t have to get up at 7 a. m. anymore.”
Educators are convinced that technology will have an important part to play as the nation educates its future citizens.
“I think the best aspect of NCVPS is that the students can take these courses whenever they like- they can take them during school, after school hours, or they can take them in a blended fashion where they take certain modules or lessons to support their learning in the schools,” Edwards said.
Alt. Box:
Students enrolled in online courses for the spring semester: 19,000
High school courses available online: 112
Source: NCVPS
Alt. Box 2:
Title: NCVPS budget for 2011
Statistics: $20 million, 86% to be spent on teacher payroll
Source: NCVPS
Alt. Box 3:
Title: The Friday Institute’s evaluations of NCVPS
Statistics: Feedback taken from 4100 students, 303 teachers, 357 distance learning advisors, and 59 high school principals.
Source: The Friday Institute