The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School: A Virtual Case Study

1. The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School:A Virtual Case Study Jennifer Martin March 2013 EDTC 650 http://www.nndsonline.org/casestudies/pacyber.html

2. Introduction • Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School • Chartered in 2000 • Serves students in Pennsylvania of all ages • Variety of educational opportunities • Persuasive and positive • Missing essential information

3. Agenda • History • Mission • Curriculum • Website • Strengths • Weaknesses • Conclusion http://www2.edmastery.com/calvertOnline/ColdFusion/forgotpassword.cfm

4. History of PA Cyber Charter School • Midland, Pennsylvania • Relied on steel mill production • Mills closed in 1982 • Loss of and tax dollars • Midland High closed in 1986 • Students bused to Ohio schools • Lawmakers look for solution http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrippscollege/5598045153/

5. History of PA Cyber Charter School • 1997 Act 22 Charter School Law • Technologic loop hole • Chartered in the year 2000 • Initial enrollment of 500 • Current enrollment of 11,000 http://www.pacyber.org/about.jsp?pageId=2161392240601291297846033

6. PA Cyber Charter School Mission • Serve PA students K-12 tuition free (PDOE, 2011) • Meet the needs of students who were not successful in a traditional classroom environment (PCCS, 2013b) • Provide education utilizing “current technology” (PCCS, 2013b) • Be a “leader of cyber education in Pennsylvania” (PCCS, 2013b) • “Develop best practices and… academic excellence” (PCCS, 2013b) • Create a “student centered” (PCCS, 2013b) environment • “Provide safe and orderly environment” (PCCS, 2013b)

7. PA Cyber Charter School Enrollment • Open to all PA students K-12 • Required to enroll face to face (PDOE, 2011) • Students assigned an Instructional Supervisor (IS) http://altavistacharterschool.org/?p=1123

8. Roll of the Instructional Supervisor Instructional Supervisor works with the families to; • Reviews student’s academic records and needs • Chooses appropriate curriculum for student • Creates student’s class schedules • Monitors student’s progress • Intervenes when students are struggling • Suggests changes to curriculum and work as needed • Keeps in contact with families bi-weekly http://wn.com/PA_Cyber_Instructional_Supervisors

9. PA Cyber Charter School Enrollment • Students given technology and resources needed Headset and Microphone Notebook Computer http://mylowpricenow.com/headphones-headset-mic-combos-c-1941_1942.html http://www.svalbard-adventure.com/computer.htm Wacom Tablet HP All in One Printer Internet Access http://www.wacom.com/en/products/pen-tablets/bamboo http://help.vcslearn.org/internet-access/ http://www.amazon.com/HP-Officejet-Printer-Q7311A-ABA/dp/B000B63RIU

10. PA Cyber Curriculum Overview Synchronous Asynchronous http://www.ltmdigest.com/?p=154 http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/franklin-park-home-is-a-cyber-schoolhouse-651694/

11. Synchronous Courses • Real Time Learning • Pacing similar to a traditional classroom • Live interaction with the teacher and peers • Classes conducted several hours per week http://www.langevin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/virtual-classroom.png

12. Synchronous Courses • Utilizes Elluminate software http://sheppartoncrtsupportnetwork.blogspot.com/2010/06/virtual-conferencing-with-elluminate.html

13. Asynchronous Courses • Self-paced learning • Need scheduling flexibility • Work with IS extensively http://www.tonybates.ca/wp-content/uploads/Student-at-computer-at-home.jpg

14. Curriculum Offerings Grades 3 - 12 Grades Pre K - 2 Grades Pre K - 5

15. Curriculum Offerings – Lincoln Interactive • Students grades 3-12 • 250 + online semester courses • Asynchronous and Synchronous offerings • All core subjects and electives http://www.sitefinity.com/customers/case-studies/details/lincoln-interactive/lincoln-interactive

16. Curriculum Offerings – Lincoln Interactive Technology Utilized; Online Games Podcasts http://www.lincolninteractive.org/samples/earth-science-part-2/earth-science-part-2-lesson-1 http://www.lincolninteractive.org/curriculum/third-grade PowerPoint Presentations Videos http://www.phschool.com/webcodes10/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.gotoWebCode&wcprefix=ade&wcsuffix=0106 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:5puJLMma-6kJ:content.lincolninteractive.com/I016m/Unit%25203/Lesson%25202/PowerPoint%2520U3L2.ppt+Lincoln+interactive+ppt&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

17. Curriculum Offerings – Little Lincoln • Grades Pre K – 2 • Instructional videos and games online • Off-line workbooks and hands-on activities • Second grade features online courses Online Games http://www.littlelincoln.org/demos Videos http://www.littlelincoln.org/demos

18. Curriculum Offerings – Calvert School • Grades Pre K – 5 • Predominantly home schooling instruction • Hands-on materials for all subjects • Technology infused in math and science http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bYVVLgmT80w/TIatAg--8VI/AAAAAAAAEhc/daMZVfkgzQY/s1600/Calvert+5th.JPG http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TtkO8wT9Iho/0.jpg

19. PA Cyber Charter School Website http://www.pacyber.org/index.jsp

20. Website Advantages for Parents http://www.pacyber.org

21. Website Disadvantages for Parents http://www.pacyber.org

22. Website Advantages for Students http://www.pacyber.org

23. Website Disadvantages for Students http://www.pacyber.org

24. Conclusion Strengths • Offers a diverse range of academic opportunities • Persuasive testimonies • Social Networking • Many opportunities to socialize

25. Conclusion Weaknesses • Can be confusing to navigate • Does not offer current/all information about PSSAs (PDOE, 2012) • Lacking information for younger grades

26. References Keystone State Education Coalition. (2012). Pa cyber charter pssa ayp 2005-2012 from pde. Retrieved from http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/11/pa-cyber-charter-pssa-ayp-2007-2011.html Lincoln Interactive. (2013). Curriculum. Retrieved from http://www.lincolninteractive.org/curriculum National Network Digital Schools. (2010). Lincoln interactive. Retrieved from http://www.nndsonline.org/lincolninteractive/ The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. (2012). Course catalog 2012-2013. Retrieved from http://www.pacyber.org/nurelm/kcfinder/upload/files/2012-2013_PA_Cyber_Course_Catalog.pdf The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. (2013a). Pa cyber and midland. Retrieved from http://www.pacyber.org/about.jsp?pageId=2161392240601291297846033 The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. (2013b). Our mission and vision. Retrieved from http://www.pacyber.org/about.jsp?pageId=2161392240601301473074778 The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. (2013c). Curriculum overview. Retrieved from http://www.pacyber.org/curriculum.jsp?pageId=2161392240601291902140011 The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. (2013d). Technology learning. Retrieved from http://www.pacyber.org/curriculum.jsp?pageId=2161392240601289309022324 The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. (2013e). How does our school work? Retrieved from http://www.pacyber.org/curriculum.jsp The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. (2013f). Lincoln interactive. Retrieved from http://www.pacyber.org/curriculum.jsp?pageId=2161392240601291902137295 The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. (2013g). The calvert school. Retrieved from http://www.pacyber.org/curriculum.jsp?pageId=2161392240601291902137276 Pennsylvania Department of Education. (1997). The pennsylvania law for charter schools. Retrieved from http://www.chaponline.com/getting-started/whats-the-difference/the-pennsylvania-law-for-charter-schools/ Pennsylvania Department of Education. (2011). Charter annual report. Retrieved from http://www.pacyber.org/nurelm/kcfinder/upload/files/2010-2011 Annual Report.pdf Pennsylvania Department of Education. (2012). 2011-2012 PSSA and AYP Results. Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2011-2012_pssa_and_ayp_results/1235182 Stewart, S. (2013). How to use elluminiate. Retrieved from http://wikieducator.org/images/2/28/How-to-use-Elluminate.pdf Vidonic, B. (2012, October 15). PA cyber charter school reorganizing administration. Pittsburgh Tribune Review (PA).