Lesson one: Establish an optimal and scalable technology infrastructure. Nothing is more frustrating to users than a roadblock thrown up by insufficient technology. Each student and teacher needs a fully functional wireless device. In addition to a dependable device, each user must have reliable access to a wireless network. When building or expanding a wireless infrastructure, planning for adequate bandwidth to provide each user with seamless navigation will prevent headaches down the road.
Lesson two: Select a Learning Management System (LMS) that meets your students and teachers needs. Foremost, you want an LMS that is easy for users. This includes students, parents, and teachers. The simplicity of use should encourage teachers to create course content and embed resources. Select a LMS that does not take many steps to upload content. This includes embedding videos and interactive assignments. Choose a LMS that the development of interactive rich courses.
Additionally, select a LMS that supports SCROM standards. This will allow your district to move to other LMS platforms without losing content. Also, consider your technical support staff when deciding if you will use a hosted or internally housed solution. Having the manpower to upgrade, support, and perform backups is an important factor to consider.
Most importantly the LMS must be student centered. Consider how students will upload assignments, view calendars, and allow communication with teachers. Parental access and registrar functionality is critical to sustain a quality online program. Online learning inherently supports open communication between teachers, students, administrators, and parents.
Make sure your LMS supports all of these users. An comprehensive study comparing Learning Management System’s and why they were deselected indicates systems were disqualified for a variety of reasons including: scale of integration, incompatible with district data standards, limited feature sets, limited ease of use, and lack of confidence in product support by an LMS vendor (Adams, et al, 2005). Selecting a LMS, which best fits your school district’s teachers and learners, is a critical step in the initial success and cost avoidance of switching vendors.
Lesson three: Track data to report on student outcomes and costs. Often a newly implemented instructional model must prove the validity of the learning. Maintaining accurate data to track costs and outcomes of student learning will assist in informing the community and guide decision-making. Be prepared to provide comparison data between face-to-face and online student outcomes and the cost of delivery. Course passage and completion rates, changes in graduation data, grade outcomes, and costs per student can be used to gauge success and corrections to constantly improve quality of instruction.
(Next page: Lessons 4-6)
- 7 key steps in creating an online learning program - July 4, 2014