1. …you can learn anywhere in Big Sky Country!
April 14, 2010
Information Webinar for Administrators
Presenting:
Robert Currie, Executive Director
Jason Neiffer, Interim Curriculum Specialist
2. Today’s Agenda
• Introduction to the Adobe Connect Platform
• Welcome from Robert Currie, MTDA Executive
Director
• Introduction to MTDA
• The 2010-2011 Program
• The Role of Teachers and School Districts
• Enrollment Procedures
• Your Questions!
9. House Bill 459/
MCA 20-7-1201
• The purposes of the Montana virtual academy
are to:
– (a) make distance learning opportunities available to
all school-age children through public school districts
in the state of Montana;
– (b) offer high-quality instructors who are licensed and
endorsed in Montana and courses that are in
compliance with all relevant education and distance
learning rules, standards, and policies; and
– (c) emphasize the core subject matters required under
the accreditation standards, offer advanced courses
for dual credit in collaboration with the Montana
university system, and offer enrichment courses.
10. MTDA Board
• Positions named by MCA 20-7-1201
• Current Board:
Bruce Messinger, Chair, Superintendent of Helena Public Schools
Dennis Parman, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction
Sheila Stearns, Commissioner, Office of Higher Education
Barbara Fettig, Teacher, Billings School District
Bryan Duvall, Trustee, Geraldine School Board
Roberta Evans, Dean, The University of Montana School of
Education
11. MTDA Staff
• Robert Currie, Executive Director
• Jason Neiffer, Interim Curriculum Specialist
• Rayleen Hicks, Administrative Associate
• Collier Kaler, Project Assistant
12. Deployment Schedule
• ** Course Enrollment for Fall 2010 available
NOW!
• April-May: Public Information Campaign,
Teacher and Course Developer Recruitment
• May-August: Course Development and
Teacher Training
• June-August: Pilot Test Run of MTDA Courses
• Late August: Fall Course Open
14. Program Overview
• 43 courses available, including a mix of core
courses, electives and AP offerings
• Courses available at 9-12 levels; K-8 courses
available in later years
• Due to funding, 2010-2011 courses available
free of charge to Montana Students
16. MTDA courses are…
• Asynchronous: courses are available via
Moodle, MTDA’s learning management system
24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet a
students available schedule
• Taught by Montana Teachers: courses are
taught by licensed Montana instructors
• Built to be exclusively online: courses are
utilize e-books, online text, and online
multimedia
27. Meeting the Needs of Students
• Eliminate a scheduling conflict
• Graduate on time
• Learn at a pace that is right for them
• Take a summer school course conveniently
from home or another location
• Recover course credit in a discreet manner
28. Meeting the Needs of Schools
• Helping at-risk students
• Assisting schools with unique staffing and
curriculum challenges
• Customizing solutions to meet school needs
• Providing leadership in researching and
developing e-learning solutions
30. Teachers Involved in Every Step
of Development and Instruction
Works with MTDA Responsible for Responsible for
Subject Matter Expert
Lead Teacher
Online Teacher
curriculum teach to teaching the first teaching subsequent
develop courses using section of each course sections of each
a mix of commercial and monitoring the course.
resources, course add- course for
ons and widgets and redevelopment
electronic texts. opportunities.
Courses are carefully
developed to meet
Montana Standards
and IEFA expectations.
31. Teachers are…
• Licensed in Montana
• Employed by Montana school districts
• Trained by MTDA on course development and
online pedagogy
• Monitored and mentored by MTDA staff
32. Districts are a Critical Connection
Between the MTDA and Students
• Districts are responsible for enrolling students
in MTDA courses
• Districts can assist students in providing
resources and assistance to support student
success in the online learning environment
34. Determining Readiness for
Student Success
• Profile of an online student - varies
• Readiness assessment – principal, counselor,
parent and teachers
• Determine student interest and motivation
35. Student Orientation
• Develop an introduction to MTDA and online
learning
• Provide some modules to be used for practice
• High interest electives are good starters
• Offer an incentive to schools to ensure
students participate in orientation
40. Thank you for attending today!
• These slides and a recording of today’s
presentation are available at:
http://www.montanadigitalacademy.org
• Counselor webinars will be held:
April 29, 9am
May 12, 4pm
Robert Currie Jason Neiffer
Executive Director Interim Curriculum Specialist
406-243-4619 406-202-2761
robert.currie@mso.umt.edu jason.neiffer@mso.umt.edu
