Educating for a Digital WorldK-12 Goes Digital: A Panel of Stories & Ideas

K-12 Goes Digital (A1)

• Peter Drescher, Agency of Education (Moderator)

• John Dawson, Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union

• Jeff Renard, Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative

• Betsy Calhoun, Lake Region Union High School

Peter Drescher

• Assists schools in using & acquiring technology to support learning

• Guides policy discussions

• Advocates for increased broadband access & continual development of new opportunities to virtual and blended learning.

• Board Chair for the State Education Technology Directors Association (SETDA)

Education Technology

Coordinator, Vermont Agency of

Education

John Dawson

• A lifelong learner who holds several IT credentials

• Before joining BRSU in his current role, worked with Champlain Valley High School for 10 years

• Passion is harnessing technology to personalize education

• Believes it takes students AND their personal support networks of teachers, parents, counselors and friends to be successful

Learning Systems Consultant,

South Burlington, VT

John DawsonLearning Systems Consultant,

South Burlington, VT

● Lateral Innovation● Common Ecosystem● Connected People● Broad Curriculum● Multiple Pathways● Standards Based Evidence

John DawsonLearning Systems Consultant,

South Burlington, VT

John DawsonLearning Systems Consultant,

South Burlington, VT

What do they know?

What do they need to know?

How will they get there?

What if they don’t? What if they do?

Betsy CalhounM. ED, Teacher

Lake Region Union High School

• The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Betsy CalhounM. ED, Teacher

Lake Region Union High School

• Tech Savvy Girls

Betsy CalhounM. ED, Teacher

Lake Region Union High School

• Microsoft Office Specialist Certification

Betsy CalhounM. ED, Teacher

Lake Region Union High School

• Century 21 ACCOUNTING & http://www.aplia.com/accounting/

Jeff RenardDirector

Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative

VTVLC Partner Schools-Schools that have at least one teacherwho facilitates an online course

-Schools may enroll up to 25 studentseach semester tuition-free

-Schools pay an annual support fee

-Open to all Vermont students/schools

Enrollment

Requests

Learning takes place:

Anytime: No bells, learning is not

limited to a schedule

Any Place: No restrictions on location

Any Pace: Adjustments for struggling

and accelerating students

Greater availability of courses to expand

options not available locally

Greater accessibility to courses that

interfere with student schedules

Greater flexibility to learn at times that

maximize student success

Key Goals:

“I am a musician and a

dancer. Between two

music classes, and my

normal course load, I

wasn’t able to fit

Algebra II into my

schedule. I also didn’t

want to have to take

either Orchestra or

Band out of my

schedule.”

“In order to attain

more diversity

and freedom to

take the types of

courses I am

interested in, I

decided to enroll

in VTVLC for a

total of three AP

classes this

year.”

“I was unhappy with a

class I was scheduled

for because I felt that

it wouldn’t help my

future as being an

engineer. I spoke with

my counselor about

things that I could do

about this and he told

me about the VTVLC

online course.”

“Ultimately, in order

to take some

important AP

courses for my

college future, I

needed to “free up”

some time during

my day. VTVLC

offered me that

time option and

flexibility.”

“I am taking the

VTVLC Chinese

course because I find

learning languages to

be fun, and I see

knowing Mandarin to

be beneficial in my

future.”

“I wanted to take

two math classes

this year but it

didn’t fit into my

schedule; so I got

the idea to take

an online class.”

“VTVLC challenged me

to become a better

student as well as

taught me traits that will

get me far in life. These

include communication

with my teacher and

peers, perseverance,

and consistently getting

my assignments in on

time.”

Equitable Access

VTVLC expands the breadth and depth of course options to students, regardless of where they reside in Vermont, by removing the barrier

of time and place.

(73 courses/sections of core academics, AP® courses, world languages, electives, health and personal fitness, and dual enrollment courses)

Contact the Panelists

• Peter Drescher, Agency of Education peter.drescher@state.vt.us

• John Dawson, Learning Systems Consultant jd.piper@gmail.com

• Jeff Renard, Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperativejrenard@vtvlc.org

• Betsy Calhoun, Lake Region Union High Schoolbcalhoun@ocsu.org

bcalhoun@ocsu.org

bcalhoun@ocsu.org