iNACOL’s Research in Review Webinar

“Data to Improve Management of Online Schools”

Joe Cozart

Georgia Virtual Learning

December 2013

Using Data to Improve the Management and

Operations of an Online School

Joe Cozart

Background• Supplemental program

est. 2005, grades 6-12

• $250 tuition per student course enrollment

• ~20,000 course enrollments in the last year focused in AP and world languages

• Typical student is at a public school taking an online course with us for the first time because their local school does not offer the course

Overview

• Learning analytics

• Course survey analysis

• Budget analysis

• Course enrollment forecasting

Learning Analytics• Use D2L for LMS and analytics

• This year teachers are required to reflect monthly on data in their e-portfolios, mirrors statewide focus with SLDS and bonus points on CCRPI

• It has let us see student tool access, grade patterns, link between tool usage and grades

Course Surveys

• Course development adjustments

• Better comparison data on teachers than measures like pass rate and class averages.

Budget Analysis• Overspending on new

teacher training in terms of cost per person, low completion rate of new hires

• https://www.openteachertraining.org

Course enrollment forecasting

• 300+ course offerings, 150+ adjunct and FT staff, students from 500+ schools statewide

• Needed better enrollment predictions than blanket growth rate to keep courses staffed and open to new enrollments

• Use time series analysis with SPSS to forecast enrollments and get confidence intervals.

Questions?

• joe.Cozart@gavirtuallearning.org