September 2000

“One of the things CUSD is doing to prepare for the future are ‘Virtual Classrooms’ – CUSD teachers are in the process of designing curriculum for a virtual classroom where students can

take courses on the Web...”

• Walt Buster, CUSD District Superintendent. District Report

• Superintendent Buster allocates one “Teacher on Special Assignment” position to research online learning.

October 2000

·         Rob Darrow hired as online learning specialist to research online learning.

·         Dan Kaiser, Associate Superintendent, Secondary Instruction and Chuck Philips, Director of Educational Technology attend the first Virtual School Symposium sponsored by ecollege. (www.ecollege.com)

·         District allocated $70,000 to study and implement an online high school program.

November 2000

·         Talked with district teachers, parents, and administrators regarding questions we should be asking about online education.  Created “Questions to Answer” about online learning. (http://www.cusd.com/calonline/subpages/beginningquestions.htm)

·         Learned about various online high school programs.

·         Developed website to share information. (www.cusd.com)

December 2000

·         Began the Online Learning Advisory Committee composed of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members.   Committee would meet monthly to discuss online learning topics. (http://www.cusd.com/calonline/committee.htm)

·         After research into variety of online courses, decided to pursue use of online courses from Florida Virtual School. (www.flvs.net)

·         First Clovis teachers recruited to teach online.

January 2001

·         Decided to pursue 4 online courses in different subject areas. 

·         Agreed on English 9, Biology, Algebra I, and AP Government/Econ

·         Agreed that it would be good to start with courses for 9^th graders and 12^th graders and then fill in courses in between. 

February 2001

·         Training with Florida Virtual School teachers (www.flvs.net).  Attending were:

o        4 content teachers from Clovis.

o        4 technology teachers on special assignment/online support teachers from Clovis.

February 2001

·         After training in Florida, teachers decided online content of Florida met state standards and we should move forward in teaching online high school courses.

·         After research, decided to use the Jones Knowledge platform to teach online courses.  (www.jonesknowledge.com)

·         Decided to start with a summer pilot for English, Biology, and Algebra I.

·         Advisory Committee developed the mission: 

o       To provide standards-based online courses through the use of interactive and high quality technology that empowers all students to be lifelong learners.

·         Decided to name the online program “CAL Online”  (Clovis Anytime Learning).

March 2001

·         Met with high school counselors to discuss the program.

·         Met with District Faculty Senate (teacher representatives) to discuss the program.

·         Began marketing the program to current 8^th grade students.  Every 8^th grade class was visited in the four high schools.

·         Students from the CART Marketing lab helped to market the program with posters and brochures.  Another CART student created the Cal Online logo.

·         Created a long-range business plan including suggested costs.

·         Decided to use online platform from Jones Knowledge to house online courses (www.jonesknowledge.com)

·         Registration for summer and fall students begins.

April 2001

·         Online teachers continued to review the online courses – modifications to better align with California state standards.

·         Hired an online school technology assistant to help with online course modifications, web design work, and office needs.

·         Chuck Philips, Rob Darrow, and two CAL Online teachers attended Jones Knowledge Symposium regarding online learning. (www.jonesknowledge.com)

·         Registration for summer and fall courses continues.

May 2001

·         Attended intermediate school Open Houses to share information about the online high school program.

·         Purchased cell phones from Nextel for online teachers to use in communicating with students.

June 2001

·         Began teaching summer online courses.

·         Total of two teachers for each course.  The content teacher and the technology teacher on special assignment co-taught each course. 

·         Total enrollment:  124.

·         Hire two teachers to create online remedial English and math courses to be used for students in grades 7-12.

July 2001

·         Teachers continue to teach online courses.

·         Courses finish at end of July.

o        47 students complete one semester or two semesters of credit.

o        (Completion defined as students who received a grade of D or better)

o        Remaining students decide to continue work into the fall semester or drop the online course.

·         District allocated $250,000 for the salaries, teaching and creating of online courses for the 2001-2002 school year.

July 2001

·         Post Evaluation by teachers made the following recommendations:

o        Need face-to-face orientation at beginning

o        Need online guides for students

August 2001

·         Students enroll for fall semester. 

·         Courses include Algebra I, Biology, English 9 and Economics/AP Government.

·         Total enrollment:  94.

October 2001

·         Begin to create online World History course.

·         Online remedial math and language arts courses refined.

November 2001

·         In discussing future online students, we decided:

o        To interview students on the phone prior to enrollment

o        Developed an interview form

January 2002

·         Student completion of courses:  67.

·         Decide to create two other online courses:  art history and statistics.

·         Evaluation of pilot.  Begin to collect data.  Basic questions we hope to answer:

o        What makes a successful online student?

o        Are online students achieving as well in online courses as compared with face-to-face courses?

o        Do students achieve better online in certain subjects?

o        Do students with more experience with technology do better with online courses?

o        How do online teachers spend their time teaching?

January 2002

Total student enrollment: 56.

Refined the enrollment process for second semester:

• Counselors enroll student
• Students complete “Is Online Learning for Me” online quiz
• CAL Online office does phone interview to determine if student will be successful in online course
• Teacher completes first phone call to student to determine if student will be successful in online course

February 2002

Began marketing CAL Online program with flyers and by visiting high school Open House and freshman orientation evenings.

March 2002

Awarded $50,000 grant from the University of California College Prep program to make recommendations regarding the development of a California virtual school program.  Final report, The California Virtual Schools Report: A National Survey with Recommendations for the State of California is available at:  www.uccp.org.

June 2002

·         Student completion of courses:  43.

·         Develop and teach online World History in summer school.

·         Total Enrollment Summer School: 9

July 2002

·         Begin development of online art history

·         Student Completion of online World History: 5 

·         District allocated $190,000 for the salaries, teaching and creating of online courses for the 2001-2002 school year.

August 2002

·         Online courses for the 2002-2003 school year include:  English 9, World History, Art History, and AP Government/Economics. 

·         The number of courses offered was reduced because of budget cuts in the state.

September 2002

·         Refined student selection and training to include:

o        Student phone interview prior to enrollment

o        Did face-to-face online training with all online students.

o        Student phone interview completed by each teacher with each student to ensure student success. 

·         Total students enrolled:  80.

·         Refined the Cal Online mission:

“To provide standards-based online courses and resources through the use of interactive and high quality technology that empowers all students and teachers to be lifelong learners.”

October 2002

·         Awarded $995,000 grant from federal government called “Teaching American History.”  The grant will bring together 5^th, 8^th, and 11^th grade American history teachers from schools throughout Fresno County to create online modules in American history based on state standards.  (See:  www.cusd.com/calonline/tah.)

·         AB 885 (Internet Classroom) legislation signed by Governor.

o        (See:  http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm)