Online option for SV students

By Katie Evans
Herald/Review
Published/Last Modified on Monday, Dec 15, 2008 - 05:11:17 am MST

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SIERRA VISTA — The Internet is part of the future of education.

And, in an attempt to look after its students, the Sierra Vista school district has created an online option, Sierra Vista Online, which offers students the chance to take courses online for credit.

“A lot of our students are looking at online when they go to college,” said Danielle Root, director of curriculum for the district. “They wanted the option of online and the ability (in high school).”

As a result, students were finding online high schools to take classes from. Unfortunately, not all the classes were providing them the education they needed.

“They were completing courses in a few days,” Root said. “They were under the idea that what they were getting was adequate.”

Aside from the educational pitfalls of taking classes with some of the online programs, the district was being affected financially by it.

If a student is enrolled in even just one class with an online program, the annual daily membership (ADM) money given to the district for that student is split between the two programs.

So, while the average student would get the district $3,200, the district was getting $1,600 for teaching the student all but one class, in some circumstances.

But, starting in January, students will be able to take their online classes through the district if they want, as the result of an intergovernmental agreement between the district’s school board and the governing board of Mesa Unified School District No. 4 to use its Mesa Distance Learning Program Services.

“The best benefit is really us ensuring that students choosing an online course have higher quality, rigorous coursework,” Root said.

Students choosing to use the online program to supplement their schooling on campus will have to pay $150 for each online course taken, Root said. While students who choose to do their work completely online will be able to do so for free. Full-time online status will not be offered until fall of the 2009-10 school year.

Students can take a variety of classes online, from a language, to math, even science courses.

“All of the science classes offered through Sierra Vista Online are approved through the Arizona universities as lab science,” Root said. “That’s huge.”

All classes align with current Arizona State Academic Standards and teachers are highly qualified.

Proctored final exams are required, and students are required to pass the course exams to receive course credit.

Parents and counselors are able to keep track of a student’s progress in the online classes.

The online courses allow students the opportunity to work at their own pace on the classes, which are designed to require 90-hours of seat time.

“It’s not for the student who’s looking for a diploma mill,” Root said. “They’re high quality, they’re rigorous and a student should not expect to be able to complete these within a few days.”

Root said the district is seeing an increased number of students who want to accelerate their high school education, and the online classes are another option to help them graduate early.

To get started with Sierra Vista Online, students will have to talk to their counselor prior to being able to register. These courses are available to all students, not just district students, but they, too, will have to talk to a Buena High School counselor prior to enrolling.

In addition, the district has reworked its regulation for credit for courses completed at non-district schools to make sure that students are not taking an online class that will not give them the education they need.

The new regulations are published on the district’s Web site, sierravistapublicschools.com, and Root encourages students and parents to look over the regulation prior to enrolling in any non-district classes.

“We want to make sure they get credit for the intended point of taking the class,” Root said.

For more information about Sierra Vista Online, contact Root at 515-2741.

Herald/Review reporter Katie Evans can be reached at 515-4611 or by e-mail at katie.evans@svherald.com.

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Sarah wrote on Dec 17, 2008 1:22 PM:

" To MAE online classes are fine. Everything needs quality control. There are many ways to ensure honesty. For example: in person finals, tests, and quizzes. Ew to quoting Bin Laden. Like online high school education is on the same level. Enjoy your freedom. "

to David wrote on Dec 16, 2008 11:37 PM:

" Many people obtain their degrees via the internet. The online educational opportunities open up education to many who can not access the same educational opportunities in the traditional classroom. It does not teach you only to use a computer or to manipulate the system, it does teach you critical thinking skills and careful thought into online posting. I am obtaining my masters degree in nursing through online education and plan on obtaining my PhD that way as well. High school online is a viable option for many if the program meets state guidelines. "

David wrote on Dec 16, 2008 4:39 AM:

" For "to Mae": Here's what's really sad. The folks that think the education system across America is underfunded. It as is any government institution, horribly overly funded and mismanaged. This 'distance learning' teaches kids one thing and one thing only. How to use a computer and manipulate the corrupt educational system. "

I think this will be good wrote on Dec 15, 2008 10:47 AM:

" I think this will be good for some of the students. Some students prefer to work online and not have to deal with others and I understand that. I am happy they are offering something like this because I don't even want my children to go to Buena. "

to Mae wrote on Dec 15, 2008 10:38 AM:

" this is what you are left when you live in a state that continually underfunds and defunds education. These options arise out of companies looking to profit off of district's inabilities to provide enough one-on-one attention due to overcrowding and the inability to pay (and retain) enough qualified teachers. Is online better? I don't think so - I think there is a far greater benefit to being in a class with a teacher. But maybe, when classes are overcrowded and there aren't enough adults in the building, this is a viable option. It's sad. "

Brian wrote on Dec 15, 2008 10:29 AM:

" I like online education, but it oughta be restricted to seniors. There's no substitute for in-classroom learning. Online classes take an extra amount of effort and initiative on the students part and there is less 'wiggle room" for missing assignments, etc. Online learning is not as easy as you might think. As for the quality, there no quarantees in either classroom or virtual-classroom, but I've found nothing lacking in the online courses (although it is college level not highschool I'm refering to). "

Mae wrote on Dec 15, 2008 5:57 AM:

" how will this type of education be controlled to be quality education rather than some degree being given in the name of a person that had someone else complete the work so the employer gets an employee with a degree but knows nothing. what are we doing in a time when India and other countries are producing people with better educations already we are going to give Americans less quality education. We are destroying ourselves. Bid Laden is right he does not need to do it, we are doing it ourselves. "