practitioner

Back **Virtual Learning: Steps to Success, A Practitioner’s Manual - Elaine K. Manicke**

//To create a successful Virtual Learning Environment the following steps are necessary://
 * 1) //Develop professional learning community//
 * 2) //Create research, best-practice based pedagogy//
 * 3) //Select responsive, reliable vendor: rubric//
 * 4) //Ensure transparency in teaching and learning//
 * 5) //Differentiate instruction//
 * 6) //Establish effective communication networks//
 * 7) //Engage students through interactive, collaborative partnerships//

WHITE PAPER RIO RANCHO CYBER ACADEMY

The Rio Rancho Cyber Academy’s Mission is to: Enhance learning through effective technology. The vision is to: Create a model school for distance learning. All efforts of RRCA are centered around the goals: • Create a Professional Learning Community which focuses on collaboration • Select a responsive vendor that allows flexibility and works to meet the needs of the school • Make the process of teaching and learning transparent • Establish clear goals and objectives • Establish effective communication network to include staff, students, and parents • Make appropriate decisions about selection of curriculum to meet state and local standards and benchmarks • Customize courses to meet individual needs and differentiate instruction and incorporate different learning modalities • Be results oriented • Engage students through interactive, collaborative partnership • Interface a variety of technology in an interactive, project-based curriculum to deliver instruction and to demonstrate learning • Deliver 21st Century Skills • Use research to create a foundation for best practices and show results to close gaps

Rio Rancho Cyber Academy combines the process of developing the Educational Plan for Student Success with the teachers’ Professional Development Plans. A Professional Learning Community which supports a collaborative process has been established. Ongoing Professional development supports building capacity to promote school improvement. The Professional Learning Community is data and standards driven; focuses on instruction, equity and results; expands teacher knowledge and encourages innovation and excellence.

The Rio Rancho Cyber Academy has developed two New Mexico History courses and successfully piloted the courses in 7the and 9th grades. Rio Rancho Cyber Academy customizes courses, develops writing curriculum, projects, study guides, and is developing processes and implementation plans for the distance learning program. RRCA facilitates collaboration with other districts in the processes and implementation of Distance Learning. Rio Rancho Cyber Academy is a pilot project using Education2020 in a hybrid setting.

RRCA continues to develop the above noted listed events in an effort to meet the unique challenges of the Distance Learning (hybrid) program. RRCA is aware that many students come to an optional setting because they are at risk of dropping out of school. This includes bright students who are not working to their potential as well as students who need assistance with learning gaps. The challenges are to meet the needs of these students who need an adaptable educational setting. Developing programs to ensure student success and training teachers to teach in a new environment requires creative problem solving and planning. Add your own notes for this session here by simply clicking the "Edit this Page" icon above, type your notes, and then click "Save".

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