Overview
ACCESS is available to all Alabama public high school students.
WHAT IS ACCESS DISTANCE LEARNING?
It provides:
• Equal access to high quality instruction
• An infrastructure that delivers quality learning opportunities
• Greater equity for all Alabama public high school students through 21st century technology
WHAT ARE THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE ACCESS DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN?
The ACCESS DL plan provides Alabama students with access to quality instruction and coursework by blending:
• Rigorous Web-based and Interactive Videoconferencing (IVC) courses taught by Alabama certified and highly qualified teachers
• A technical infrastructure to deliver approved Web-based courses and connect IVC labs via a statewide network
• Three regional support centers to hire, train, evaluate, and support e-teachers
• Statewide coordination, scheduling, and support for distance learning
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF ACCESS?
The goal of ACCESS is to continue to meet objectives of the ACCESS plan, expanding the availability of ACCESS Distance Learning to all public high schools in the state.
- Provide access to advanced diploma courses.
- Provide access to additional course offerings.
- Provide access to Advanced Placement and dual enrollment/dual credit courses.
- Provide access to remediation and supplemental resources.
- Leverage existing resources and distance learning offerings.
- Provide teachers with additional multimedia and tools to enhance instruction.
- Provide access to courses and resources through the Alabama Supercomputer Authority statewide network infrastructure assuring quality of service delivery.
- Utilize outside evaluation to assess weaknesses and strengths of the program in order to make appropriate adjustments to the implementation of the objectives of ACCESS.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCESS?
• Awarded 70 grants to Alabama high schools to implement a 21st century distance learning classroom.
• Increased enrollments to over 9,000 per year in 174 participating high schools.
• Increased courses available to more than 50 different courses including 5 different foreign languages and 10 different AP courses
• Received positive reports from the from the International Society for Technology in Education, the outside evaluator of the program, indicated that all implementation deadlines were met as outlined in the ACCESS DL Plan. Interview results showed that over 75% of students and 82% of teachers involved in ACCESS felt that their virtual school experience was as good as or better than that for traditional courses.
• More than 100 teachers have been trained in e-learning course delivery.
• Received over 6.2 million in E-Rate Funding
• Received over one million in federal grant dollars from the Appalachian Regional Commission
WHO PLANS AND OVERSEES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCESS?
ACCESS DL Task Force
K-20 Representatives
Community
Other State Agencies
ACCESS DL Support Centers
ACCESS DL Executive Board
Alabama Department of Education
WHAT DOES 21st CENTURY DISTANCE LEARNING CLASSROOM EQUIPMENT & SERVICES INCLUDE?
• Codec (A codec is technology for compressing and decompressing data)
• Cameras
• Monitors and/or projectors
• Interactive whiteboard (interactive, portable, wireless electronic boards)
• 25 tablet computers (minimum)
• Wireless port or router
• Installation, on-site service, warranty, technical support, and equipment training and equipment manuals.
• Professional Development/ Specialized Training for:
- School Administrators, guidance counselors, and other school personnel on the project, management techniques, and evaluation strategies.
- E-teachers (delivery sites)
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF ACCESS?
• Provide a 21st century distance learning classroom for every Alabama high school (schools serving grades 9 – 12).
• Have the capacity to serve 45,000 enrollments.
WHAT IS THE RESPONSE FROM PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM?
“Having the Distance Learning Lab has given our students a confidence that they can compete with other students . . .”
Denise Stovall, Principal, R. A. Hubbard High School, Lawrence County
“My students think that they have reached heaven. One student said that he wanted to live in that lab . . . the other student next to him told me that this was his favorite class ever!”
Adina Stone, Latin I IVC and Online Teacher, Sheffield High School, Sheffield
“What an exciting day! My students are so ‘ampt’ (in their words, not mine). They are excited to be part of such a unique program. I too am enthusiastic. Thanks for the great opportunity . . . Alabama now has a source to offer educators and students access to education of the future...and the future is now.”
Samantha Smith, Creative Writing Teacher, Alma Bryant High School, Mobile
“ACCESS has helped the Dallas County School System maintain and expand course offerings when we were either unable to recruit or fund a highly qualified teacher. Without ACCESS, students at my high schools would not have been able to participate in courses such as Advanced Placement Calculus, Latin, Shakespeare, etc. The ACCESS service delivery model has also helped educators become more creative and innovative in the delivery of quality curricula.”
Dr. Fannie L. Major-McKenzie, Superintendent, Dallas County School System
