Military to Open Virtual High School

Students take distance learning courses while a teacher checks in at a Department of Defense Education Activity school. DoDEA will open the “doors” of its new virtual high school in the next school year. DoDEA photo

By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
Oct. 30, 2009
Elaine.wilson@dma.mil

I’m admittedly a bit behind the technology power curve. I grew up in the pre-Internet, typewriter-using, Atari Pong days when we were lucky if we had seven TV channels to watch.

Embarrassingly enough, my kids had to mentor me through the fine art of video gaming and I’m still in awe at how they learned to navigate the Internet before they could even read.

So, as a member of the comparatively Flintstone-like technology age, I’m always impressed when I hear of schools instilling high-tech lessons at an early age.

Defense Department schools, in particular, have made an effort to stay at the forefront of the technology movement. They’ve offered distance learning to their students for years and now are putting the finishing touches on a new virtual high school.

A student takes a distance learning course at a Department of Defense Education Activity school. DoDEA photo

Although it’s lacking desks and walls, once its “doors” open in the new 2010 school year, the school will be an accredited, diploma-granting high school.

To find out more, I spoke with Patricia Riley, the chief of distance learning and virtual school for Department of Defense Education Activity schools.

“DoDEA has had distance learning since the early 1980s,” she said. “We’re somewhat of a pioneer in that regard. We’re now building on the success of that program and transitioning from distance learning to a virtual high school.”

Distance learning did the trick for those students who needed an extra course, such as an advanced placement course, that wasn’t offered at their school, but DoDEA wanted to expand the program, she said.

“We’ll be adding new courses and making the program more comprehensive,” Riley said. “For the most part, we’ll continue to supplement courses offered through our brick and mortar schools, but in those rare cases that it’s needed, we’ll be able to grant a diploma.”

“The virtual high school is not meant to replace face-to-face instruction at a DoDEA school,” she added. “It’s simply a flexible alternative for situations where it is warranted.”

DoDEA is revising 11 of its existing distance courses and is in the process of adding 33 additional ones, she said, including English, math, social studies, economics, science, foreign languages, computers and humanities.

The program is aimed at helping a variety of students, including those who are living in a foreign area without a DoDEA school nearby, such as at an embassy, or students who have started a course of study at a DoDEA school and move with their parents to another DoDEA school where the course isn’t offered.
 
While students will have the flexibility to do their coursework on their own time, Riley said DoDEA teachers will be in place at three virtual hubs in three geographical regions to provide real-time support. The hub in Wiesbaden, Germany, stood up last year; Camp Humphries, Korea, was put in place this year; and officials are still figuring out where to place a stateside hub that will be up and running in 2011.
 
I know I’ve had a few computer run-ins with online courses, but Riley assured me that the system is user-friendly with a required student orientation module and a self-assessment tool that identifies strengths and weaknesses.

Knowing how easy it is to procrastinate with self-guided work, I asked Riley for some tips to help teens stay focused.

Her No. 1 tip is to have a designated class period. Students in a DoDEA school should work their virtual class into their schedule. For those geographically separated, Riley advises them to develop a set time every day for coursework.

“Many parents think this type of learning is only for students in the advanced placement program,” Riley said. “It’s definitely not, but it’s important to have a designated adult to help the student.”

She also advises students to have access to a computer and Internet at home, or work with the school or local command to find access outside of class time for homework and research.

Riley said parents should keep an eye out for more information.
 
I’ll also keep you posted as this program develops. I think it’s great that DoDEA officials are working to ensure military students receive the best, most cutting-edge education possible.

We’ve certainly come a long way since Pong.
 
For more on DoDEA, visit http://www.dodea.edu/home/