ERIC Number: ED552399
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 179
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-2679-2879-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Evaluation of the High School Virtual Program in a North Texas School District
Cash, Paul E.
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Walden University
In a North Texas school district, students taking online courses in a variety of subject areas were not successfully completing courses at the district's expected levels. The district pays for courses and student support while remaining financially responsible to the community and programmatically to students' online success. Students' unsuccessful completion of these online classes, both at the local district and at the state level, became the rationale for the current study's formal evaluation of the program. The qualitative project study evaluated the district's online program and allowed for opportunities for data collection and analysis for improvement recommendations. Guided by the constructivist theory, this study examined whether the current online instructional program was perceived as effective by students and faculty involved with online classes. Qualitative surveys and focus groups were employed to gather data on the overall design of the program. Students taking online classes and faculty working with these students participated in the survey and randomly selected participants were involved in the focus groups. The qualitative data were analyzed according to themes and then interpreted for meaning. Data analysis determined both effective and ineffective practices of the program, including issues of local support related to technology and increased 1-on-1 support at the campus level as identified by students and the need for more resources and familiarity with the online course content as identified by mentor teachers. The findings from this research provided specific strategies for improving supports that promote success. This increased success for high school students will impact social change regarding how administrators, teachers, students, and parents view alternative educational opportunities for students in the future. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Program Evaluation, Qualitative Research, High School Students, Computer Simulation, Focus Groups, Online Courses, Constructivism (Learning), School Districts, Program Effectiveness, Student Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Teaching Methods, Familiarity, Course Content, Program Design, Mentors, Social Change, Educational Opportunities
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A