Technology is changing the way we learn today.
Previously, in order to receive expanded educational
opportunities, students had to travel, often to distant communities.
Today, educational opportunities can be brought to
the students at their schools in the form of distance learning.
The BOCES Distance Learning Program and it's constituent
Regional DL Projects are designed to expand educational and vocational
opportunities to Northeastern New York State communities.
The network is a two-way, fully interactive, full-motion
video and audio system connecting specially designed classrooms in
participating districts.
The expanding
list of participating Regional
Distance Learning Program districts
and sites includes:
- Albany CTE
- Berne-Knox-Westerlo
- Broadalbin-Perth
- Cobleskill-Richmondville
- Cohoes
- Corinth
- Duanesburg
- Fonda Fultonville
- Fort Edward
- Fort Plain
- Galway
- Glens Falls
- Gloversville
- Granville
- Hadley-Luzerne
- HFM BOCES CTE
- Johnsburg
- Keene
- Malone (Franklin Academy)
- Mayfield
- Mechanicville
|
- Middleburgh
- Mohonasen
- Moriah
- Myers Education Center
- Newcomb
- Neric - Albany VC Gateway
- St. Johnsville
- St. Regis Falls
- Saratoga Springs
- Schalmont
- Schoharie Central HS
- Schoharie CTE
- Schuylerville
- Scotia Glenville
- Sharon Springs
- South Glens Falls
- Tupper Lake
- Warrensburg
- Waterford-Halfmoon
- Wells
|
Through
system integration and regional
interconnects, these sites, in
five Regional BOCES DL Projects,
combine to form "The BOCES Distance
Learning Program" (Network
Map). This further increases
the number of opportunities available
to individual districts and the
separate DL projects.
The DL network uses telecommunication technology
to enable a teacher in a distance learning classroom at one school
to see, hear, and talk with students in other distance learning classrooms.
The fully interactive environment allows the teacher and students
to be in constant, real time contact with each other.
Distance Learning not only brings new opportunities
to students, it changes the way education is presented to a student
population growing up in an age of high technology. Yesterday's blackboard
are replaced by today's document camera, a kind of "electronic
overhead." Also, if a student misses class, the teacher can tape
the session for later viewing. Even though students may be miles apart,
the ability to learn and their achievement level through distance
learning has been shown to equal or surpass traditional classroom
learning.
A wide variety of programs are offered through distance
learning. Low enrollment courses are taught in a cost-efficient manner.
College-level courses are offered directly from university campuses
to students in their high schools. Staff development and graduate
level college courses offered via distance learning enhance the talents
of school staff. Continuing education programs and training opportunities
are more readily available for businesses, organizations, and community
residents. In short, distance learning brings learning to the student.
Ideas to Consider Before Implementing Distance Learning
- Classroom location and design
- Course scheduling
- Low enrollment courses
- No-enrollment courses
(courses with requests but not offered)
- Needs of gifted and
talented program (if offered)
- Needs of special education
program (if offered)
- Evening courses for
high school students
- Homework assistance
or remediation
- College credit courses
- Elementary and/or middle
school programs (if possible)
- Summer school
- Staff development programs
- Adult continuing education
and community usage
- Bell schedule
- School district telecommunications/
television production infrastructure
- Staff involvement
- Finances / budget
