Comments for Professional Development Seminars

Comment on Feedback That Fits by Will Lenssen

Will Lenssen — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:28:41 +0000

Please correct my last feedback – note Last paragraph. Please correct: “I agree that it should be motivational and understandable”. NOTE THAT I WISH TO DROP THE WORD “NOT”.

Comment on Feedback That Fits by Will Lenssen

Will Lenssen — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:26:42 +0000

Assessment is to be used for the purpose of academic growth. That is where the action verbs should be used with a form of “gap analysis” to allow the student/parent/guardian to get a good handle on “What’s Next in an Academic Action Plan”.
Evaluation is for the purpose of marking based on curriculum expectations with that marking weighted to grant a “mark” out of a total which can then be translated into a percentage. (I’m not in favour of a “letter grade unless it can translate into a mark range: eg. 70-79 = B .)
Reporting is what we are addressing as the submission of the final mark/grade to the student, parent/guardian, post-secondary institution. Feedback is primarily for the student and parent/guardian that would accompany the mark/grade. This feedback should not be a surprise if during the course it has been ongoing. I agree that it should not be motivational and understandable. But at the end of a course, “generic” is often the case. Again – this is not a probelm if the “feedback” has been ongoing, part of Student Success.

Comment on Star Investigation: Cash for marks gets kids into university by Will Lenssen

Will Lenssen — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:05:08 +0000

I support stringent regulation for Private Schools AND more opportunities for Full Credit Independent Study beyond the monopoly owned by the Independent Learning Centre (ILC). The student success through legitimate and accountable models should be the priority of a Private School. The question for me is “What Online models are out there in which both the credibility and inspection criteria are met to serve the student fairly, consistently and legitimately. Students should have the right to an alternative to the ILC via Online programs. We should emphasize how that is to be achieved via an Education Model for Online Schools which is just another version of a “private school”.

Comment on Cracking down on credit mills: what’s the solution? by Will Lenssen

Will Lenssen — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 21:12:23 +0000

I have released this (with mild modifications) on the other Postings herein so my apologies in advance – but I am desperately seeking assistance.

Online Secondary Schools create a new take on Inspections. Perhaps there are so few Online High Schools because the Inspection Process is based on ” the traditional model school”.

With Online education in post secondary (College/University), the standards seem to change based on many of the Secondary Criteria. I truly think we have more stringent Inspection Criteria in Primary and secondary than post secondary Online programs. And I have no qualms about that. After being an Administrator responsible for such in an Ontario Catholic High School, I support quality.

We were hoping to open our Online High School but delayed because of a statement by a M of Ed contact in our proposal. In summary, it was stated that there has to be evidence of Student-Teacher contact; namely direct contact with teachers in reference to student communication and teaching (curriculum delivery). We acknowledge that simply using independent study with marking of submitted assignments is insufficient. Only the ILC operated by the M of Ed can offer “Independent Study” to grant credits.
That’s another item for discussion based on “monopolizing independent study”.

Do we agree with “regular Regulation and Inspections as per a “traditional school”? Yes we do. I personally am ensuring that that teachers who apply and are accepted in our future(?) school be OCT qualified as am I as an Administrator AND have a current and appropriate police check. We also have in draft or undergoing development a Course Calendar; Course Outlines; Policy and Procedures; Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting. It is the “online model” issue of teacher-student teaching format that called us to delay our opening.
We have reviewed some other online schools and are curious how they are doing business in reference with Student Teacher Contact insofar as “teaching” as opposed to “Independent Study”. Perhaps contacting such schools may help and that is part of our plan with the hope that such “competitive” schools will receive us with our questions. We are not addressing “online” courses offered within a “traditional school” Board; they are often done within a school using technology during the designated “class time”. We are talking about fully “online” schools independent of a “structured” period/time. we are trying out the model of learn “when you can, where you are” – using M of Ed approved text and curriculum lesson plans done within the M of Ed guidelines and developed by a qualified teacher.

With our proposed online secondary school, we are reviewing the method of such contact considering each student would be on an independent timetable; that is to study when and where s/he can.

Any suggestions and/or models including contacts that readers may have are welcome to my attention. I would also be willing to drive down to discuss such models. I will be requesting an interview with the M of Ed. as well.
Our plans are to open soon (TBD) based on developments of the above concerns.

Thank you for any contribution you may be able to offer.

Comment on Cracking down on credit mills: what’s the solution? by Will Lenssen

Will Lenssen — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:50:45 +0000

I have posted this on the other Postings so my apologies in advance – but I am seeking assistance.
Online Secondary Schools create a new take on Inspections. Perhaps there are so few Online High Schools because of the Inspection Process is based on ” the traditional model school”.
When you offer Online education in College/University, the standards seem to change based on many of the Secondary Criteria. I truly think we have more stringent Inspection Criteria than post secondary Online programs.

We were hoping to open our Online High School but delayed because of a statement by a M of Ed contact: In summary, it was stated that there has to be evidence of Student-Teacher contact, communication and teaching directly. Simply using independent study with marking of submitted assignments is insufficient. Only the ILC operated by the M of Ed can offer “Independent Study” to grant credits.

Do we agree with “regular Regulation and Inspections as per a “traditional school”? Yes we do. I am insisting that teachers who apply and are accepted in our future(?) school be OCT qualified as am I as an Administrator. We also have in place a Course Calendar; Course Outlines; Policy and Procedures; Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting. Mmany of the six items above are addressed in final draft or under development. It is the “online model” that called us to delay our opening.
We have reviewed some other online schools and are curious how they are doing business in reference with Student Teacher Contact insofar as “teaching” as opposed to “Independent Study”. Perhaps contacting such schools may help and that is part of our plan with the hope that such “competitive” schools will receive us with our questions. We are not addressing “online” courses offered within a “traditional school” Board. We are talking about fully “online” schools.

With our online secondary education, we are reviewing the method of such contact considering each student would be on an independent timetable; that is to study when and where s/he can.

Thank you for any contribution you may be able to offer.