Kentucky Department of Education

In this issue:  A new report by the North American Council for Online Learning and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills indicates that virtual learning can transform education. Virtual Schools and 21st Century Skills  Effective virtual schools and online learning should promote...Kentucky Virtual High School  The updated Kentucky Valid Course Code List and a resource document indicating the changes are now available at Kentucky Valid Course List. If a course does not meet the definition or content of one contained in this document, please use course number 909999: School Defined Course and code the correct content through the LEAD report.

21^st-Century Skills

A new report by the North American Council for Online Learning and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills indicates that virtual learning can transform education—but only by incorporating the skills students need for success in work and life.  The report, titled Virtual Schools and 21st Century Skills, identifies ways in which online learning can increase education excellence for all students as it prepares them for a successful life in school and beyond.  Effective virtual schools and online learning should promote:

• Global Awareness -- Students can easily work with individuals from all over the world. For example, the Michigan Virtual High School offers an online Chinese language course taught by a qualified native speaker. The course is designed around four components: an e-textbook, a group problem-solving project, Internet protocol (IP)-based audio conferencing and discussion, and a group writing project.
• Self-Directed Learning -- Virtual schools empower students to make flexible, individual choices on the basis of their interests and schedules. At Florida Virtual School, students choose the length of their study program, which can be shorter or longer than the traditional 36-week school year. Students may choose when and where they complete their assignments, but they must deliver an end product by a given date. The report points out that this approach is similar to many business environments today, “where telecommuting and virtual offices are a reality, but accountability and quality expectations for the end product remain high.”
• Information and Communications Technology Literacy -- Students learn 21^st-century technology skills as they collaborate and communicate online. They become adept at using applications common to today's business environment, such as Web-based conferencing, project management tools and digital media and communications tools.
• Problem-Solving Skills -- Virtual schools focus on competency-based learning models that engage students in collaborative practices. In Florida Virtual School, students study geometry by learning real-world architectural skills. After familiarizing themselves with plans and blueprints, students draw the façade of a house and learn about such terms as slope and pitch as they relate to local buildings.
• Time Management and Personal Responsibility -- Students learn self-discipline as they manage their time and responsibilities online.

To find our more about virtual and online learning for Kentucky students, go to Kentucky Virtual High School.

Valid Course Codes

The updated Kentucky Valid Course Code List and a resource document indicating the changes are now available at Kentucky Valid Course List. The resource document contains a listing of course descriptions and parameters along with certifications that fit the parameters for a given course. The grade range and population information listed for each course are not absolute. Please choose the course that most closely represents the students in a given course. The courses listed in this document are not meant to replace the course titles and course numbers already in use at the school level. Schools will link their courses in the STI Valid Course List to courses listed in this document.  If a course does not meet the definition or content of one contained in this document, please use course number 909999: School Defined Course and code the correct content through the LEAD report.

All school courses should be linked in the student information system to Kentucky Valid Courses Codes before the beginning of the 2007-08 school year. 

Quotable Quotes

“Very few school improvement plans include strategies for the monitoring of curriculum implementation.  The greatest, most aligned curriculum in any school is meaningless if you don’t monitor whether or not it is being taught.”

                                       Mike Schmoker