It may seem unlikely, then, that half of the Riggins High School senior class is taking not only core classes, but Advanced Placement™ and dual credit courses.

“Our school can’t afford teachers that can teach advance classes,” said Dustin Rinker, a Riggins High School senior. “The only way for us to compete with other students [from bigger schools] is to be able to take these classes online.”

Idaho Digital Learning

Through Idaho Digital Learning, students like Rinker have access to an urban education in their rural communities. Among its 165 course offerings, Idaho Digital Learning provides nearly 30 AP and dual credit courses. It’s not so much the volume of classes, but rather the distances in which those classes are offered that really makes an impact.

“We don’t have the option of sending kids across town to a college campus and we don’t have the resources to add AP teachers to our staff,” said Jan Barany, Riggins online site coordinator.

Like Riggins, many Idaho school districts are in rural or remote areas of the state, places where finding and retaining faculty is difficult…places where budgets are tight…places where offering an advanced curriculum is impractical, if not impossible.

Supply and demand

According to The International Association for K-12 Online Learning, “…more than 40% of our nation’s high schools — particularly those serving low-income, minority, and rural youth — [do] not offer AP courses…[and] nearly 70% of schools and districts are looking to online learning to offer Advanced Placement or college-level courses.” http://www.inacol.org/research/docs/iNACOL_NowMorethanEver-lr.pdf 

While those are national statistics, they certainly resonate in Idaho. In the past two years, alone, Idaho Digital Learning’s AP and dual credit course enrollment increased by nearly 285%.

In his report on “Access and Equity in Online Classes and Virtual Schools”, Raymond Rose writes, “Virtual programs that focus on Advanced Placement courses are doing so because the program sponsors and creators recognize that not all segments of the student population have the same advantage when it comes to being accepted into competitive colleges.” http://www.inacol.org/research/docs/NACOL_EquityAccess.pdf

Idaho offerings

In Idaho, both Advanced Placement™ and dual credit courses give high school students a head start on a post-secondary education through the potential of earning college credits. Those in AP courses prepare for a one-time, year-end exam; a critical test as many universities award college credit based on the results of the AP exam.

With dual credit courses, students enroll both at their high school and with one of IDLA’s partner universities or colleges. If successful in the course, students will simultaneously receive high school credit and college credit.

The effort pays off

For students willing to put in the extra effort, the academic rewards can be great, as listed in the new book, AP: A Critical Examination of the Advanced Placement Program.

• AP science courses have on average more experienced teachers and better integrated lab work than regular science courses.

• High school students who take AP science courses are more likely to earn science degrees in college.

• Students who pass an AP science test and then take the same introductory course in college do better than students who have not passed AP.

• Awarding bonus grade points to students who take honors or AP coursework in high schools is supported by the fact that they earn higher grades in college science courses.

Teachers’ top tips

As the name suggests, Advanced Placement (and dual credit) courses are advanced and rigorous. The AP courses are reviewed and approved by College Board whereas the dual credit courses meet Idaho college/university standards and are reviewed and approved by the Idaho credit-granting institution. But, those who teach the classes stress, it requires discipline to achieve student success. “I would say organization and self-discipline are the keys to student success,” says Beverly Fransen, Idaho Digital Learning Academy English 101 and 102 teacher.

Final thoughts

Dustin Rinker hasn’t decided on a major, nor on a school, “I’m visiting Carroll College [in Montana] today,” he said excitedly. Regardless of his choice, Rinker will go into his first year of post-secondary school with an incredible 30 credits of AP and dual credit courses already on his college transcript. A small town student with a big advantage.

Donna Hutchison, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

Idaho Digital Learning Academy

www.twitter.com/idla_ceo

www.idahodigitallearning.org

Online education in both K12 and postsecondary education is growing rapidly and is the fastest growing segment in education (http://www.usdla.org/ ).  According to a recent report approximately 12 million post-secondary students currently take online courses and it is estimated that in five years, there will be more than 22 million students taking some or all of their coursework online (http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2009/10/28/Most-College-Students-To-Take-Classes-Online-by-2014.aspx?Page=1) .  Here in Idaho, there is a similar growth.  Boise State University served over 15,000 enrollments online, awarded over 40,000 credits, and offered 5 degrees wholly online in 2008 (http://www.boisestate.edu/distance/snapshot2009.shtml)! Since it is likely that students will take an online course in their postsecondary studies, what role should K12 education do in preparing our students for college in the 21^st century?

K12 and Online Learning

According to the International Council for Online Learning (www.inacol.org), it is estimated that there are 2 million students in K12 taking online courses.  Currently three states (Michigan, Alabama, and New Mexico) require online learning as a high school graduation requirement and recognize that students will experience online education in college.  Florida now requires that every K12 school district must offer a virtual school online learning option (http://virtualschooling.wordpress.com/) .

Idaho Digital Learning Academy

In 2002, the Idaho legislature established the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) to create online options for students and recognized that technology impacts “all facets of life, including the education of students of school age and adult learners” (http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title33/T33CH55.htm ).  IDLA received startup funds for Year 1 from the JA and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.  From Fall 2002 through Fall 2009, IDLA served over 34,000 enrollments and experienced an average growth rate of over 50% per year!  IDLA is currently ranked #9 in the country for the number of enrollments for a state virtual school program (http://www.kpk12.com/).  These 34,000 enrollments equate to approximately 25,000 unique Idaho students better prepared for an online learning course in college or in industry due to the support and adoption of online learning by Idaho school administrators and school boards.  Last year, 98% of Idaho school districts enrolled students in IDLA offering students additional choices to alleviate scheduling conflicts, providing opportunities for early graduation, advanced placement and dual credit, and offering courses unavailable at the local school district such as Chinese, Digital Photography, Astronomy, and Calculus (www.idahodigitallearning.org) .

Online Education and Academic Performance

Not only are students enrolling in online courses, their performance is high.  The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory concluded that “on average, students seem to perform equally well or better academically in online learning” (http://www.ncrel.org/tech/synthesis/synthesis.pdf).    One reason for high academic performance is the quality of online teachers.  The teaching faculty at the Idaho Digital Learning Academy are master teachers in their content area, meet highly qualified status, and are innovative, student-centered teachers.  Due to the geographic neutrality of online learning, IDLA has the ability to attract high quality teachers from all over Idaho.

Online Education and the Digital Generation

Another reason for high academic performance is the ability of online learning to engage the digital learner.  Today’s student is the first generation to spend more time on the Internet than TV, think email is for old people, and want the ability to customize their learning (http://pewinternet.org/topics/Education.aspx ) .   Online learning offers the ability to do this.  Courses at the Idaho Digital Learning Academy incorporate blogs, wikis, podcasts, social networking, online community, simulations, animations, and other electronic media to engage the learner.  Courses offer multiple opportunities to learn content and to interact with their peers and teachers in an electronically-mediated learning environment.

Final Thoughts

Several Idaho school districts and policymakers recognize that online learning is a 21^st century skill and are considering graduation requirements.  However, regardless of the outcome, parents and students have a choice in Idaho school districts to take an online course as a means of preparing for postsecondary studies and the 21^st century.  With the addition of high speed bandwidth that the Idaho Education Network provides, access for all Idaho students and districts will increase.  Online learning has proven itself as a high quality, academic option that complements and expands existing K12 programs, meets the needs of the digital generation, and prepares students for the 21^st century.