B-BP Prepares for Online Course Implementation

Following the state’s summer 2011 approval of online learning recommendations, Bayport-Blue Point’s director of technology Tuesday presented the school board with the administration’s plan to implement online classes in fall 2012.

District technology director Stephanie Nocerino said online college preparation ensures that students are ready for college. Two out of every three jobs being created require a post-secondary education, making experience with online coursework a necessity for college-bound students, she said.

Nocerino and superintendent of schools, Dr. Anthony Annunziato, have discussed implementing online courses in the high school for the past two years, but decided not to administer a program until the state approved the International Society for Technology in Education recommendations, Nocerino said.

“We’ve done research on [online programs in] other states and districts, but we held off on starting this,” she said, “We didn’t want to implement something that had to be modified.”

Simply put, the state has approved to allow credit to be earned through online and blended coursework. A “blended” course, as recommended by the state, is comprised of face-to-face time with an instructor in addition to online coursework, rather than a full online class with no instructor-student face time.

SUNY schools require freshmen to take one online course come fall, Nocerino said, which coincides with the state’s approval of a blended course. Blended learning was recommended because it allows instructors to “teach” their class how to take an online course, allowing students to become familiar with the mechanics of an online course before they begin college classes.

The first step in planning the implementation of such courses is to create an Online Learning Committee, who will research programs and write the policy and process for this newly approved education medium that Nocerino said will “require a great deal of professional development.”

Hopeful online course instructors will have to meet numerous requirements in order to teach an online class, said Nocerino. Requirements call for the teacher to have taken an online course themselves, as well as complete various training programs on online instruction.

There is no doubt that online courses will eventually provide cost-savings for the district, said Annunziato, but he emphasized the program isn’t a direct cost-savings initiative.

“New York State didn’t create this policy for that reason [to save money], but for students to develop 21st century skills,” Annunziato said.

Purchase of a modality, such as Blackboard, to house content and communication tools for the online courses will be a small and non-recurring expense, said Nocerino.

Administration will deliver a presentation on the pilot program, which will most likely include no more than two courses, at a spring school board meeting, said Annunziato, who added the in the interim, the district may post the committee’s progress on the district website.