2OO7. Distance Learning Course Guide migrant student graduation enhancement program

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1 2OO7 Distance Learning Course Guide migrant student graduation enhancement program K 16 Education Center * Continuing Education The University of Texas at Austin

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3 2OO7 Distance Learning Course Guide migrant student graduation enhancement program K 16 Education Center * Continuing Education The University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin Migrant Student Graduation Enhancement Program helps Texas migrant students graduate from high school by providing opportunities to earn credit at any time and any place. We offer 44 distance learning courses that are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and help migrant students prepare for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Courses are available in several platforms that can be used with or without computers and Internet. We also offer options for grading lesson assignments, which can be graded onsite by local educators or at UT by the program s instructors. There is no charge for enrolling certified migrant students in the distance learning courses. page 01

4 Course Options Print-based Courses Each print-based course consists of a series of lessons, which contain objectives, course commentary, textbook-reading assignments, vocabulary reviews, practice exercises that students complete on paper, and an assignment to be submitted for a grade. A final exam review at the end of each course provides instruction on test-taking skills and study skills. Course introductions also give instruction on study skills. Disk-based Courses Disk-based courses contain all the components of print-based courses but are also highly interactive, giving students immediate feedback for their answers on lesson exercises. Students can rework lesson exercises as many times as needed until they master them and score 100 percent. After completing computer-based exercises, students prepare written assignments from a workbook they receive with their course materials. CD-ROM Courses CD-ROM courses, formerly known as Web-based courses, also provide students with interactive tutorial support and immediate responses and reinforcement for each of their answer choices. In addition, they are menu driven, user friendly, and easy to navigate, and they address different learning styles with audio, visual, and animated presentations of content. For computer and Internet requirements, see page 4. page 02

5 Online Courses In addition to interactive exercises, the English 1 4 and ASKME (Acquire and Self- Regulate Knowledge in a Multimedia Environment) online courses provide electronic simulations, unlimited practice, virtual manipulatives, and concrete models. ASKME courses are textbook free and supplemented with online animated tutorials. Each course unit contains a cohesive community problem that provides real-world context and a graded assignment that students submit electronically. Noncredit Course We offer a noncredit course, Marketing Yourself, that provides computer-assisted instruction on employability skills; identifying and preparing for career opportunities; developing cover letters, resumes, and follow-up letters; and learning interview techniques. A useful supplement for any career field, this course helps students build self-esteem, set goals, and plan course schedules. Partial Work and Credit by Exam Because of their modular design, courses can be used to finish incompletes that are caused by early withdrawal when students migrate or to make up coursework students miss because of late reentry to their Texas schools. Migrant educators may use the publication Guidelines for Partial Work to determine which lessons each student needs to make up coursework they have missed. For most courses, each lesson is worth two weeks of classroom work. Students who have already mastered course content may enroll in credit by exams, which are available for all course titles. page 03

6 Computer and Internet Requirements We offer the courses in four formats to allow students to enroll in courses with or without computers or Internet connection. Print-based courses do not require computers or an Internet connection. Disk-based courses require computers but do not require Internet connection. CD-ROM courses require computers. Most components of CD-ROM courses reside on CD-ROM disks and can be completed without Internet connection. Internet connection is required to access Website links and submit assignments for grading. Online courses require computers and Internet connection for all portions of the courses. Laptop computers are available for checkout by students who enroll in disk-based, CD-ROM, or online courses. page 04

7 Assignment Grading Options We offer grading by the program s instructors for all of the courses and course options. Each instructor holds a Texas secondary teaching certificate in the subject that he or she teaches, giving students access to Texas-qualified teachers even when they are residing outside of Texas. This option benefits programs with limited staff time and is often used during the regular school year. We also offer onsite-grading of assignments for all of the print-based, disk-based, and online courses, and for most of the CD-ROM courses. We provide local educators with assignment answer keys to facilitate the grading process. The answer keys give answers to objective questions, guidelines for grading subjective questions, and scoring guides. For the ASKME online courses, we provide educators with online access to answer keys and rubrics as well as online tools for tracking each student s progress. The onsite-grading option benefits programs where student time for submitting assignments to our program is limited. This option results in quick turnaround of assignment grading and is often used at summer programs. The option of electronic grading of objective assignments is utilized in CD-ROM courses and provides students with instructor-developed feedback and reinforcement immediately upon the submission of each assignment. page 05

8 Course Titles Asterisks indicate that answer keys are available for the onsite-grading of lesson assignments. Subject Course Title page 06 Printbased Diskbased CD-ROM Economics Economics * * Elective English Individual and Family Life Communications Applications * * * Online English 1-4 * * Fine Arts Art 1 Health Mathematics Physical Education Science Social Studies Health Education * * Algebra 1 2 * * Geometry * * Precalculus Math Models with Application Foundations of Physical Fitness Biology * Chemistry * Integrated Physics and Chemistry U.S. Government * * U.S. History * * World Geography * * World History Spanish Spanish 1 3 Technology Applications Business Computer Info. Sys. * * *

9 Course Enrollment and Completion Process Step One: The migrant educator submits an enrollment application with a copy of the student s Certificate of Eligibility. Step Two: We ship course materials to the migrant educator indicated on the enrollment form. The materials for each course include a CD-ROM disk or print study guide, a course textbook, instructions for starting and completing the course, and materials for parents. We do not ship any course materials for ASKME online courses since they are textbook free and all course components are accessed online. English 1 4 online courses do require a textbook. Step Three: The migrant educator gives course materials and instructions to the student. Step Four: The student performs the work in each course lesson and submits an assignment for each lesson to be graded by one of the program s instructors or by a local migrant educator. Students may submit instructor-graded assignments electronically, by U.S. mail, or by fax. Students submit computer-graded assignments electronically. Step Five: The migrant educator monitors each student s progress with his or her course and provides support as needed. Step Six: We send a report to the migrant educator every six weeks to help monitor each student s progress. Step Seven: After students have completed all of the lesson assignments for a course, the migrant educator requests and proctors a final exam. Step Eight: After the program s instructor grades the exam, we issue a transcript with the student s final exam and final course grade. The final exam grade must be 70 or higher in order for the student to receive a passing grade for the course. For onsite-graded courses, the educator may develop and administer a local exam and award credit locally. page 07

10 For More Information To enroll students in courses or obtain more information about The University of Texas at Austin Migrant Student Graduation Enhancement Program, please contact: Peggy Wimberley, Coordinator Luz Hinojosa, Assistant Coordinator Migrant Student Graduation Enhancement Program The University of Texas at Austin P.O. Box 7700 Austin, Texas Toll Free: (800) Phone: (512) Fax: (512) page 08

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