There is an education revolution sweeping through the United States. Discerning parents are seeking the best education for their child. For many plugged-in students, the best education may come in online schools, not in a traditional classroom. According to the Sloan Consortium, more than 1 million U.S. elementary and secondary students now take all or part of their class load online, according to The Sloan Consortium. That’s a 2000% increase since 2000, when only 50,000 pioneering students ventured online for their education. Global Student Network has assisted schools and students in 50 states and 26 countries to offer online education to primary or secondary students, and some experts predict that by 2015, half of all classes will be online. School administrators who are curious about this exploding trend in education and want to develop this outstanding resource in their own school are always impressed with Global Student Network’s ability to assist them in offering online courses to their students. Typically, a school can move from thinking about having a Virtual Learning Academy to operating one in days, not weeks or months. GSN informs and assists administrators every day on leveraging the power of online learning so they can offer a robust educational program for their schools, students, and families.

To schedule and join Global Student Network in an online webinar in starting a Virtual Learning Academy and optimizing student education, go to: www.GlobalStudentNetwork.com and submit a contact form. The Director of Online Learning will contact you within 24 hours and set up a personalized webinar.

Virtual Learning Academies are One of the fastest growing uses of technology for education today. College enrollment of online courses has increased substantially in recent years, but even more interesting is the increase in elementary, middle and high school students who are attending virtual classrooms either full or part-time.

Global Student Network (GSN) is one of the leading provider’s of online curriculum for public, private and charter schools, as well as homeschool students in grades 2-12. Many schools using GSN’s online curriculum offer tuition-free and private supplemental learning, blended online/offline programs, and full-time online programs in the United States and internationally. GSN’s online curriculum allows students to learn at their own level, at their own pace, and within their own lifestyles.

Great as all this sounds, the trend towards online learning raises the question of just how effective online education is compared to traditional education. According to a recent study conducted by SRI International for the US Department of Education, online learners perform slightly better than students in traditional face-to-face classrooms. The study analyzed research that compared online and conventional learning at institutions of higher education and in K-12 settings between 1996 and 2008.

A key finding of the report is that students doing partial or all course work online rank, on average, in the 59th percentile, meaning better than 59% of all those who were scored; whereas students in traditional classrooms ranked in the 50th percentile. Though this significant difference doesn’t quite mean the end of institutional schools, it will help put an end to the myth that online learning is inferior to traditional learning. It will also help foster greater interest in developing technology geared specifically to education. Global Student Network has seen substantial growth of schools using it’s curriculum, developing their own Virtual Learning Academies.

Although Twitter may not penetrate the classroom just yet, social media help students maintain an active social life beyond the classroom. One of the biggest myths about online education is that students will become socially inept. Instead, learning online allows students to study at their own pace, usually opening up hours for sports, hobbies, volunteer work, and time with friends. GSN’s online curriculum also allows students to study what interests them. Not that learning online is easier. In fact, quite the opposite: students require tremendous discipline and excellent time management skills.

One would imagine that high school and college students are more likely to take advantage of online programs, but homeschooling has existed as long as education has, so it’s a viable option for those in younger grades as well. Some children have special needs and talents, others have disabilities or simply struggle in the class. Parents looking for an alternative to traditional schooling for their child now have options other than special classes, tutoring and expensive private schools. Online education offers students more one-on-one time with their instructors. And, as a bonus, most K-12 online programs are inexpensive or even tuition-free.

For more information about Global Student Network’s online curriculum for public, private, and charter schools, CLICK HERE

For more information about Global Student Network’s online curriculum for homeschoolers, CLICK HERE

There is an education revolution sweeping through the United States. Discerning parents are seeking the best education for their child. For many plugged-in students, the best education may come in online schools, not in a traditional classroom. According to the Sloan Consortium, more than 1 million U.S. elementary and secondary students now take all or part of their class load online, according to The Sloan Consortium. That’s a 2000% increase since 2000, when only 50,000 pioneering students ventured online for their education. Global Student Network has assisted schools and students in 50 states and 26 countries to offer online education to primary or secondary students, and some experts predict that by 2015, half of all classes will be online. School administrators who are curious about this exploding trend in education and want to develop this outstanding resource in their own school are always impressed with Global Student Network’s ability to assist them in offering online courses to their students. Typically, a school can move from thinking about having a Virtual Learning Academy to operating one in days, not weeks or months. GSN informs and assists administrators every day on leveraging the power of online learning so they can offer a robust educational program for their schools, students, and families.

To schedule and join Global Student Network in an online webinar in starting a Virtual Learning Academy and optimizing student education, go to: www.GlobalStudentNetwork.com and submit a contact form. The Director of Online Learning will contact you within 24 hours and set up a personalized webinar.

In our generation, innovation transforms the way we buy, sell, learn, and interact. Amazon.com revolutionized the retail industry.  iTunes modernized the music industry. E-Learning is transforming education in America.

Access to high quality educational content via the internet now overcomes the primary obstacle to student achievement. Global Student Network, for example, provides over 95 superbly developed and fully aligned courses via the internet. No books, no pens, no papers. Education delivered anywhere an internet connection exists.

Virtual education allows students to access courses beyond those offered at their brick-and-mortar school. Students aren’t limited by what is offered at their particular school. Nor are they limited to the traditional brick-and-mortar school hours or school schedules. Global Student Network provides curriculum to public and private schools throughout the world. Many of those schools operate year round, have open enrollment, and allow students to work at the pace that is perfect for them, whether that pace is accelerated or more eased.

Economically feasible, Global Student Network’s Learning Management System’s world-wide availability enables educators to provide a customized education for each student by tailoring lessons and teaching techniques to complement different learning styles. This child-centered approach allows students to learn at their own pace, whether it is faster or slower than their peers. Success could be measured by the mastery of skills rather than time in seats.

Global Student Network is ahead of the curve. Since it was founded as a leading provider of a public school district’s online curriculum, GSN’s online curriculum has been used in over 250 school districts nationwide, and by students in 50 states and 28 countries. Despite these tremendous accomplishments, the nation is nowhere close to reaching maximum potential in the area of virtual education.

As part of the $787 billion spending package authorized this spring, Education Secretary Arne Duncan gets $5 billion to spend on projects that will transform America’s education system. Called the ”Race to the Top Fund,” the money is meant to pay for innovations that improve student achievement and ultimately revolutionize our economy and workforce for the 21st century.

These federal dollars may provide the path for jump-starting dramatic change in the way education is delivered. As Clay Christensen and Michael Horn, authors of Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, recently suggested, let’s leverage these funds wisely by bolstering innovation in schools, increasing access to online learning environments and investing in bandwidth as school infrastructure.

The success of this bold reform will require the support of many different stakeholders with diverse and often competing interests that have a vested interest in the status quo, including content providers, textbook publishers and teachers’ unions.

For technology to truly take hold in public school classrooms across the country, state and local leaders must address issues today that could prevent this revolution of our educational system in the future. School funding formulas must be modernized from seat-time to outcome-based models. Antiquated rules, such as certain certification requirements that effectively bar high-quality teachers from educating in virtual classrooms, must be revised. Most important, all students — public, charter, private and home school — must be able to access quality virtual content.

Technology shouldn’t be merely a resource used periodically in classrooms, but the primary mechanism of transforming our education system into a 21st century model of student-centered learning. From access to customization to superior content, technology may be the key to helping us keep the promise of a quality education for every American student, but transformation must commence now.

For more information on how your school can begin this transformation to the E-Learning promise of tomorrow, go to: www.GlobalStudentNetwork.com/school

Students wanting to accelerate their high school education, or make up credits they are lacking can now do so without sacrificing their summer vacation thanks to online summer school. International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA), an accredited private school, offers 95+ for grades 3-12. Courses can be taken from virtually anywhere there’s an Internet connection.

“IVLA serves students throughout the world. Students can enroll part time and take a few classes, or full time, and complete their entire high school education on-line,” said Don Posson, IVLA’s superintendent. “Many students are enrolling in online summer school to take courses not offered by their brick-and-mortar schools, or to replace a low or failed grade.” With virtual summer school students can earn credits without derailing their summer plans. IVLA offers a high-quality, convenient option to students in need.”

Certified teachers give students one-on-one attention, communicate with them the school’s online learning environment, and use video, audio and animation to provide an engaging learning environment.

More and more K-12 students are turning to online courses as a flexible way to take rigorous course work at a time and location that works best for them. The number of elementary and secondary students taking online courses increased tenfold between 2001 and 2007, from about 200,000 to almost two million, according to the Sloan Consortium, which researches online education.

International Virtual Learning Academy uses the world renown Global Student Network Online Curriculum, and is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.

For more information or to enroll, visit www.internationalvla.com

About International Virtual Learning Academy

International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA) is a leading provider of online 3-12 education, offers flexible, individualized and high-quality curriculum and instruction to promote student success. IVLA is a private accredited school that provides highly individualized education for elementary, middle, and high school students. IVLA’s student body is diverse, serving accelerated learners wanting to graduate early, adults seeking high school diplomas, homeschooled students, and at-risk teenagers who require an alternative to traditional high school. IVLA is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. For more information, visit www.internationalvla.com

Technology is transforming the learning experience. Parents can now guide their child’s public education from the comforts of a virtual classroom in their own home.

About 30,000 students are part of the Global Student Network community of online learners through over 250 school district Virtual Learning Academies nationwide.

School district’s collaborate with Global Student Network using their excellent online curriculum. Global Student Network provides the curriculum, and the learning management system, schools and districts use their own teachers and administrators to better serve their students who need more then then traditional brick-and-mortar classroom can provide.

Global Student Network’s online curriculum is considered one of the best in the nation, and has many cost-saving advantages to school districts and to the students they serve. All learning material is delivered online, which eliminates the need for additional textbooks, and all courses are deeply rooted in the national academic content standards. Another advantage is that Global Student Network can collaborate with a school or district to have their Virtual Learning Academy operating in a matter of days or weeks, not months or years.

School administrators and teachers recognize that Global Student Network’s curriculum, when implemented at the school level, provides an option for families who need a more flexible schedule, children who have special learning needs or have trouble settling into a traditional school setting.

WASHINGTON, May 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) announces the release of a new report, Management and Operations of Online Programs: Ensuring Quality and Accountability, the fourth report in the iNACOL Promising Practices in Online Learning series.

Online learning is a solution for expanding educational opportunities for students, within and outside school walls. There are a number of new areas of management for ensuring high-quality, successful online programs: from reviewing online courses, training and managing online teachers, supporting students in different modalities, to evaluating online programs. This report covers new topics emerging in K-12 education management and leadership around the innovation of online learning.

Susan Patrick, President of iNACOL, states, “Online learning is expanding solutions for students across K-12 schools. From keeping students in school and on-track through online credit recovery to accelerating a student’s college readiness by earning college credits in the local high school through online dual enrollment, schools are finding new, innovative ways to help students re-engage in academics and learn critical technology literacy skills at the same time. School leaders need to understand program models for management and how to operate these online solutions. This guide provides the best practices and successes in operating online learning programs from the experts across K-12 education.”

According to author John Watson, of Evergreen Consulting Associates, “Online learning promises cost-effective solutions to the challenges education leaders face in many areas, particularly in difficult economic times. States and districts are increasingly turning to online programs to expand educational opportunity, equity, and access while individualizing learning options for students. This growth in online learning requires that school managers be able to effectively operate and assess their programs.”

iNACOL’s Promising Practices in Online Learning Series is supported by K12 Inc., Apex Learning, Connections Academy, Global Student Network, and Florida Virtual School.

About iNACOL

iNACOL is the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, a non-profit association that believes online learning is a powerful innovation that expands education opportunities (www.inacol.org). iNACOL supports access to high-quality online learning for all students. iNACOL hosts the annual Virtual School Symposium (VSS); VSS 2009 will be held Nov. 15 - 17, 2009 in Austin, TX (www.virtualschoolsymposium.org).

Website: http://www.inacol.org

Website: http://www.virtualschoolsymposium.org

Website: http://www.globalstudentnetwork.com

ll he has to do to get to class is log on to the Internet.

“That’s the beauty of virtual school,” said Jason, who lives in Las Vegas. “I get to decide when and where I want to do my school work.”

More than 30,000 U.S. elementary, junior high and high school students, like Marvin, attend school online in Virtual Learning Academies that use Global Student Network’s online curriculum. Some students earn credit toward a diploma using distance learning programs monitored by school districts. Others study at virtual schools complete with principals and teachers like the International Virtual Learning Academy.

“I’m just like any regular student,” Jason said. “My teacher just talks to me on the Internet.”

Online schooling — not to be confused with home schooling, insist teachers and administrators — is fairly new for K-12 students, but about 30 percent more parents are choosing it over traditional brick and mortar schools every year. By 2019, researchers at the International Association for K-12 Online Learning estimate public schools nationwide will deliver about 50 percent of their courses over the Internet.

Virtual Learning Academies using Global Student Network’s online curriculum serve athletes, concert pianists and aspiring actors and actresses, among others. Gifted students and children with learning disabilities also gravitate toward virtual learning because the curriculum is completed as it is mastered, not on a schedule.

Many students have difficulty sitting through class at a brick and mortar school because of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. “The teacher wasn’t being very nice to me,” one such student said. “If I did anything she would get really mad at me and make me stay in for recess.”

Because he was always in trouble, the second grade student started to think of himself as a bad boy. His grades were low. His teachers suggested he start taking resource classes.

Now that the student goes to school on the Internet, however, he’s speeding through his reading and math lessons.

“In a traditional classroom you don’t get to do a lot of hands on stuff,” said the student’s mother, . “The online lessons have lots of different graphics and little games the kids can play. He feels like he’s playing video games on the computer but they’re calling it school.”

For that student, virtual school was a perfect fit. But even proponents of online learning admit the teaching method doesn’t work for everyone.

Some students need the structure of a traditional classroom. Some children need to eat lunch with their friends and work on projects in groups.

“I don’t see online learning as some kind of miracle cure for everything wrong with public education,” Don Posson, Superintendent of International Virtual Learning Academy said. “Online is just another option. It will be great for some people and poor for other people.” “Quite simply, the Internet is the future of schooling,” said Posson said.

Instead of building a school house, the International Virtual Learning Academy supplies with online curriculum The school’s teachers and administrators live throughout the world and keep in touch with students using Global Student Network’s online learning management system, Skype, and go-to-meeting technology.

“The speed information is being given out worldwide accelerates everyday,” Posson said. “In order to stay competitive with and work with entities around the world, our students need a technology-rich education.”

Academically, online school is comparable to traditional private schools. It’s just the method of delivery that’s different.

Lawrence Township students will go online instead of on campus this summer to make up lost course credits.

District officials have canceled summer school to help compensate for a $4.2 million budget shortage. The move means roughly 1,700 students will need to make up class credits through Internet courses, and 83 teachers will have more beach time this year.

Global Student Network, a provider of online curriculum that makes online summer schools possible, has seen this trend growing over the past several years. Don Posson, VP, of Operations and Technology for Global Student Network says that serving students for both summer school saves money by reducing heating and air conditioning expenses, plant maintenance, administrative staff, and other plant related expenses. More importantly however, it allows both student and teacher to participate in other normal summer activities without being tied to the brick-and-mortar school environment. Global Student Network works with schools and students in 50 states and 26 countries.