Online instruction now allows schools of all sizes faced with budget pressures to do more with less.

Now is the time schools throughout the U.S. are learning how easy it can be to build a new school campus - in cyberspace. Global Student Network, a leading provider of online curriculum, goes beyond just providing curriculum, and assists schools in quickly and easily establishing the framework, policies, procedures, and teacher technical skills for establishing and operating their own Virtual Learning Academy.

No budgetary alchemy will allow schools to educate their students in the same way as presently done, but with less money. Budget cuts caused by state economic crisis are real and huge, leaving two choices. Educators can do less with less, or we can explore new ways of providing value to their communities by doing more — albeit differently — with less.

“One of the areas in which online learning can be extremely cost-effective is in filling in courses where the opportunity would otherwise not exist for a student,” said Don Posson, VP, Operations and Technology of Global Student Network, a leading provider of online courses.

Instead of hiring a full-time teacher for just a handful of students, which is unlikely in today’s budget climate, it’s more financially feasible, Mr. Posson said, for districts to contract out those courses to online providers. Such companies, he said, can provide that service at a lower cost because they are serving larger populations.

Social networking technologies are now integrated into learning management systems to support student interactions with instructors and each other. Faculty now have the capacity to develop powerful academic controls to guarantee high caliber instruction and learning.

Virtual Learning Academies have popped up across the country in the past few years because of improved technology and changing education laws. Global Student Network’s online curriculum is currently being used in over 250 school districts in the U.S. and by students in 50 states and 28 countries.

The most recent research indicates that online learning is as effective as face-to-face instruction.

Virtual Learning Academies established in public schools receive state funding for each student enrolled. With GSN’s flexible and value laden licensing agreement, educating students through online academies provides a major financial benefit to many schools. As Virtual Learning Academies take off, enrollment of online students continues to grow throughout the country. GSN executives project growth will continue through the next decade, as education innovators continue to recognize the benefits to schools, families, and especially to students of this alternative education deliver method.

Early benefits of Virtual Learning Academies throughout the nation using Global Student Network’s online curriculum include:

• Drop-Out Prevention
• Alternative to Expulsion
• Additional Curricula for Small and Rural School Students
• Increase funding streams from:
• Re-enroll Home School Students - increase school funding
• Self paced, which is an advantage for special needs students.
• Summer School Options
• Designed to teach required subjects for graduation
• Flexible approaches to learning, teaching, and assessment
• Tailored to fit all learning styles, interests, and needs of students and families
• Lessons enhanced by graphics, stereo sound, and multimedia pictures
• Virtual courses allow students to study at a time and location that suits them.
• Virtual Learning Academies have shown improvement in student motivation and engagement, development of higher learning styles, and increased independent learning skills.
• Responsibility for learning placed with the student – essential ingredient for lifelong learning.
• Integrated feedback tools provide increased learning opportunities, build learning skills, and enhance student’s ability to think critically.
• Virtual Learning Academy’s provide opportunity for students who may have fallen behind.
• Individualized element of Virtual Learning ensures students do not fall through the cracks amidst a crowd of students.
• Instead of textbooks, students learn from the best libraries, museums, and information archives in the world.
• Students have more control over how and when they work
• Students find the work “easier and quicker to do,” despite the fact it is the same work they previously did with pen and paper.
• Students like the fact that they cannot forget to bring their work in, or lose it.
• User-friendly, comprehensive, and equitable access to high-quality Virtual Curriculum for students who need it most
• Virtual Learning Academy’s benefit students who cannot spend their days on campus when most classes are offered

For more information about starting an economical sound and academically rigorous virtual learning academy, go to: www.globalstudentnetwork.com