Blogpost #13

ALEX-Alabama Learning Exchange

We were asked to review this website. ALEX has many different websites available to teachers,students, and administrators in the state of Alabama. It has links to the description of the course of study expected of students grade k-12. It has links to lesson plans in all subject areas. It also has the option to upload your own lesson plans to share. It has links for quality internet content for the K-12 Classroom. It also has a section on how to write grants, so that teachers can get money for their classrooms. It has a link to the Alabama Department of Education Program Websites for teachers to find professional development opportunities, teaching and learning tools, and the latest news. It has a link called Podcast Treasury. It has useful podcasts in a variety of subjects. It has one more link called ALEXville, and this link brings you to MORE useful information. If you click on the globe it brings you to the ALEX blog. If you click on the individual houses it brings you to more websites.
ALEX is full of information for teachers. I will definitely add this to my PLN.

We also had to review the ACCESS Distance Learning website. 


Let me just say WOW! Never new this existed and what a great opportunity for students to earn extra course work or take classes not offered at their particular high school.The students are able to take classes via the web.

This is what I cut and pasted from the website.

WHAT ARE THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE ACCESS DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN?
The ACCESS DL plan provides Alabama students with access to quality instruction and coursework by blending:
• Rigorous Web-based and Interactive Videoconferencing (IVC) courses taught by Alabama certified and highly qualified teachers
• A technical infrastructure to deliver approved Web-based courses and connect IVC labs via a statewide network
• Three regional support centers to hire, train, evaluate, and support e-teachers
• Statewide coordination, scheduling, and support for distance learning
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF ACCESS?
The goal of ACCESS is to continue to meet objectives of the ACCESS plan, expanding the availability of ACCESS Distance Learning to all public high schools in the state.
- Provide access to advanced diploma courses.
- Provide access to additional course offerings.
- Provide access to Advanced Placement and dual enrollment/dual credit courses.
- Provide access to remediation and supplemental resources.
- Leverage existing resources and distance learning offerings.
- Provide teachers with additional multimedia and tools to enhance instruction.
- Provide access to courses and resources through the Alabama Supercomputer Authority statewide network infrastructure assuring quality of service delivery.
- Utilize outside evaluation to assess weaknesses and strengths of the program in order to make appropriate adjustments to the implementation of the objectives of ACCESS.