| Iowa Learning Online (ILO) is an Iowa Department of Education initiative designed to help local schools expand student learning opportunities.
ILO follows four principles:
- Iowa Learning Online supports local school districts. It is not a school and will not replace local schools in Iowa.
- Iowa Learning Online collaborates with Iowa’s high schools, higher education institutions (community colleges, regent universities and independent colleges/universities) and Area Education Agencies to provide quality learning opportunities for students anywhere in the state.
- Iowa Learning Online serves a variety of educational needs and a broad range of learners. It is open to meeting the needs of all students, not only those with advanced learning needs.
- Iowa Learning Online offers opportunities through the use of telecommunications such as the Internet and ICN video classrooms. It will continue to explore new methods of providing high quality instructional delivery.
On the ILO Web site, you can find information on High School Credit Classes and College Credit Classes that are being offered to Iowa high school students during upcoming semesters. Students enroll in classes through the guidance counselor or administrator at their local school. Schools enrolling students in ILO classes are asked to designate a student coach who provides on-site support and encouragement to each student or group of students. Actively involved student coaches are essential to students’ successful completion of ILO courses. Student grades and credits are awarded by the student’s home school based on the recommendation of the ILO instructor.
ILO is a new initiative. The first pilot classes were held during the summer semester 2004. Since that time, ILO has experienced three phases of development.
During Phase 1 of ILO’s development, grant funding provided financial resources to develop and teach distance learning classes. Anatomy & Physiology, Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics continue to be offered in a blended instructional environment utilizing online and ICN video classroom components. The science classes also include some face-to-face instruction through regional laboratories. In Phase 2, ILO partnered with Iowa schools and teachers to offer additional online classes in American Government & Politics, American History, English 9, English 10, and World History.
The Iowa Department of Education is funding course costs (such as teacher salary, ICN video, WebCT, purchase of online courses or software, etc.) for Phase 1 and Phase 2 classes. These courses are labeled “Free!” on the list of High School Credit Classes.
ILO Phase 3 development is promoting collaboration between ILO and Iowa high schools or higher education institutions that want to share classes with a statewide audience. Fees associated with these classes are listed in the course description or available on the offering higher education institution’s Web site. ILO supports these classes in various ways. For classes offered by Iowa high schools, ILO posts the course descriptions on the ILO Web site, pays ICN video fees, pays WebCT fees, and provides online student registration. For classes offered by Iowa higher education institutions, ILO provides a link to the course description and pays ICN video fees of qualifying classes.
For additional information about ILO, read the Frequently Asked Questions. |
