Update on the Virtual Homeschool Group Co-op:
The dual elements of live, online classroom where we can all meet for classes and the assynchronous course material at the VHSG Moodle site are shaping up make for a really neat combination. Here is a list of new classes being laid in place for our co-op at the Moodle site:
- E-Notebooking, Instructor-Led Class
- E-Notebooking Tool Tips - PrintMaster
- E-Notebooking Tool Tips - Open Office
- Paint Shop Pro 8 - An Artist's Playground!
- VHSG Algebra
- K to 3rd Math Meeting
- Phonics and Phonics Intervention
The first 4 are actually all geared toward making the e-notebooking a reality for families. The live, instructor-led course means mom will not have to figure it all out before her son or daughter gets busy making e-notebooks. The skills needed will be taught directly to the kids in a live, online classroom (Elluminate Web Conferencing Service).
The e-notebooking main course will have optional sessions that the kids can participate in - courses 2 through 4 in the list above. These sessions are optional because they are specific to software the that families may or may not be using. PrintMaster is a favorite with e-notebooking because it is powerful yet kid friendly. The optional sesions on PrintMaster tips will be valuable to these families. For families that don't have PrintMaster, specific tips for Open Office software will be offered in optional sessions as well. Open Office is a free, downloadble office suite that is quite comperable in power and tools to Microsoft Office. Open Office is not quite a kid friendly as PrintMaster, but the e-notebooks created from Open Office should be just as nice. Paint Shop Pro 8 (and the included Animation Shop) is a really fantastic yet inexpensive graphics program that many e-notebookers have invested in. Having the optional, support sessions in how to use it will add a wonderful graphical element to the kids' e-notebooks.
Classes 5 to 7 are in development because I am planning to teach them to my own children next fall, so I figured that I might as well make the courses public and invite a few friends to join in the fun. Like the courses above, these will have both a live classroom and Moodle component.
The start date for the summer beta classes has been set for June 19, 2006 and will run for 9 weeks ending on August 18th. The purpose of the summer beta classes is to find and work out problem areas before the official 2006/7 school year begins. There will not be enough time to actually cover a year's worth of content in 9-weeks of course time, but what is learned in those 9-weeks will be invaluable to help make the official year's courses flow smoothly.
I have 8 weeks to get set up for the beta classes. For those who are curious, you are welcome to stop in and watch it all unfold at the Virtual Homeschool Group Moodle site
. I will be announcing the Virtual Classroom Open House for the live, online classroom in a few weeks. I think everyone will fall in love with being able to meet together live for classes - we can talk/listen, text chat, and share presentations in there. It is really neat!
Tammy Moore
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