Phil's+Virtual+School

Intro to Virtual School

 * The plaintiff in the case is a student from a virtual school. She is unhappy with her experience there and wants to change to a traditional school
 * The defendant is a representative from the virtual school. She is here to defend how the virtual school operates and challenges that the student needs to change schools

Leading Questions to Jen

 * State your name and age.
 * Jennifer Hoffman 17
 * What classes are taking virtually?
 * I am working toward getting my 10th grade credit. I failed out of traditional school.
 * Are you failing any classes?
 * I don't know. I really just email my mentor sometimes. I don't really understand how my credits work or what I am supposed to do. They just handed me a computer and I try my best to figure it out.
 * Give your side of the story.

Interjecting Questions for Jen

 * Is there course outline or expectations given to you?
 * I am asked in my school to do projects. I am sent the projects and an outline of the courses I'm supposed to be doing.
 * How often do you communicate with your mentor?
 * I am supposed to email her everyday! Everyday! I have a life you know. Kids who go to public school don't have to go to school everyday. Even in the summer, what kind of crap is that! It really gets to me, so sometimes I just don't log on.
 * Why don't you know when you will graduate?
 * I guess it really depends on my motivation. I just don't really know how many "projects" equal credit.
 * Does your school do anything to get the students together for social activities?
 * Actually, they just started to plan a school dance. I like dances, but I don't know if I would go to one where I don't really know anyone at the school. I have only met them online. How would I know who they are when I got there?
 * What kinds of things are you involved in outside of school?
 * I do attend a gym and I'm not a gymnastics team.
 * Do you have friends in those activities? >Jen: Talk about how it's not as much about friends as it is about everyday interactivity with other people.

Leading Questions to Dawn

 * State your name and position at the virtual school. Dawn Adanti and I'm a mentor at WCHS
 * How well do you know this student? I have been Jennifer's mentor since November. I have looked at her online resume and know some of her likes and dislikes. I know she is a good student, but need a little bit of encouragement at times. There have been times when I don' hear from her for a few days, but then when I do hear from her, she sends in a lot of projects.
 * How long have you been with this school. I have been a mentor since November. I love teaching at Cyber high school. I think that if the student is motivated enough they can accomplish anything. The entire program is project based, so they can earned credits any way they want to, through anything they are interested in.
 * Give me a summary of your side. (Video here)

Interjecting Questions for Dawn

 * What other activities do you have planned?
 * How long does it take to plan these activities? There are many different project ideas and examples that are on the learning activities web-page, so the time taken to plan is not long, it is set at the student/researchers' own pace.
 * How long does it take for the mentors to respond to the students? Mentors are to log on at least once a day, but as a mentor I log on at least twice a day.
 * Is there a policy within your school how long the instructor has to respond? Mentors are required to log on and e-mail each of their researchers'students
 * Do you find students are more comfortable or less comfortable communicating online? I think that it is an even amount. Just like in a traditional school setting, you have students that like and dislike certain things more than others. It is also hit or miss. Some times, I will get an influx of e-mails, questions, ideas from a student one week, then nothing the next.
 * FOLLOW UP QUESTION to Jen: What do you feel about this?
 * If a student is not motivated, what do you do to help get hem motivated?
 * This student is not motivated, what is your response to this? The only thing you can do it try, and try. Ask questions as much as possible, find humor in things, find out what interested them and send ideas. As a mentor, you can only do so much. Students still need to find that intrinsic motivation!
 * You talk about all of the types of students a virtual school is good for, does this student fall into these categories? I think with a little more confidence explanation, motivation and guidance, that Jennifer is a good candidate.