Submitted by Frank Heller, MPA
on 10/13/04 7:32 AM
I'm rather proud that I played a strong role in having rural Mascoma Valley become New Hampshire's first Virtual High School.
The poster is absolutely correct; once the students realize the power of a global classroom, they actively engage it.
But there is one big surprise I wasn't prepared for!
I trained many teachers on using a Global Classroom; and they in turn, became active users as well, completing degrees and short courses. We found the expensive 'consultants' whose brochures fill the mail box exery day could become available for a shorter period of time and at much less cost.
The biggest reward was that Mascoma became New England's only BETA site for a vaulted Texas reading program because the teachers could be training in the Global Classroom as needed at considerably reduced cost.
I tried to get McDonalds to interview our students for local summer jobs using D.L. interviewing techniques, but didn't quite pull it off; however the potential for placing rural students in colleges and corporate-run local businesses is there.
