note: this is a contradiction of what I said in February 2011. At that time, I had been assured that Insight Corporation although had been sold/bought, and the CEO had left, no major changes would occur. I'm questioning the validity of that statement.
I am disturbed by a trend in virtual schooling. When I began this journey a decade ago, there were many players in the field. Keystone, Aventa, Apex, K12, FLVS, were the heavy hitters, but there were half a dozen other companies that were providing educational materials and courseware for schools. Each of these companies sold their product (the course material, online access) to a school (iQ, Insight, WIVA, Connections, etc) where the student could access the material. Many of these course providers also allowed parents to purchase individual courses. It was through this flexibility that my son took Auto Mechanics, and Aviation (I & II) through Grantsburg Virtual School. Today, that would not be possible. K12 has bought out what seems to be everyone. And, just like I don't like the fact that Wisconsin public schools are a monopoly, I don't like the fact that Virtual Schools are soon to be in exactly the same boat.
Insight Schools (corporation) is the most recent acquisition by K12. The CEO and founder of Insight, Keith Oelrich, is no longer associated with Insight. Virtual schooling has lost another leader, another innovator.
K12 is a wonderful curriculum. When it comes to teaching K-8, I don't believe there is a better choice available in this country. The K12 method is concept based. Children are taught ideas and then the details are applied. It's often referred to as a mastery approach, but that's merely the grading method. The teaching method is concept focus. It is unarguably fabulous. It was developed under the leadership of Bror Saxberg. Bror left K12 in 2009. I assume (although have not confirmed) that there were philosophical differences that caused Bror to leave. It was shortly after his departure that K12 turned from being a fabulous curriculum provider to being a pariah of independent virtual schools.
Insight schools of Wisconsin this week sent out a letter from Karl Peterson. In this letter, Karl mentions the new course catalog. While I had been assured in February that there would be no changes to the individual offerings at a local school, apparently, that is not the case. Insight will be offering the K12 high school courses. This isn't a bad thing. I like the K12 product. But, K12 doesn't offer British Literature. K12 doesn't offer Mythology. K12 doesn't offer C++. These are courses that have been dropped from the Insight catalog.
I am deeply concerned over this news. I do not believe that a monopoly is beneficial to the students of virtual schools. I do not know what is ahead for us, but to me, it appears there are storm clouds on the horizon.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Switching schools
Because of some serious issues with WIVA, I have decided to move my daughters to Insight Schools of WI. (oldest daughter graduated from Insight WI this June.) I must say, it is a learning experience to switch virtual schools.
Sending back equipment has been challenging. I have computer equipment from two different schools for three different students. I have books and other materials for the same. I've gotten 14 emails requesting supplies be returned. Most (but not all) of the emails have a student name. One email had both the materials to be returned listed and a shipping label. Some have just shipping labels with a student name as sender, in 8 point font. Two were links to generate shipping labels, for "computer equipment". (I have three laptops and two printers to return as well as a large assortment of microphones, cameras, books, microscopes, etc.) In total, I have 4 shipping labels for computer equipment. Not a single email/label gives me a serial number of the equipment that is being requested. I know, I'm a bad mom. I'm supposed to remember which HP laptop was from which school. And I'm supposed to remember which Lexmark printer was for which child from which school. My favorite email was from "Gene Ortman", a name totally unfamiliar to me. He asks, "How many labels do I need?" No reference to school and/or child and/or type of materials to be sent.
This quandary is of particular interest to me because I've been receiving detailed emails from Vicki Wood for the last six years. Vicki Wood is the name on the emails from K12 computer reclamations. I don't believe she is a real person, but I might be wrong. In these emails, I am asked to return a computer from K12 for my son Joseph. These emails include shipping labels and material specifications (CPU, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse). They specify Joseph's name. They even list the type of CPU - a Dell 386. Yep. A 386. (for non-geeks, a 386 was a computer in use in the early 1990's. It was only barely capable of running Windows 95. It had a floppy drive and less memory than an average smart phone.) This equipment was returned many many years ago. Apparently it was lost in a warehouse somewhere. Probably being used as a door stop, because it isn't good for anything else.
My suggestion to parents of virtual students: Attach labels to all computer equipment. These can be purchased from the local office supply store. Label cables and power cords, too. Keep the box and packing materials for each - or plan ahead on this one. It's hard to find Styrofoam padding that will adequately protect a laptop sent by FedEx. If you are returning equipment to Insight, they will not send labels (or they haven't to me) But, they will send the FedEx guy to your house and he can attach the label when he gets there. K12 also wants their computers sent via FedEx. They provide labels but not the home pick up. Therefore, you will need to take the computer to the closest FedEx pick up site. For me, this is 35 miles away.
My suggestion to schools: We are families, not corporations. We live in houses and not offices. Please send serial numbers of any and all equipment that you want returned. Many of us have a half dozen HP laptops lying around the house. If you want a specific serial number back, ask. Please affix school labels to all equipment before you send it to us. Don't expect us to read your mind. We have multiple children. Please include the students name in all correspondence. Please include the name of the school in all correspondence. Please include a real live contact name and phone number or email address.
One more thing, I got a lovely email today from Insight. It did have a real person's name. The subject line was "Welcome to the K12 Online School." (more on this confusing name change later) In the email it said, "Please disregard this system-generated email at this time" (underlining in original) And they wonder why sometimes we parents are clueless.
Sending back equipment has been challenging. I have computer equipment from two different schools for three different students. I have books and other materials for the same. I've gotten 14 emails requesting supplies be returned. Most (but not all) of the emails have a student name. One email had both the materials to be returned listed and a shipping label. Some have just shipping labels with a student name as sender, in 8 point font. Two were links to generate shipping labels, for "computer equipment". (I have three laptops and two printers to return as well as a large assortment of microphones, cameras, books, microscopes, etc.) In total, I have 4 shipping labels for computer equipment. Not a single email/label gives me a serial number of the equipment that is being requested. I know, I'm a bad mom. I'm supposed to remember which HP laptop was from which school. And I'm supposed to remember which Lexmark printer was for which child from which school. My favorite email was from "Gene Ortman", a name totally unfamiliar to me. He asks, "How many labels do I need?" No reference to school and/or child and/or type of materials to be sent.
This quandary is of particular interest to me because I've been receiving detailed emails from Vicki Wood for the last six years. Vicki Wood is the name on the emails from K12 computer reclamations. I don't believe she is a real person, but I might be wrong. In these emails, I am asked to return a computer from K12 for my son Joseph. These emails include shipping labels and material specifications (CPU, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse). They specify Joseph's name. They even list the type of CPU - a Dell 386. Yep. A 386. (for non-geeks, a 386 was a computer in use in the early 1990's. It was only barely capable of running Windows 95. It had a floppy drive and less memory than an average smart phone.) This equipment was returned many many years ago. Apparently it was lost in a warehouse somewhere. Probably being used as a door stop, because it isn't good for anything else.
My suggestion to parents of virtual students: Attach labels to all computer equipment. These can be purchased from the local office supply store. Label cables and power cords, too. Keep the box and packing materials for each - or plan ahead on this one. It's hard to find Styrofoam padding that will adequately protect a laptop sent by FedEx. If you are returning equipment to Insight, they will not send labels (or they haven't to me) But, they will send the FedEx guy to your house and he can attach the label when he gets there. K12 also wants their computers sent via FedEx. They provide labels but not the home pick up. Therefore, you will need to take the computer to the closest FedEx pick up site. For me, this is 35 miles away.
My suggestion to schools: We are families, not corporations. We live in houses and not offices. Please send serial numbers of any and all equipment that you want returned. Many of us have a half dozen HP laptops lying around the house. If you want a specific serial number back, ask. Please affix school labels to all equipment before you send it to us. Don't expect us to read your mind. We have multiple children. Please include the students name in all correspondence. Please include the name of the school in all correspondence. Please include a real live contact name and phone number or email address.
One more thing, I got a lovely email today from Insight. It did have a real person's name. The subject line was "Welcome to the K12 Online School." (more on this confusing name change later) In the email it said, "Please disregard this system-generated email at this time" (underlining in original) And they wonder why sometimes we parents are clueless.
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