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| By Howard Baldwin Photograph by Eric Millette |
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 Broward Virtual Education
Dr. MaryAnn Butler-Pearson has an ambitious dream. The Broward Education Communication Network (BECON) director of distance learning and administrator for Broward Virtual Education (BVEd) has a vision that encompasses two expansive networks: one of students and one of technology. The network of students would encompass anyone whose needs require long-distance education, whether an at-risk student who's been expelled or a tennis prodigy who's traveling for tournaments. The network of technology would integrate the panoply of devices BVEd currently uses, including microwave bandwidth (essentially, high-speed transmission of digital data via point-to-point antennae on the school's roofs), audio- and videoconferencing, wireless, and ISDN. To Butler-Pearson, it's like a big toy store with a magnificent but daunting selection. But while her vision aims high, what already exists under the umbrella of BVEd is impressive for an organization that was founded in 2001. Initially, an independent group of teachers created a set of online courses for students throughout Florida. Demand for that program grew exponentially and it was not able to serve as many students as desired, so the Broward program was created to serve those in the county who could benefit. BVEd has 115 full-time students; including part-time students, it will serve close to 4,000 this academic year. "They're all Broward County residents," says Butler-Pearson, but, for a variety of reasons, "they do not attend a bricks-and-mortar school." The reasons are as plentiful as the technology: One pupil is indeed a tennis player, another is an actor pursuing a career in California. Broward County's demographics are decidedly urban. In kindergarten through 12th grade, the county has 272,000 students, representing 159 countries and speaking 52 languages. There is no majority ethnic group. "In Broward County, the minority is the majority," says Nell Sapp, principal of BVEd. Some of the students BVEd serves are at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale, and Butler-Pearson treasures their successes the most. Besides working with teenage parents who have to leave school to care for children (the school district will loan PCs to those who need them), BVEd also works with those who have been expelled. "Expulsion is a double punishment," Butler-Pearson points out. "The students are taken away from their peers, which is a social punishment. But then we take away their education, which only leads to more involvement in crime. We can serve the kids who are expelled so that they're punished socially but can still keep up with their schoolwork." Lessons are conducted over the Internet with the possibility of group discussions using the district's audio bridge. BVEd sometimes uses videoconferencing over ISDN to school Distance Learning Labs; videoconferencing over IP to individuals is the current goal. Students and parents communicate regularly with teachers over the telephone, e-mail, and can page them for more immediate needs. BVEd is also using the systems to help experienced teachers mentor new teachers in the art of long-distance education. The results are impressive: On average, for the last three years, BVEd has graduated 25 kids who didn't go through ceremonies with their classes, but were still able to earn a diploma the year they were scheduled to. "They had the option of night school, or going back to high school as a fifth-year senior," says Butler-Pearson, "but I believe that a lot of those students would have just walked away." Students can also use BVEd to retake courses in order to raise their GPAs. Home-schooled students can use the online education system to get an official diploma. Through deployment of assistive technology, BVEd has also helped students with illnesses, disabilities, or phobias. The possibilities are seemingly limitless. Though it may not all happen in the immediate future, BVEd's staff wants to boost the videoconferencing capabilities of students' and teachers' computers, which means increasing bandwidth, which will mean increased educational capabilities, resulting in the ability to serve more students. That's the kind of opportunity every school district would like to have.
iQ Magazine, First Quarter 2005 |
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| About the Author Freelance writer Howard Baldwin never fails to be amazed by the creativity of small business owners when it comes to capitalizing on technology. He only wishes his fiction writing could be as creative. |
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