SPONSORING OFFICE:
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Abstract:
In Phase II, Seward Learning Systems, Inc. will complete the design and development of computer-based tutorials, delivered via web-linked CD-ROMs, to assist charter school founders and administrators in the process of planning, designing and implementing charter schools. The design of the tutorials is based on the results of the Phase I field test. In addition, Seward Learning Systems, Inc. will work with Charter Friends National Network to refine their commercialization agreement.

Our Phase I project demonstrated the feasibility of a computer-based tutorial to assist founders and administrators in implementing charter school business processes. In Phase II we will enhance the production values (i.e., audio, video and graphics) and complete the remaining section of the budgeting course. We use similar design and delivery strategies and techniques to produce tutorials on the following topics: financial resources, human resources, policy governance, recruiting students, facilities, transportation, and food services. Web links to established and recognized resources will be built into each course. Approximately 15 representatives of the target audience will be involved in field-testing each section of the training. The results of the field-tests will be used to adjust the content and/or presentation.

Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
Development and testing of computer-based tutorials covering eight essential business areas for charter school administrators. These courses will be designed based on the findings from our Phase I R&D and additional work completed early in Phase II. Each course will deliver interactive, multimedia instruction linked to topic-specific resources (if the appropriate Internet connections are in place) that will offer timely and state-specific information when possible.

Field test results will indicate that the target audience finds the software easy to use, an effective means of self-instruction, and a valuable resource they refer to as needed to review content and access information. Further, survey and interview data collected will establish that charter school founders and administrators are willing to pay a reasonable price to own these instructional materials.

[Virtual Reality]