Description :
Global Online Academy (GOA) is an international consortium of schools that offers a diverse range of online courses for high school students. Established to provide a high-quality online learning experience, GOA connects students from various member schools around the world, enabling them to take courses that might not be available at their home institutions
Technology : Salesforce, Canvas (LMS), Formstack, PHP.
Case Study
Background : Global Online Academy (GOA) is an international consortium of over 120 independent schools in more than 25 countries, offering high-quality online courses to high school students. GOA was founded in 2011 with the mission to reimagine learning to empower students and educators to thrive in a globally connected society.
Objectives :
- Expand Course Offerings : Provide a wide range of specialized and elective courses not typically available in traditional school settings.
- Foster Global Connections : Create a global learning community where students can interact and collaborate across geographical boundaries.
- Enhance Digital Literacy : Equip students and educators with the skills needed to succeed in a digital world.
- Personalized Learning : Offer flexible learning experiences tailored to individual student needs and interests.
- Quality and Rigor : Maintain high academic standards and rigorous coursework equivalent to those in traditional classrooms.
Technology Implementation :
- Learning Management System (LMS) – Canvas
– Implementation : GOA selected Canvas as its primary LMS due to its robust features and user-friendly interface. Canvas supports course content delivery, assignment submissions, grading, and student communication.
– Features Utilized : Discussion forums, multimedia content integration, real-time feedback, and grading tools. Teachers can create modules, quizzes, and interactive lessons that enhance the learning experience.
– Outcome : Canvas facilitated a structured and organized online learning environment, making it easier for students to navigate their courses and for teachers to manage their classes. - Video Conferencing – Zoom
– Implementation : Zoom was adopted for synchronous sessions, allowing live interaction between students and teachers.
– Features Utilized : Breakout rooms for small group discussions, screen sharing for presentations, recording sessions for later review, and interactive polls.
– Outcome : Zoom enabled real-time collaboration and communication, mimicking the traditional classroom experience and enhancing student engagement. - Interactive Content Creation – Edpuzzle and Pear Deck
– Implementation : Edpuzzle and Pear Deck were integrated to create interactive and engaging content.
– Edpuzzle Features : Embedding questions into videos, allowing teachers to track student responses and engagement.
– Pear Deck Features : Interactive slides with quizzes, polls, and questions to make presentations more engaging.
– Outcome : These tools increased student participation and provided immediate feedback, making learning more interactive and effective. - Data Analytics and Insights – Power BI
– Implementation : Power BI was used for advanced data analytics to track student performance and course engagement.
– Features Utilized : Visualization of student data, tracking progress, and identifying areas for improvement.
– Outcome : Data-driven insights allowed GOA to continuously improve course quality and tailor support to student needs. - Cloud Storage and Collaboration – Google Drive and OneDrive
– Implementation : Cloud storage solutions were used for storing and sharing course materials and collaborative documents.
– Features Utilized : Easy access and sharing, real-time collaboration on documents, integration with other tools.
– Outcome : Facilitated seamless collaboration and ensured that students and teachers could access materials from anywhere.
Results :
- Expanded Course Offerings :
– GOA offered a diverse range of courses, including unique subjects like neuropsychology, global health, and game design, providing students with opportunities to explore their interests. - Global Learning Community :
– Students from different countries interacted and collaborated, broadening their perspectives and understanding of different cultures. - Enhanced Digital Literacy :
– Both students and educators developed strong digital skills, preparing them for future academic and professional environments. - Personalized Learning Experiences :
– Flexible scheduling and a variety of course options allowed students to tailor their education to their personal interests and needs. - High Academic Standards :
– GOA maintained rigorous academic standards, ensuring that the quality of education matched or exceeded that of traditional classrooms.
Conclusion :
Global Online Academy successfully leveraged technology to create a dynamic and flexible online learning environment. By implementing a robust LMS, video conferencing tools, interactive content creation platforms, and advanced analytics, GOA enhanced the educational experience for students around the world. This case study demonstrates how technology can be effectively utilized to provide high-quality, accessible, and personalized education on a global scale.