Mesa Distance Learning Program
Encyclopedia
Mesa Distance Learning Program is a distance learning program for grades 7-12 sponsored by Mesa Public Schools in Mesa, Arizona
, USA that offers students worldwide a US based education leading to a high school diploma. Tuition is free for students studying in Arizona, and who have passed the Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards
exam to obtain that benefit. Those enrolling from outside Arizona must pay USD 200 per course. The Mesa Distance Learning Program is also used by other Arizona school districts.
The program initially catered for those students in Arizona who could not attend a local high school. However, following its success, the program is now being used widely in territories outside Arizona, including the UK, India, and Australia.
or at the MDLP office. If the student fails the final exam, they fail the course.
Each course lasts 18 weeks but students are encouraged to complete the course as soon as possible. The course is designed to be completed by studying for one hour per school week for each course. Students can take as many courses as they like. However, in order to complete the course within the usual time frame, high school students must be enrolled in at least four courses, and junior high students (grades 7-8) must be enrolled in six courses.
software.
Minimum requirements for operating the system on a personal computer include:
Towards the later years, the program has made many changes, including more teacher involvement, and the courseware, student management, grade book, and dialog (message box) are now done in-house by Mesa and do not depend on third party involvement. Data access is now given to the teacher, parent, administrator, counselor and lab teacher, and the teacher feedback feature was added in 2007. Mesa moved from commercial software to in-house use in order to retain control of the software design and to ensure the curriculum is aligned with Arizona standards.
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
, USA that offers students worldwide a US based education leading to a high school diploma. Tuition is free for students studying in Arizona, and who have passed the Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards
Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards
Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards is a standardized test administered by the state of Arizona. AIMS is a standards based assessment aligned to the Arizona Academic Content Standards.-Test contents:...
exam to obtain that benefit. Those enrolling from outside Arizona must pay USD 200 per course. The Mesa Distance Learning Program is also used by other Arizona school districts.
The program initially catered for those students in Arizona who could not attend a local high school. However, following its success, the program is now being used widely in territories outside Arizona, including the UK, India, and Australia.
Course Work
All courses are aligned to Mesa District, state of Arizona and national curriculum standards. The Mesa Distance Learning claims that they are only distance learning program whose lab and fine art courses meet the requirement to enter Arizona universities. All students are required to take a mandatory final exam at the end of the course. This may be done using an approved proctorProctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
or at the MDLP office. If the student fails the final exam, they fail the course.
Each course lasts 18 weeks but students are encouraged to complete the course as soon as possible. The course is designed to be completed by studying for one hour per school week for each course. Students can take as many courses as they like. However, in order to complete the course within the usual time frame, high school students must be enrolled in at least four courses, and junior high students (grades 7-8) must be enrolled in six courses.
Technical and system requirements
Students need a computer, Internet access, and an email address to complete courses through MDLP. The coursework is composed of lessons, typed worksheets, and timed online tests that run on the Macromedia AuthorwareMacromedia Authorware
Macromedia Authorware was an interpreted, flowchart based, graphical programming language. Authorware is used for creating interactive programs that can integrate a range of multimedia content, particularly e-learning applications...
software.
Minimum requirements for operating the system on a personal computer include:
- Windows OS (Windows XPWindows XPWindows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, Windows VistaWindows VistaWindows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, Windows 7), or Mac OS XMac OS XMac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
(Windows PCs are suggested) - Internet connection - (Cable or DSL connection preferred)
- Monitor - 256 colors
- CD Drive
- 512mb RAM
- Internet Explorer 7Internet Explorer 7Windows Internet Explorer 7 is a web browser released by Microsoft in October 2006. Internet Explorer 7 is part of a long line of versions of Internet Explorer and was the first major update to the browser in more than 5 years...
or above - Firefox (Firefox 3.5.3 and Safari 4, or above will not allow the Authorware plug-in to be recognized. Users will need to install Firefox version 3.5.2 for plug-ins to work on a Mac)
- System updates current
- QuickTimeQuickTimeQuickTime is an extensible proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. The classic version of QuickTime is available for Windows XP and later, as well as Mac OS X Leopard and...
7 for Windows - Word ProcessingWord processingWord processing is the creation of documents using a word processor. It can also refer to advanced shorthand techniques, sometimes used in specialized contexts with a specially modified typewriter.-External links:...
software such as WordPadWordPadWordPad is a basic word processor that is included with almost all versions of Microsoft Windows from Windows 95 upwards. It is more advanced than Notepad but simpler than Microsoft Works Word Processor and Microsoft Word. It replaced Microsoft Write....
, Microsoft WordMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
, or ThinkFree OfficeThinkFree OfficeThinkFree Office by Haansoft ThinkFree Co. Ltd., a subsidiary company of Haansoft Corporation, is an office suite written in Java that runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and Android platforms.... - MDLP installation CD - install web playerMacromedia AuthorwareMacromedia Authorware was an interpreted, flowchart based, graphical programming language. Authorware is used for creating interactive programs that can integrate a range of multimedia content, particularly e-learning applications...
Course offered
MDLP offer a wide range of course work. As in traditional high schools, students are able to take elective programs and foreign languages. Due to China's presence in the world economy, a Chinese language course was added to the list of courses offered by MDLP and students can also take Chinese through the online Mesa Distance Learning Program.History
Founded in 1999, the Mesa Distance Learning Program initially had little data access. Student management and gradebook was being contracted out to a to a commercial company. The program was mainly used by home school students and disabled students as an alternative to attending traditional schools, and included those with disabilities preventing them from attending a mainstream school on a regular basis, and students with certain types of school phobias. Interactions between student and teacher were done through email.Towards the later years, the program has made many changes, including more teacher involvement, and the courseware, student management, grade book, and dialog (message box) are now done in-house by Mesa and do not depend on third party involvement. Data access is now given to the teacher, parent, administrator, counselor and lab teacher, and the teacher feedback feature was added in 2007. Mesa moved from commercial software to in-house use in order to retain control of the software design and to ensure the curriculum is aligned with Arizona standards.