The Introductory Guide to Online Learning

I recently attended the Virtual School Symposium which brings educators interested in online learning together from around the world. Following my visit to the symposium I shared my Recommendations to Improve Online Learning and Reasons Students Say They Prefer Learning Online. Today, in places like New York City, online learning is being incorporated into the traditional classrooms, known as blended or hybrid learning, with tremendous success, especially for credit recovery, advanced placement (to promote college-readiness), continuity of learning during a pandemic, dual enrollment, and more.

The realization by administrators, teachers and parents that online courses can fill gaps in course offerings as well as complement traditional classroom instruction with engaging, interactive materials has generated many questions about implementing online learning programs:

• What does an online course look like?
• How do students interact with their teacher?
• What qualifications and training are required of teachers?
• Does online learning really work?
• What state or school district policies are needed to implement online learning?

To help answer those questions, The International Association of K-12 Online Learning released an updated introduction to online learning this week. They also released a state-by-state update of progress. The National Primer on K-12 Online Learning provides a comprehensive overview of online learning by examining the basics about online teaching and learning, evaluating academic success, professional development, technology and other topics.


Highlights include:

1. iNACOL’s official online learning definitions
2. A framework for online and blended learning adapted from the TPAC model to describe the key elements as an approach to systemic educational transformation (see chart below).
   

Online Learning Definitions

• Asynchronous communication: Communication that is separated by time. Examples are email, online discussion forums, message boards, blogs, podcasts, etc.
• Blended learning (also hybrid learning): Learning that is facilitated by the effective combination of different modes of delivery, models of teaching and styles of learning, and is based on transparent communication amongst all parties involved with a course.
• Credit recovery: Refers to a student passing, and receiving credit for, a course that he/she previously attempted but did not succeed in earning academic credit towards graduation.
• Cyberschool (also online school and virtual school): A formally constituted organization (public, private, state, charter, etc.) that offers full-time education delivered primarily over the Internet.
• Learning Management System (LMS): The technology platform through which online courses are offered. A LMS generally includes software for creating and editing course content, communication tools, assessment tools, and other features for managing the course.
• Online course: Any course offered over the Internet.
• Online learning (also cyber learning, elearning, and virtual learning): Education in which instruction and content are delivered primarily over the Internet; online learning is a form of distance learning. The term does not include printed-based correspondence education, broadcast television or radio, videocassettes, and stand-alone educational software programs that do not have a significant Internet-based instructional component.
• Online teacher: The person who is responsible for instruction in an online course.
• State virtual school: An entity created and supported by a state to provide online academic courses to elementary, middle, and high school students using qualified online teachers.
• Synchronous communication: Communication in which the participants interact in the same time space. Examples are telephone calls, videoconferencing, chat, and face-to-face communication.

Educators interested in finding out more about online learning can download a copy for free here.

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Editor’s note: This post contains numerous excerpts from the National Primer on K-12 online learning's Preface from Susan D. Patrick, President and CEO, International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL).

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8 Videos to Stimulate Conversations About Educating Innovatively

Tech & Learning's Virtual Tech Forum provided a fantastic way to engage in stimulating conversation with innovative educators on a variety of provocative topics that are the key to preparing 21st century learners. The format allowed for participants to watch a featured video and then chat about the topic. The chats were fast-paced, action-packed and full of a whole lot of stimulating conversation and ideas.

There is no reason the conversation has to end there. These videos are still available (and free of charge) for anyone who wants to start conversation or keep it going. Simply show the video and invite viewers to discuss either verbally or via chat as we did during the original tech forum. You can take things a step further by inviting these educators to chat with you virtually via Skype or using an instant message service.

Here are the video topics.

• High School 2.0: Talking Change for Today and Tomorrow with Vallerie Cave and Mike Hall
• Progressive Learning Environments: What do they Look Like?with Chris Lehmann
• Cells in the Classroom: From Banning to Embracing with Lisa Nielsen and WillynWeb
• Internet 2 and High-Bandwidth Connectivity: How and Why to Jump on Board with Dr. Joseph Barrow and Mike Porter
• Facebook, You Tube and Other Mainstream Tools: Do they Belong in the Classroom? with Cathy Swan
• The Impact of Social Media in Schools: Welcoming and Responding to the Disruption with David Jakes and David Warlick
• Disruptive Innovation: Fad, Fantasy, or Future of Learning? with Kim Carter
• 21st Century Skills: Are Our Schools Teaching Them? with Howie DiBlasi

To watch any of these videos, simply click on the picture below which will take you to each of the videos. Enjoy!

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10 Reasons Students Say They Prefer Learning Online

Ever wonder how students feel about learning online? At the recent iNacol Virtual Schools Symposium participants were treated to an experience that is surprisingly is rarely available at education conferences. We had the opportunity to hear directly from a panel of students who explained why they preferred learning online. Here are some of the reasons shared by these students and others I heard from explaining why students preferred this method of learning.

10 Reasons Students Prefer Learning Online

1. I can sleep in
While this may sound indulgent to the over-30 crowd who is often of the mindset that students need to be prepared for the 9 – 5 world into which they will graduate, the reality is this.

• Adolescents need more sleep.
• Adolescents often function best late at night and do not function well early in the morning.
• The jobs today’s adolescents will have quite likely will not fit the traditional 9 -5 mold.

It makes sense that students enjoy the opportunity to learn when they are well-rested and most alert. Research studies indicate that students enjoy learning on a schedule aligned to their circadian rhythms rather than the schedule that in many districts was created to enable bus companies to operate most efficiently. As a result traditional school has classes full of students who every day feel the kind of tired that is akin to being jet lagged.

2. I can pursue my passions
A flaw with the American education system is that there is little to no focus on pursuit of our dreams and passions which is often driven by a system that rewards rote memorization and mediocrity. Several students who learn online are doing so because they are pursuing a passion that does not allow them to fit in to the traditional school system. How wonderful it is that students are able to begin exploring and developing their passions while they are in school. We heard from a student who competes in horse competitions, for others it might be music, writing, acting, or filmmaking. We must stop teaching subjects and start teaching students who can be writers, scientists, singers, dancers, and historians today.

3. I can focus on my work without distractions from my classmates
For many students school is a huge distraction, especially in high school where the focus in often more on socializing and fitting in then on learning. Students shared that in online classes, many of the regular distractions from socializing, to intercom announcements, to disruptive students, no longer existed and they could place their attention on learning.

4. I can move at my own pace
A tremendous benefit of learning online is that, when done right, students can learn at their own pace. For some, this might mean they can demonstrate competency upfront and get credit for the class. For others this may mean moving at a slower pace and receiving additional supports if necessary.

5. I don’t have to compete to share my thoughts and ideas
Students in online environments enjoy the equity in the ability to share thoughts and ideas. No longer is it just the student in the front of the room or the one with the loudest voice who is heard. When learning online the playing field is leveled and opportunities are in place such as commenting on posts, videos, and student work or participating in discussion forums. These environments provide students with varied opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas.

6. I can take more interesting classes
Providing online opportunities for students means providing more choice. Students can more easily pursue study in areas of interest. They are no longer dependent on the staffing limitations of their particular school or community.

7. I can learn with a schedule that meets my needs
There are a number of reasons that students might not be able to participate in the traditional classroom environment. These students have often been left behind. One might be caring for a sick relative; another required to watch a sibling, for some pregnancy or incarceration has interfered with education attainment. These students no longer need to be left behind if online options are provided.

8. I can learn despite health issues that might get in the way of a traditional class setting
Students who haven’t found success in the traditional environment due to health issues can thrive in online environments. While this might include a student who is hospitalized, has certain disabilities, or is suffering from a terminal illness, many students have less obvious issues that have made success in traditional school settings difficult. Perhaps a student suffers from a sleeping disorder, social disorder, or from an intestinal condition that just doesn’t fit with the bell schedule. These are just a few examples that in the traditional school setting result in students who end up leaving the system due to excessive absences/tardiness, or labeled as just not paying attention…because they are sleeping in class and miss the material covered.

9. I can easily communicate with my teacher when I need to
Students participating in online environments often share that they appreciate the ease and opportunities available to communicate with their teacher. It is often difficult, if not impossible, to get your teacher’s attention in a traditional 45-minute period and if you do, you may not want to have your discussion heard by the entire class. Online environments typically have structures in place where students can easily send private instant messages or emails to their teacher leaving them feeling much more supported by and connected to their teacher.

10. I can easily communicate with my classmates when I want to
A traditional classroom setting often discourages students from communicating with one another. It can be considered disruptive to instruction or limited by the physical placement of students. The online environment makes it much easier for students to connect with one another on topics of interest in both synchronous and asynchronous environments.

Though the technology exists to provide these environments for students, sadly, few students have, or know they have, such opportunities available to them. For most students, they exist, or are unable to exist, in an educational system stuck in the past that has not introduced them to such options. Why? There are several reasons which include being in a system that requires us to follow outdated policies that may have worked for yesterday’s students, but do not work today. Changing these policies in a bureaucratic, slow-moving, political climate can be a tremendous task. Additionally, many of the customers (students and their parents) don’t even know this option exists. And, another reason of course, is because schools (and parents) are used to doing things the way they’ve always done them. However, doing things they way they’ve always been done hasn’t proven effective for most industries and it shouldn’t be accepted for our students any longer either.

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