Image Credit Much has been written about Jon Bergmann's movement around flipping the classroom. Digital learning is more about flipping the teacher. As illustrated above, traditional education is centered around the expert delivering information to a large group. In this setting, the teacher speaks to large groups up to 80-90% of the time and less … Continue reading Digital Learning is About Flipping the Teacher
Tag: online learning promising practices
Blended Learning Taxonomy: Not Ready For Prime Time
Having just returned from iNACOL's Blended and Online Learning Symposium, I am confused by the term "Blended Learning." Not confused in my understanding, but I am confused how to explain this concept to executive administrators and boards of education. The current definition as illustrated above is too confusing and not specific enough. Right now the … Continue reading Blended Learning Taxonomy: Not Ready For Prime Time
Online Learning Reading List
Bush, J. & Wise, B. (2010). Digital learning now. Tallahassee, FL: Foundation for Excellence in Education. Cavanaugh, C. (2009). Getting students more learning time online: Distance education in support of expanded learning time in K-12 schools. Washington, DC: Center for American Progress. Creative Commons (n.d.). Creative Commons. Mountainview: CA: author. Retrieved from http://www.creativecommons.org. Dawley, L., … Continue reading Online Learning Reading List
Virtual School’s Symposium 2012 Summary
The student panel at the Virtual Schools Symposium 2012 Over 2,000 conferees assembled in New Orleans, Louisiana for iNACOL's edition of its Virtual Schools Symposium held October 21-24, 2012. Across the program, presentations looked at research in the field, instructional models, administrative successes, and policy proposals. This year's conference focused on the trends in the field that … Continue reading Virtual School’s Symposium 2012 Summary
Where’s the Education Leadership on Technology in Schools?
Image Credit In 1988, Congress' Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) reported the "most promising current uses and demonstrations" (pp.12-13) for computers: Drill and practice to master basic skills. Development of writing skills. Problem solving Understanding abstract mathematics and science concepts. Simulation in science, mathematics and social studies. Manipulation of data. Acquisition of computer skills for general purposes, … Continue reading Where’s the Education Leadership on Technology in Schools?
Starting an Online Program: To Blend or Not to Blend
Image Credit Blended Learning: First, in all of the blended programs, the students learn in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home at least some of the time. Second, the students' experience online delivery with some control over the time, place, path, and/or pace. (Reference) In the rush to digital learning, school districts may be … Continue reading Starting an Online Program: To Blend or Not to Blend
Innovation and Democracy
Image Credit Is innovation a democratic process? Innovate: to introduce something new; make changes in anything established. (reference) In Disrupting Class, author Clayton Christen informs school boards that introducing digital learning into schools may be hampered by purposeful democratic processes that are part of schools' cultures. Cooperative tools like "financial incentives, negotiations, vision statements, training, performance metrics, and even litigation . . … Continue reading Innovation and Democracy
Student-Teacher Interaction Essential in Online Courses
(Click the image to see it larger.) Student-teacher interaction is essential in online courses. Online courses require rich content that includes many modalities for students to choose their learning path, including text, audio, video, kinesthetic and other modes. This is one of the features of online learning that is difficult to produce and separates from … Continue reading Student-Teacher Interaction Essential in Online Courses
Technology-Rich Classroom is Not Blended Learning
A technology-rich classroom is not a blended classroom, according to Heather Staker, Senior Research Fellow at the Innosight Institute, speaking at a recent professional development session for the DuPage County Regional Office of Education. (A recording and slides from her presentation are available here.) Ms. Staker states that data continues to support the predictions made by Clayton … Continue reading Technology-Rich Classroom is Not Blended Learning
The Deregulation of Education II: The Measures of Quality
Image Source In 1937, F. Dean McClusky was asked to study why there had been a failure of commercial film makers to make successful educational films. In McClusky’s report: “Commercial interests have failed to grasp or to study the nature of instruction and the complexity of educational organizations.” (Paul Saettler, 1990, p. 106). It appears … Continue reading The Deregulation of Education II: The Measures of Quality