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
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
Tech Forum Note — 05/03/13
At last Friday's Techforum Chicago, I listed intently during presentations about innovations in schools. One of the themes of the conversations was about creating content. Without exception many presenters and participants talked about creating digital content. In some cases it was stated in an arrogant fashion: "Nobody can do it better than me!" In digital … Continue reading Tech Forum Note — 05/03/13
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
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
Deregulation of Education 3: Show Me The Money
Image Credit Wes Freyer recently reported on a digital learning conference in Oklahoma. In this report he included a video about the money potential in digital learning that is embedded below. The presenter outlines the money in Pennsylvania Cyber Charter Schools along with the scope of the money involved in digital learning and executive salaries. … Continue reading Deregulation of Education 3: Show Me The Money
Normal is Revolutionary
Image Credit "What's revolutionary for adults is normal for kids," stated Jaime Casap of Google to technology leaders at a meeting of the Illinois Chief Technology Officers today. Casap implored school leaders to build great teachers, appeal to students' motivations, focus on the basics, and prepare students for more education after high school, although not necessarily a four year … Continue reading Normal is Revolutionary