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
Tag: online learning
Developmental Education
Image Credit At a recent SLATE meeting, Blackboard and K12.com presented a Blackboard-branded program about a service for higher education: Developmental education. This is a polished name for remedial courses. The presenters stated that "60% of all students in higher education need at least one remedial math course." Blackboard has a small program that provides courses (from … Continue reading Developmental Education
Technology is Distraction in Schools
Image Credit Ron Packard of K12.com spoke today at an Illinois Policy Institute program today in Chicago. He thinks technology is a distraction in schools because it in not fully part of the core learning. A classroom may have a few computers at the back of the room and they become diversions from learning rather than being core parts of … Continue reading Technology is Distraction in Schools
Online learning: Shouldn’t We Do better?
Image Credit With online learning, shouldn't we do better? Shouldn't we have higher expectations? Shouldn't we stop telling partial truths? Partial truths don't help online learning initiatives. All learning through technology is not all powerful. When I was in elementary school, the teachers used controlled reading projectors. These contraptions used modified film strip projectors to … Continue reading Online learning: Shouldn’t We Do better?
Notes From the Virtual School Symposium 2011
Over 1,900 conferees assembled in Indianapolis for the Virtual School Symposium November 9-11, 2011. My notes from the day follow. A wiki is available for the event. On Wednesday, I participated in a day long workshop for participants starting online programs. Holly Brzycki, John Canuel, David Glick, and Phil Lacey presented about their specialties: curriculum, leadership, … Continue reading Notes From the Virtual School Symposium 2011
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
Online Learning in Northern Illinois
On October 18, 2011, 35 individuals representing 27 organizations attending a start-up meeting at the DuPage County (Illinois) Regional Office of Education to discuss an online learning initiative in the region. The presentation is included below. Participants identified several areas for further discussion: Standards, Practices, Policy Technology for online learning, LMS, teacher technologies, student technologies … Continue reading Online Learning in Northern Illinois
Online Learning Initiative in Northern Illinois
The DuPage County Regional Office of Education (ROE) is starting an initiative to assist districts in the region with online learning. A planning meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on October 18, 2011 at the ROE's Center for Professional Learning . The purpose of the initiative is to assist school districts with courses … Continue reading Online Learning Initiative in Northern Illinois
Online Demographics Report
Image Credit David Glick's report on the demographics of online students and teachers was published this week. For those involved with online learning, the results are not surprising, but for others they might be illuminating. Interesting results: Females constitute about 55% of the online student population. White students and Native American students are over represented … Continue reading Online Demographics Report
Illinois Online Learning Legislation Amended
Image Credit In mid-August, the Illinois governor signed legislation to amend the state's Remote Education Act. The change allows school districts to claim attendance for state aid when a student participates in a class during the weekend, holiday or other non-attendance day. Districts must keep accurate logs of participation, such as log-in/log-out times. Still in the law are … Continue reading Illinois Online Learning Legislation Amended