inacol research in review webinar: blended and online learning clearinghouse

Research Clearinghouse for K-12 Blended & Online Learning

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute:Joe Freidhoff, DirectorKristen DeBruler, ResearcherJustin Bruno, Research Associate

October 2013

http://k12onlineresearch.org

Overview

1.) Background and evolution of Clearinghouse project

2.) Current use and functionalities

3.) Ideas for future

About MVLRI• Established in 2012 under operation of

Michigan Virtual University

• Charged with producing original research and reports to inform K-12 knowledge and policy regarding online and blended learning

Clearinghouse Initiative

• Result of rewriting of Michigan Public Act 60, known as the State School Aid Act

– Legislation requires its provision to house research reports, academic studies, evaluations, and other information related to online learning

iNACOL & NGLC Partnerships

• iNACOL’s K-12 online research database supported by Next Generation Learning Challenges had considerable overlap

• Avoid duplication – collaborate to manage and offer the site housing resources

Clearinghouse Evolution• Early contributor – UF’s Virtual School

Clearinghouse– Focus on virtual schooling and VS evaluation– Directed by Dr. Rick Ferdig, sponsored by AT&T

Foundation– Shared hundreds of references for this project

• Many references identified by MVLRI and iNACOL staff

Clearinghouse Evolution, Cont.• Current contributor – Center on Online

Learning and Students with Disabilities

• Now houses 493 references to impactful research in the field of online and blended learning

• http://k12onlineresearch.org

Using the Clearinghouse• Recommended browsers: Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox• Search functionality includes a number of search criteria (title,

author, keywords, etc.) across 4 separate fields– Using an asterisk “*” after your search term is strongly

recommended. Acts as wildcard and returns more results

Topic KeywordsHyperlinked on the home page to create easy, one-click searches by keyword

Date Added Keywords• One of the most useful search functions is the “Date

Added” keyword search– Allows you to see the most recently added references

to keep abreast of research in the field

Project Contributor KeywordThis keyword search organizes records by the project contributor

Search Results OptionsFrom the results screen after your search, users can click the “Details” link to get more detailed information on the record

Navigating Search ResultsUsers can click the <Record or Record> to navigate forward or backward through search results

Creating a BibliographyTo create a bibliography, place a check next to your selected records from the results, and click the “Bibliography” button from the top of the page

Creating a Bibliography, Cont.Users then have the option of saving or printing the bibliography, in APA 6th edition citation style

Exporting RecordsUsers can export selected records in either RIS or XML format for the purposes of adding to their own reference library. Simply check the box next to your selected records, choose your file type from the drop down menu, and click “Export”

Getting Started Guide

For further assistance, please refer to our “Getting Started” guide at:

http://k12onlineresearch.org/templates/PDF/gettingstarted.pdf

Clearinghouse Future

• MVLRI and iNACOL seek project contributors– Contributors: organizations wishing to provide

research references and promote the Clearinghouse to their audiences

– MOU outlining contribution and promotion expectations

• Project contributor guidelines are located at http://k12onlineresearch.org/templates/PDF/contributorguide.pdf

Clearinghouse Future, Cont.

• Vision: crowd-sourced, community driven by involvement from the field– Maintaining balance of growth while ensuring

quality references

• Sustainability: value-add opportunities?– Linking to paywalled articles from contributors

Ideas for the Future

• Keyword tagging– Selecting a featured keyword for each month– Interested individuals could survey a certain

set of resources for one specific keyword– Identify resources already in your EndNote

library housed in the Clearinghouse, submit your own keywords

Ideas for the Future

• Seeking individuals to help tag resources with appropriate keywords– Many references currently housed are not

exhaustively tagged

• Interested individuals can contact Kathryn Kennedy at kkennedy@inacol.org

Questions? Ideas?

Please use the chat box to submit any questions for the presenters, thoughts, ideas, etc.

http://k12onlineresearch.org