The Value of Online Learning

Gina Rios, Judy Hale, & Marie Opland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3abpzsrGAY#watch-main-area

Intro.

• Online learning offers students greater access to education by providing them with the opportunity to learn using non-traditional methods in a non-traditional environment.

 • There is great value in online learning for K-12

students!

Twentieth-Century Education and Today's Education

• Based somewhat on traditional standards from the late 1800s

• Focused on drill • Centered on lectures

20th Century 21st Century• Technological

explosion• Instant

communication• Global "shrinkage"• New essential skills

Government StandardsNational and State

• Provides a means to meet NCLB Requirements

• Grants/Funding Initiatives

• Teacher Professional Development

National Standards State Standards (MI)• "Collaborative Online

Learning Experience": Graduation Requirement

• Teacher Certification Requirement

• District Interpretation

Comparison3 Major Controversies Surrounding Oniine Learning

• lack of human contact

• lack of socialization• limited opportunities

for class discussion

Opponents Fear... Proponents Argue...• Potential for an even

deeper level of human contact (phone conversations, online chatting, video conferencing etc.)

• Ample opportunities for interacting with others (discussion boards, wikis, blogs, etc).

•An Example of Successful Online Learning:

Study compared students who took a class in a traditional lecture hall setting to those who took the course online. (Rabe-Hemp & Wollen, 2009). Findings suggest that the online learners had improved more in the areas of self-reflection, independent preparation, and involvement in in-class discussion.

Statistics• There were an estimated 328,000 K12 students enrolled in

distance education courses during the 2001-02 school year.• 36% of school districts and 9% of all schools have students

enrolled in distance education courses.• A greater proportion of districts located in rural areas (46%)

had students enrolled in distance education courses than in suburban (28%) or urban areas (23%).

•  42% of districts that have students enrolled in distance education courses are high poverty districts.

•  In 2005-06, 22 states had established virtual schools and 16 states had established at least one cyber charter school.

• In 2006 over 3.5 million students were enrolled in distance learning courses at post-secondary universities.

•  

Framework Priorities for Distance Education (Next 5 Years)  From a Delphi Study examining the multiple perspectives on policy, practice,and

research in distance learning. (In order of importance)  

1) Evaluation of course design and delivery2) Best practice3) Accountability4) Access5) Online learning/learners6) Professional development7) Accreditation/standards8) Funding9) Technology Results of this study provide a framework of specific priority areas to be addressed by those engaged in all facets of K-12 distance education.

What does the Public Think?

• 59 percent of respondents to a polldaddy.com survey thought that public schools should be required to offer online education.

According to an unscientific, informal survey conducted on polldaddy.com, 

http://www.edutopia.org/poll-online-virtual-learning-future

Student Perceptions (2009 Study of Online Group

Work)

Benefits • Building familiarity with

group members• Receiving instructors'

prompt feedback• Managing time effectively

Challenges • Difficulties communicating• A misunderstanding of

course goals • A perceived lack of sense

of community

Additional Benefits:• Self-directed

learning• Time management• Personal

responsibility• Technology literacy• Problem solving• Global awareness• Flexibility

Additional Challenges:• Technological issues• Self-discipline deficiencies

"Technology is changing the way students learn. As educators we must embrace this change to meet the needs of our learners. Students are able to store and retrieve information quickly which means that we must nurture students' critical thinking and collaboration skills so that they are able to make sense of the amount of available

information."

Melanie Laber, Michigan's 2009 Online Teacher of the Year

Conclusion

• Online education offers students and parents an alternative to traditional education.

• It can help meet the needs of all students.• We are in favor of K-12 schools being required to

offer online education.

Referencesanswers.polldaddy.com/poll/1336153/

Laber, M. (2010). Meet Michigan's 2009 Online Teacher of the Year. MACUL Journal. 30(3), 36.

Koh, M. & Hill, J. (2009) Student Perceptions of Online Group Work: Benefits and Challenges. Journal of Distance Education. 23 (2), 69-91. Rabe-Hemp, C., Woollen, S., & Humiston, G. S. (2009). A Comparative Analysis of Student Engagement, Learning, and Satisfaction in Lecture Hall and Online Learning Settings. Quarterly Review of Distance Education. 10(2), 207-218.

Rice, K.  (2009) Priorities in K-12 Distance Education: A Delphi Study Examining Multiple Perspectives on Policy, Practice, and Research. Journal of Educational Technology & Society. 12 (3), 163-77. U.S. Department of Education. (2010)Technology and No Child Left Behind.http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/index.html

www.edutopia.org/poll-online-virtual-learning-future