Introduction to e-Learning

1. Introduction to e-Learning

2. This is Patrick… He’s only 3!!

3. Patrick’s Reality… • He has never seen a typewriter. • He has never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor has he seen a black-and-white TV. • He has always had cable. • There has always been MTV in his world. • He has always had a remote control… one for his TV, one for the VCR and one for the DVD player! • And yes, …he has a Universal Remote!

4. Patrick’s Reality… • His grandmother sends him email. • His mom and dad read the email to him. • He tells them what to write back to grandma. • He has many software programs that are for problem solving, exploration and FUN!! • He checks out stuff on kids’ websites. • He “reads” kids’ books online. • He will take classes online when he goes to school. • His high tech realities are endless… and will be an integrated part of his life. …IS YOUR SCHOOL READY FOR PATRICK ?

5. What is e-learning???

6. E-learning is... • A variety of media • World Wide Web • CD-ROM • Email • Chat rooms • Teleconference • Satellite • Videoconference • Handheld computers

7. E-learning is… • A variety of learning styles • Auditory • Visual • Kinesthetic • Tactile

8. E-learning is… • A variety of opportunities • Supplemental courses • Credited courses • Enrichment • Remediation

9. Statistics • 98% of public schools and 77% of instructional rooms have Internet access • Home-schooling has risen dramatically – from 345,000 students in 1994 to 850,000 students in 1999 (350,000 of these students attended charter schools) • Estimated $360 billion K-12 market for online learning by 2006 • 90.9% of virtual courses offered in the United States are regular core or elective high school courses • 38% of virtual school instructional staff are K-12 teachers with supplemental contracts

10. Student Enrollment Projections (courtesy of The Pew Institute, 2001)

11. How e-learning will change education

12. How e-learning will change education

13. How Can You or Your School Get Started? • Use own staff members to develop your own courses for your own students. • You can use (purchase or lease) courses that have already been developed. • Integrate features / tools of online courses into your traditional classrooms.

14. Getting Started with Online Opportunities • Locally developed • Regionally developed • Nationally developed • Commercially developed • Keep a focus on cost AND quality “You don’t have to re-invent the wheel”

15. Collaboration with Local School Districts • Regarding the role of virtual education • Myth: “Online learning will replace the public school system/teachers” • Reality: Alternative, supplement, augment, individualize learning • Regarding application of virtual education • Myth: “Online courses are only for advanced or gifted students” • Reality: ESL, Alternative Education, Gifted, ….Students! • Regional Course Development • Reality: Time consuming, expensive, reality of local resources

16. How, When, Where Virtualvs. Virditional… Virditional: A course where the student meets face to face with the instructor in a lab, on the same days/times that the class is scheduled; the entire curriculum is online.

17. Options for Implementation 6. student is in a scheduled class with all of the students and the classroom instructor in a face-to-face situation, not in a computer lab; students work on the online components outside of class, at home, during study halls, etc.-- the online course is used to selectively enhance, supplement and differentiate classroom instruction 6. Classroom Tools model, with scheduled period

18. Options for Implementation 5. student is in a scheduled class with all of the online students and the online instructor in a face-to-face situation in a computer lab; students work on the online course during the class period with assistance and support from the instructor 5. Virditional model, with scheduled period 6. Classroom Tools model, with scheduled period

19. 4. student may see the online instructor (to hand in work, ask questions) because the teacher is in the school and the student has an available study hall to work on the course but the online instructor is not present during this time Options for Implementation 4. Local virtual model, w/ Study Hall 5. Virditional model, with scheduled period 6. Classroom Tools model, with scheduled period

20. student may see the online instructor (to hand in work, ask questions), because he/she is a teacher in the school, but no scheduled period for the online course Options for Implementation 3. Local virtual model, no SH; access outside of school day 4. Local virtual model, w/ Study Hall 5. Virditional model, with scheduled period 6. Classroom Tools model, with scheduled period

21. Options for Implementation 2. student never sees the online instructor because teacher is not in own school, but at a “distance,” student has a study hall in his/her schedule to work on online course; local support person to monitor student progress 2. Full virtual model, w/ scheduled SH 3. Local virtual model, no SH; access outside of school day 4. Local virtual model, w/ Study Hall 5. Virditional model, with scheduled period 6. Classroom Tools model, with scheduled period

22. Options for Implementation 1. student never sees the online instructor; no period in schedule to work on online course; teacher is at a “distance”; local person supports to monitor student progress 1. Full virtual model, no scheduled study hall 2. Full virtual model, w/ scheduled SH 3. Local virtual model, no SH; access outside of school day 4. Local virtual model, w/ Study Hall 5. Virditional model, with scheduled period 6. Classroom Tools model, with scheduled period

23. eLearning Policies • Some schools have developed or are in the process of developing policies regarding how online courses will be integrated into the traditional curriculum • These policies address issues such as scheduling, financial responsibility, accreditation, etc.

24. Cyber Schools • PA currently has 10 cyber schools - more than any other state in the country • A listing of PA cyber schools can be found at http://www.geocities.com/hardingpj/homeschoolcyber.html • Most cyber schools use vendor-created curriculum and provide students with computers and Internet access • House Bill No. 4 provides for partial state funding of cyber schools

25. Parting advice • “eLearning is like a train…you can either jump on it or let it run you over.” ---PA superintendent • Think about how eLearning can best fit into your current instructional plan, and have a plan – your plan – so that you are ready for the changes that eLearning will create.

26. …And Remember Patrick… …He is ready!

27. Sources • Wells, Geannie. Director of Knowledge Management, AASA. “Quality in Cyber Education” presentation, March, 2001. • NASBE. “Taking the Lead on e-Learning Policy, October, 2001. • McLester, Susan. “Virtual Learning Takes a Front Row Seat.” Technology and Learning, March 2002. • Pew Institute, The Digital Disconnect Between Internet Savvy Students and Their Schools, 2001. • IU 20’s E-learning web site, http://elearning.ciu20.org • IU 21’s Cyber Options page, http://www.cliu.org/edtech/cyberoptions.aspx