Online LearningOnline Learning

Created by: Jonas MehallCreated by: Jonas Mehall

What is Online Learning?What is Online Learning?

Online learning is Online learning is “education in which “education in which instruction and content instruction and content are delivered primarily via are delivered primarily via the Internet” (Cavanaugh the Internet” (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007, p.5). & Clark, 2007, p.5).

Online learning amounts Online learning amounts to distance education to distance education where students and where students and teachers are not teachers are not physically together. physically together.

Why Online Learning?Why Online Learning?

The goal of online The goal of online education is to education is to “expand access to “expand access to education and provide education and provide curricular options” curricular options” (Cavanaugh & Clark, (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007, p. 5). 2007, p. 5).

Imagine a learning Imagine a learning experience that could experience that could extend beyond the extend beyond the classroom walls!classroom walls!

Why Online Learning (cont.)Why Online Learning (cont.)

Times are changing and technology is Times are changing and technology is empowering our students. empowering our students.

“ “As educators, we should be using As educators, we should be using technology as a critical design factor, in technology as a critical design factor, in combination with research on how people combination with research on how people best learn, to establish new and different best learn, to establish new and different environments for student-centered environments for student-centered learning” (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009, p.54). learning” (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009, p.54).

Impact on StudentsImpact on Students

Gone are the days Gone are the days when students enjoy when students enjoy sitting in class sitting in class listening to a lecture.listening to a lecture.

Students today want Students today want to have a say in their to have a say in their education, which education, which means using means using technology as a technology as a means of learning. means of learning.

Impact on Students (cont.)Impact on Students (cont.)

Online learning and technology can lead to:Online learning and technology can lead to:

1.1. Participatory Learning – collaborationParticipatory Learning – collaboration2.2. Authentic Learning – real world issuesAuthentic Learning – real world issues3.3. Multimodal Learning – text and visuals Multimodal Learning – text and visuals

Each of these are key skills needed to Each of these are key skills needed to succeed in the 21succeed in the 21stst century workplace. century workplace.

Participatory LearningParticipatory Learning

Collaboration “contributes Collaboration “contributes significantly to academic significantly to academic learning and is more learning and is more powerful than competitive powerful than competitive learning or learning learning or learning individually” (Lemke & individually” (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009, p. 56). Coughlin, 2009, p. 56).

How to foster How to foster collaboration?collaboration?

BlogsBlogs WikisWikis Online Learning ModuleOnline Learning Module

When working online, When working online, students can collaborate students can collaborate at anytime of the day, at anytime of the day, inside or outside of the inside or outside of the school.school.

Authentic LearningAuthentic Learning

Learning must have Learning must have meaning and value for meaning and value for students to truly retain students to truly retain information and be information and be engaged in the process.engaged in the process.

Using an online learning Using an online learning program allows students program allows students to learn using technology, to learn using technology, while also giving them the while also giving them the chance to create their chance to create their own work to share with own work to share with an authentic audience. an authentic audience.

Multimodal LearningMultimodal Learning

Recent research has Recent research has concluded that when concluded that when students are taught with a students are taught with a combination of visuals and combination of visuals and text, learning increases.text, learning increases.

Students not only need to Students not only need to be able to process both be able to process both text and visuals, but they text and visuals, but they must have the skills to must have the skills to produce and create works produce and create works that contain a combination that contain a combination

of both.of both.

Impact on StudentsImpact on Students

Online learning modules allow instructors to Online learning modules allow instructors to easily create student groups for collaboration.easily create student groups for collaboration.

When learning online, students have an When learning online, students have an authentic experience through their learning and authentic experience through their learning and research of current events, as well as through research of current events, as well as through their production of authentic products.their production of authentic products.

Online learning modules use a combination of Online learning modules use a combination of text, audio, and visual features to help meet the text, audio, and visual features to help meet the learning styles of all students. learning styles of all students.

Online Learning = Cyber School?Online Learning = Cyber School?

Online learning modules are not the same Online learning modules are not the same as attending a cyber school. as attending a cyber school.

Recently, online learning has become Recently, online learning has become increasingly viewed as tool of education increasingly viewed as tool of education reform (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007).reform (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007).

Online learning can open doors that Online learning can open doors that traditional classrooms simply can not. traditional classrooms simply can not.

Impacts on WestmontImpacts on Westmont

With the adoption of With the adoption of an online learning an online learning module, many new module, many new doors and learning doors and learning avenues are avenues are created, as well as created, as well as instructional gaps instructional gaps filled.filled.

1.1. Online learning may Online learning may be more effective be more effective than traditional than traditional classroom learning.classroom learning.

2.2. Retention rates are Retention rates are higher.higher.

3.3. Classes are created Classes are created that could not exist that could not exist in our school.in our school.

Impacts on Westmont (cont.)Impacts on Westmont (cont.)

Possibly the greatest Possibly the greatest impact is that online impact is that online learning helps learning helps students to build students to build “strong academic “strong academic skills, motivation, skills, motivation, discipline, and discipline, and structure” structure” (Cavanaugh & Clark, (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007, p. 12). 2007, p. 12).

Online Learning = skills needed for future success

More Engaging AtmosphereMore Engaging Atmosphere

When students are able to When students are able to have a part in their have a part in their education, learning takes on education, learning takes on a whole new meaning.a whole new meaning.

Today’s students have Today’s students have grown up with technology, grown up with technology, which means they naturally which means they naturally would like to use would like to use technological tools to learn. technological tools to learn.

When students are more When students are more engaged, more learning engaged, more learning takes place.takes place.

Online Learning – Retention Online Learning – Retention

Students have trouble retaining information Students have trouble retaining information when they are sitting in a desk listening to when they are sitting in a desk listening to someone speak.someone speak.

Online learning modules offer engaging and Online learning modules offer engaging and exciting means of learning, which in turn leads to exciting means of learning, which in turn leads to greater retention rates. greater retention rates.

We should be teaching our students how to be We should be teaching our students how to be independent learners, which online learning independent learners, which online learning trains a student to become. trains a student to become.

New OpportunitiesNew Opportunities

In a traditional school setting, some In a traditional school setting, some classes can not be offered. classes can not be offered.

Sometimes there is not enough classroom Sometimes there is not enough classroom space, available teachers, or equipment space, available teachers, or equipment necessary to offer a specific course.necessary to offer a specific course.

New Opportunities (cont.)New Opportunities (cont.)

Online learning modules can Online learning modules can open up the door for advanced open up the door for advanced placement courses.placement courses.

Teachers who may not have Teachers who may not have time during the school day to time during the school day to offer a class, can offer the offer a class, can offer the course via distant learning. course via distant learning.

Students who participate in Students who participate in online learning are already online learning are already preparing themselves for a preparing themselves for a technology rich future. technology rich future.

Building Skills for the FutureBuilding Skills for the Future

The 21The 21stst century century workplace calls for workplace calls for employers to be skilled employers to be skilled and versed in technology and versed in technology based tools, as well as based tools, as well as collaboration.collaboration.

Students participating in Students participating in online learning will online learning will receive fundamental skills receive fundamental skills needed for the future, needed for the future, while also enjoying their while also enjoying their learning experience. learning experience.

Success Rate Success Rate

Online learning in K-12 forums is still in its Online learning in K-12 forums is still in its early stages, however recent research early stages, however recent research shows positive academic results. shows positive academic results.

As times change, teachers and As times change, teachers and administrators must be willing to change administrators must be willing to change as well.as well.

But I don’t want to change!But I don’t want to change!

Some teachers may feel Some teachers may feel that they have a firm that they have a firm grasp on how to reach grasp on how to reach students and provide a students and provide a quality education without quality education without technology.technology.

Though students can Though students can learn without technology, learn without technology, they are going to be they are going to be gravely behind their peers gravely behind their peers who are being taught with who are being taught with and how to use and how to use technology. technology.

Some teachers also fear Some teachers also fear change, which is change, which is understandable. understandable.

It is human nature to feel It is human nature to feel comfortable and not want comfortable and not want to travel outside of our to travel outside of our comfort zone.comfort zone.

Is our job as a teacher to Is our job as a teacher to feel comfortable, or to feel comfortable, or to prepare our students for prepare our students for life? life?

““It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.” -W. Edwards DemingIt is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.” -W. Edwards Deming

I wouldn’t know how to conduct an I wouldn’t know how to conduct an online class!online class!

““Public school teachers with classroom technology Public school teachers with classroom technology access, training, and support were much more access, training, and support were much more likely to report instructional use of technology” likely to report instructional use of technology” (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007, p. 10). (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007, p. 10).

With anything in life, once you have been trained With anything in life, once you have been trained on how to use something, it becomes more on how to use something, it becomes more appealing and easier to handle. appealing and easier to handle.

Wouldn’t online learning be Wouldn’t online learning be expensive?expensive?

There are federal There are federal programs in place programs in place that can help support that can help support schools who adopt schools who adopt online learning.online learning.

Federal grants can Federal grants can also be acquired, also be acquired, though more support though more support could be necessary.could be necessary.

Does online learning truly benefit Does online learning truly benefit students?students?

Online learning modules Online learning modules help to create multiple help to create multiple avenues for students to avenues for students to learn and succeed. learn and succeed.

As Cavanaugh and Clark As Cavanaugh and Clark (2007) state, “the most (2007) state, “the most frequently identified factor frequently identified factor influencing the success of influencing the success of virtual schooling was virtual schooling was student learning styles” student learning styles” (p. 12). (p. 12).

It is no secret students It is no secret students carry with them different carry with them different learning styles, strengths, learning styles, strengths, and abilities. and abilities.

When we can provide our When we can provide our students with a variety of students with a variety of ways to learn and ways to learn and produce content, then we produce content, then we are giving them a better are giving them a better chance to succeed. chance to succeed.

I just don’t think I can handle this I just don’t think I can handle this big adjustment at one time.big adjustment at one time.

Online learning does not have Online learning does not have to take place overnight. to take place overnight.

It can be a gradual change It can be a gradual change where teachers implement where teachers implement blogs, wikis, and other blogs, wikis, and other technology tools before diving technology tools before diving into a full blown online module. into a full blown online module.

Online learning tools are not Online learning tools are not going to change classroom going to change classroom content, rather they are meant content, rather they are meant to improve teaching (Gillard & to improve teaching (Gillard & Bailey, 2007). Bailey, 2007).

One last thought…One last thought…

Our goal as teachers is to provide a quality Our goal as teachers is to provide a quality education in which our students are education in which our students are preparing for what their future holds.preparing for what their future holds.

The implementation of online learning The implementation of online learning tools and modules can greatly help us in tools and modules can greatly help us in our endeavors.our endeavors.

ReferencesReferences

Cavanaugh, C., & Clark, T. (2007). The Landscape of K-12 Cavanaugh, C., & Clark, T. (2007). The Landscape of K-12 Online Learning. In P. Adamson, B. Adamson, & N. Online Learning. In P. Adamson, B. Adamson, & N. Clausen-Grace, et al (Eds.), Clausen-Grace, et al (Eds.), What Works in K-12 Online What Works in K-12 Online Learning Learning (Chapter 1, pp. 5-19)(Chapter 1, pp. 5-19).. Eugene, OR: Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education. International Society for Technology in Education.

Gillard, S., & Bailey, D. (2007). Technology in the Gillard, S., & Bailey, D. (2007). Technology in the classroom: Overcoming obstacles, reaping rewards. classroom: Overcoming obstacles, reaping rewards. The The International Journal of LearningInternational Journal of Learning, , 1414(1), 87–93.(1), 87–93.

Lemke, C., & Coughlin, E. (2009). Lemke, C., & Coughlin, E. (2009). The change agentsThe change agents. . Educational LeadershipEducational Leadership, , 6767(1), 54–59. (1), 54–59.