blended learning
Personalized Learning
Parents Choosing Teachers? Try Blended Solutions
Andy Rotherham wrote a provocative Time blog suggesting that parents should take great care in choosing their child's teacher. He suggests that teacher choice is more important than school choice because differences within schools are often more pronounced than between schools. Online and blended learning expand the world of options for students, parents--and teachers.
Personalized Learning
iNACOL Webinar to Guide Teachers to Optimize the Online Classroom
The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) will host a webinar on Thursday, January 19 for online teachers looking to create an enriching virtual classroom experience to encourage higher order thinking for their students.
Personalized Learning
Is Online Education for K-12 Really Wrong-headed?
The real answer is that we don’t know – yet. Recent investigative journalism by papers as diverse as The New York Times and Arizona Republic have left the impression that online education is underperforming, costly, and misguided. A careful look at the way respective journalists made their cases leaves parents and the public asking for more incisive and scientifically-based investigations. Here is how some of the criticism was constructed and what we need to answer the question about the value of online education.
EdTech
Q&A: ‘OK, Computer’ With Tom Vander Ark
The interview that follows addresses issues in the debate over refashioning the U.S. public school system through the adoption of new technologies. As with other American institutions widely perceived as failing or just getting by, the debate around K-12 public education has been increasingly shaped by considerations of technological innovation and the role of entrepreneurship and private-sector involvement.
Personalized Learning
Blended STEM: LEGO Education Combines Discovery, Invention and Presentation
Boomers grew up with the colorful building bricks first developed by LEGO® in 1932. Decades of product extensions aimed at older youth created an extensive catalog of hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) exploration. In 1997, through a joint venture with science supplier Pitsco, Inc., LEGO Education formed to develop innovative K-12 learning solutions around a wide range of STEM skills.
EdTech
Principal Bill Crockett Gives an Inside Scoop On Connections Academy
This December, Bill Crockett, the Principal of the free, online school Capistrano Connections Academy in Southern California, spoke about the definition and benefits of a virtual school model on the TheLip.tv. His interview with Greg Matuskiewicz gives a detailed, inside scoop to online learning and Connections Education.
Personalized Learning
5 Features of Blended Environments and More Q&A
I did a short podcast for Ken Royal today. It included the three primary benefits of personal digital learning and the five features of blended learning environments we'll soon see more of.
EdTech
iNACOL Hosts Webinar On Digital Learning Policy Updates
The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) plans to host a webinar tomorrow, January 11, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. EST on "Next Steps for Digital Learning Now," which will focus on the continued work of the Digital Learning Council to implement state-level online learning policy changes.
Personalized Learning
What Online Students Want
Online learning. It's a popular buzzword in both higher education and K-12 institutions. Each year, more formal and informal learning opportunities germinate online. Globally, many public institutions believe that "online education is critical to their long term strategy" and the number of online learners is steadily increasing (Allen & Seaman, 2008, p.3).
EdTech
New Report States Online Learning Is Two-Thirds the Cost
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute released today "The Costs of Online Learning," a report by Parthenon Group that estimates fulltime virtual and blended schools cost considerably less per pupil than traditional brick-and-mortar public schools. While costs vary within many of the models, on average, fulltime virtual schools cost up to a third less per pupil than conventional schools.