Implementation of e-Learning

1. Implementation of e-Learning Guidelines and Policies for an Effective Online Learning Program: Meriden Public Schools Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

2. Why e-Learning for Meriden Schools? • Some say e-Learning is the wave of the future. • Meriden Public Schools must ensure the education it provides to children prepares them for their future, not our past. • E-Learning will allow Meriden Public Schools to remain competitive. • E-Learning will encourage student academic independence and increase the desire to learn. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

3. Why e-Learning for Meriden Schools? cont. • An e-Learning program will prepare staff for the future, ensuring experience teaching both in the classroom and online and with linkage between the two types of instruction. • Increased home-school connection and parent support. • Increased academic achievement; increased testing scores, access to college level courses for advanced students, slower paced courses for students in need, and make up course work for students who are ill, homebound, or on vacation. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

4. E-Learning and Staff • E-learning will allow staff to post e-books and required assignments to be viewed by both the student and parent. This system will allow for missed homework for students sick or away on vacation. It will help make a stronger home-school connection. • Staff trained to instruct online courses find ways meet the different learning styles, increasing their face-to-face instruction ability. • Staff will be able to incorporate online instruction in their every day classroom instruction as well. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

5. E-Learning and Students • Students today have more technological skills than the children who graduated just 10 years ago. Online instruction will only increase this knowledge and ensure children are prepared for a future where jobs the may obtain have yet to be created due to the rapid advancement of technology. • E-Learning will allow students to take ownership of their learning, allowing for growth and an increased desire to learn. • E-Learning will allow for online college courses, courses make-up due to lack of attendance, illness or vacations. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

6. E-Learning and Students cont. • E-Learning will allow students to access e-books and assignments from a computer eliminating the excuse of leaving things at school. • E-Learning will allow parents access to assignment submission and grade reports at all times which will ensure parent involvement. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

7. E-Learning and the Home-School Connection. • E-Learning is not just focused on online courses. • E-learning will allow students access to assignments submitted online and reading books online as well eliminating the loss of documents and books. • E-Learning will reach the students currently being home-schooled and allow for a connection with typical peers in the school setting increasing socialization. • Teaching staff will be able to reach parents regarding grade compliments or concerns. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

8. Successful E-Learning • Proper training and guidance provided by qualified individuals to staff will ensure Meriden Schools provide an effective online learning program for all students K-12. • Online course instruction will increase the current graduation rate allowing for alignment of curriculum, the connection of in classroom instruction to the online learning program, advanced course work, course work make-up and alternate diploma programming. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

9. Guidelines for effective online learning. • Current school educational philosophy must make a connection to the importance of online learning. • Ensure all e-instructors hired are well trained, educated and certified. • Ensure all current staff are trained to provide online instruction and know how to teach both online courses and provide classroom instruction that utilizes e-learning to advance curriculum. • The curriculum chosen must meet State and Federal guidelines. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

10. Guidelines for effective online learning, cont. • Ensure curriculum is challenging enough to ensure successful completion of course work, but not too difficult that it discourages students with different learning styles. • An assessment tool that is both valid and reliable must be chosen to ensure coursework is effective and beneficial. • Create a survey to ensure students interested in online learning will succeed. If the learning style of the student will not allow them to succeed in online learning, find alternate education services. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

11. Importance of Guidelines • If the schools philosophy does not make the connection between classroom learning and online learning, staff will not understand how important their role is to the success of the e-learning program. • Ensure all e-instructors hired are well trained, educated and certified. Instructors who can not encourage student success will risk the failure of the program. • All current staff, teachers and administrators must be trained in how to provide online instruction. Without buy in from all participating parties, the online learning program will fail. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

12. Important Guidelines cont. • Curriculum: what is chosen must meet State and Federal guidelines to ensure students succeed on achievement tests. • Curriculum: if coursework is not challenging enough, students will get board and will not want to participate in the e-Learning program. This may lead to decreased support of the program by students, parents and staff. • Pre-assessment survey’s are necessary to ensure the students ability to succeed using online learning. If this is not done, instructors will not be able to help students to succeed leading to disappointment and course failure. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

13. Important Guidelines cont. • Online course instruction and completion must be assessed using a valid and reliable tool to show outcomes, growth over time, and areas in need of improvement. • Successful portrayal of academic success in online learning will assist administrators with educating the community, policy makes and legislators for the need of funds to continue to offer this program. Without this the program will fail. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

14. Quality Courses • To ensure implementation of quality courses, the school must hire a teacher specifically for online support. • Courses must meet current State and Federal regulations. • Course content must align with current classroom curriculum to ensure teachers can link classroom lesson plans to online instruction and incorporate both types of learning in the classroom. • Courses must be challenging enough to sustain student attention linked to proper support and tutoring, and learning styles. Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

15. What is necessary for successful e-Learning? Classroom Learning Environment E-Learning Environment Successful integration will come from the synchronization of instruction and curriculum Teachers Classroom lesson plans e-Learning objectives linked with Teacher lesson Plans Aligned Curriculum Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

16. What will happen if guidelines are not followed? Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

17. References • Berge, Z., & Clark, T. (2009). Virtual schools. Distance Learning, 6(2), 1-9. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=45587676&site=ehost-live • Cavanaugh, C. & Blomeyer, R. (2007). What works in K-12 online learning. Washington, DC: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). • Clark, T. (2001). Virtual schools: Trends and issues. A study of virtual schools in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/virtualschools.pdf • Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W. R., & Coleman, C. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web. Tech Trends, 52(5), 63-67. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/223118296?accountid=28180 • Orr, R., Pennington, K. & Williams, M. R. (2009). Institutional efforts to support faculty in online teaching. Innovative Higher Education, 34(4), 257-268. doi:10.1007/s10755-009-9111-6 Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

18. References cont. • Project Tomorrow. (2009). Learning in the 21st century: 2009 trends update. Retrieved from http://www.mivu.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=gCiahuCHWPY%3D&tabid=373 • Stone, A. (2008). The holistic model for blended learning: A new model for K-12 district level cyber schools. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education, 4(1), 56-71. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/222732883?accountid=28180 • Thornburg, D. D. (1997). 2020 Visions for the future of education. Handout pages 1-7. Retrieved from http://www.tcpd.org/Thornburg/Handouts/2020visions.html Stewart,JEL5001-8-2

19. NORTHCENTRAL UNIVERSITY • ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET • Learner: Stewart, J EL5001-8-1 • EL 5001-8, Dr. Gatin • Introduction to Principles and Practices in E-Learning • Activity 1: Week 1: Current Trends in e-Learning • Faculty Use Only • <Faculty comments here> • <Faculty Name> <Grade Earned> <Writing Score> <Date Graded> Stewart,JEL5001-8-2