Lexington Institute. Executive Summary Education technology or “EdTech” is a rapidly growing industry in the United States as schools seek to integrate modern technology into the classroom. As technology companies pursue the opportunities in the $600 billion K-12 education sector, schools feel pressure to bring 21st century tools into the 19th century schoolhouse. Predictably, the massive national investment in classroom technology has not resulted in any appreciable gains in student achievement. Instead, by simply transferring the same instructional approaches to an expensive new medium, these well-meaning efforts severely inhibit educational potential.
Meanwhile, the emergence of innovative, new blended learning instructional models are demonstrating transformative potential in various settings around the country. Blended learning integrates technology into its strategy as a tool to individualize student learning based on data and instructional interventions. Click here to download the full report as PDF.
Creating Assignments That Work for Digital Learning Environments. Assignments | Viewpoint Creating Assignments That Work for Digital Learning Environments Teachers who spend time actually thinking through assignments that align with the learning outcomes of a course are the most effective at assessing the learning that has taken place. Now, however, even the most creative teachers are being stretched like never before in regards to creating assignments that work in technology-rich learning environments. While evaluating learning in the purest sense might never really be possible given the scope of variables, new technologies are making it more achievable than ever before. When assignments are creative and applied and, most of all, relevant, so that all learning styles and aspects of course content can be integrated, students are usually more positive about their performance.
To create assignments that work the focus must be on process, not task. In order to evaluate the process, I have developed a four-step system I follow with students. 24 Getting Smart Blogs About Blended Learning. 20120110-the-costs-of-online-learning.pdf (application/pdf Object) Virtual High School Welcomes You! WhyVHS-Home. Seven Digital Learning Tips for Students. Happy Digital Learning Day! As an educator, I have definitely evolved from tech tentative to tech tenacious in a very short period of time. Because of my recently found passion for educational technology, I want to share some of the scaffolds I've developed to help my students evolve into digital learners. In order to help them prep for an eventual transition to web-facilitated (some online usage) or hybrid schooling (up to 80 percent online), I've been pulling together a list of qualities common to many successful online learners.
As many of us incorporate more and more online lessons, assignments, assessments, and digital presentations into our instruction, it's important for students to understand the skills that they will need to function at their best. The good news is that succeeding in an online environment isn't so different than succeeding in a traditional classroom. OK, sure, there's the time and distance and technological wall that can separate online learners. Planning. Forums. - Five Things Students Want Their Teachers to Know about Online Learning. 0 Comments December 19, 2011 By: Lisa Nielsen Dec 19 Written by: 12/19/2011 3:56 AM ShareThis Kids love having the opportunity to learn online but it’s not merely the medium or the technology that students enjoy. 1. Skype or Google Video: Great for projects where students work in pairs. Students appreciate the opportunity to learn online, but want their teachers to be sure to incorporate these elements which allow them to realize the benefits of online learning while not losing what they enjoy about face-to-face interactions.
Lisa Nielsen writes for and speaks to audiences across the globe about learning innovatively and is frequently covered by local and national media for her views on “Passion (not data) Driven Learning,” "Thinking Outside the Ban" to harness the power of technology for learning, and using the power of social media to provide a voice to educators and students. Hybrid Classes Prepare Students for College - Chartiers Valley, PA Patch. Less class time adds more responsibility and independence for CV students Upperclassmen at Chartiers Valley High School are learning more by attending class less with a new hybrid format. The classes only meet once a week and are offered first period in the morning, allowing students to arrive about an hour later than normal. The hybrid courses follow the same curriculum as the traditional ones, only with less class time and more online work and electronic communication. “The hybrid classes are part of an initiative started two years ago to restructure the senior year to help students be more prepared for college and beyond,” said Terri Flynn, the new director of administrative services who was instrumental in developing the program.
Similar to college, students are expected to come to class having already read the chapter and prepared with questions. Students know this in advance and have to receive a recommendation from a teacher to take these classes.