Apply for the Distance Education Best Practices Award – Deadline is June 1st

Also from Friday’s inbox…  Would be nice to see some K-12 online learning submissions…

IAP-DDL Distance Education Best Practices Award

The practice that is submitted can be any aspect of distance education that would qualify as a Best Practice. This means that it can serve as an example that can be emulated by others based on the description submitted.

The example that is submitted may be one that is used online, in a CD-ROM/DVD, or within video-based courses.

To nominate a Best Practice please submit an application document of no more than 2 pages with Practice Title, a description describing how the course addresses the Best Practices Award criteria, the product materials or URL with guest access information to the award coordinators Jennifer Richardson and Taeho Yu at jennrich@purdue.edu & yu134@purdue.edu.

Further details can be found here or by contacting the coordinators:

Award Criteria & Other Important Information

Below are the criteria used to judge the submissions for this award.
1. Practice in use within 3 years prior to conference at which the award is given
2. Format: Practice description summary provided in 800- 1000 words or less; word count provided by author
3. The practice illustrations or examples consistent with exemplary, professional practice
4. The distance education instructional is context described (institution, learners, faculty, teachers, administrators, course or instructional purpose, etc.)
5. Summary states briefly what the purpose or benefit of the practice is
6. Summary provides evidence of effectiveness
7. Practice quality based on the supporting documentation including easy access for all reviewers to review practice example online, or on CD/DVD.
8. Purpose to addresses a distance education issue, practice, or framework that appeals to
9. Practice grounded in scholarly, professional literature.

Submission due June 1, 2013!

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Sloan-C Conference Deadlines May 20th

From Thursday’s inbox…

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10th Annual Sloan Consortium Blended Learning Conference and Workshop July 8-9, 2013 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin Early Bird Registration ends May 20, 2013 (Save $50) Additional discounts apply for Sloan-C members and University of Wisconsin system attendees. This year’s conference theme, Trend to Blend: Lessons from the Field, reflects a renewed interest in blended learning while emphasizing the importance of research and proven effective practices of the past decade in guiding our future. Full Program Posted Check out K-12 Sessions All workshops included in onsite regular price Attend onsite (Watch the Onsite Preview Webinar) or virtually (Watch the Virtual Preview Webinar) REGISTER NOW

19th Annual Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning November 20-22, 2013 – Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort – Lake Buena Vista, Florida Call for Presentations: Deadline May 20th The theme of this year’s conference is “Online Learning: A Universe of Opportunities.” We are looking for proposals that are innovative and cutting edge and will provide important take-aways for participants. Proposals that address blended learning, issues of diversity, international applications of online learning, open educational resources, social networking, online learning and community colleges, and/or K-12 online education are especially encouraged. Read more. Need help with your submission? Check out the “Five Tips on How to Submit a Successful Conference Proposal” recording. Early Bird registration rates through Sept 20. SUBMIT PROPOSAL

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Virtual Schooling In The News

Beginning with the SmartBrief for EdTech.

Legislation would impose new restrictions on virtual charter schools in Maine
Portland Press Herald (Maine) (5/13)

Next the Education Week’s Digital Directions.

IT Management

Florida Poised to Expand Online Providers
A Florida measure awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature would open the door to more online providers, including MOOCs. (Digital Education Blog)

Back to the regular Google News alert for virtual school.

Tampa school news
Tampabay.com
Virtual school information session: Hillsborough Virtual School will hold an information session on Tuesday for families with students in grades K-12 who are interested in full-time, part-time and the high school graduation requirements. The …
See all stories on this topic »

Cost to expand Texas ‘virtual schools’ puts bill in Legislature at risk
Dallas Morning News
The measure also would broaden the list of virtual education providers, now limited to school districts, charter schools and colleges, to nonprofit entities and private companies. And it would require school districts to provide all students in grades …
See all stories on this topic »

Law opens up funding for virtual schools
Bradenton Herald
Currently, students can enroll full time in the public Florida Virtual School or use the program to satisfy the graduation requirement. School systems can also open their own franchise of Florida Virtual and have the option of contracting with a …
See all stories on this topic »

Board approves virtual school proposal
The Garden City Telegram
AEC Principal Mark Ronn presented information to the board during a regularly-scheduled meeting Monday in favor of the virtual option for students. He said he recognized the need for the virtual school as more students are turning to online and …
See all stories on this topic »

Students from virtual high school attend prom – Standard-Examiner
StandardNet
ROY — Virtual school became a reality when 30 students who are enrolled at the public online high school Utah Connections Academy attended the school’s first prom, held at the Utah State Capital in April. Many of the students didn’t even know one …
See all stories on this topic »

Tampa school news
Tampabay.com
Virtual school information session: Hillsborough Virtual School will hold an information session on Tuesday for families with students in grades K-12 who are interested in full-time, part-time and the high school graduation requirements. The …
See all stories on this topic »

Maine Voices: To embrace virtual schools would be to shortchange Maine students
Press Herald
The Massachusetts Virtual Academy, the state’s first and only virtual school, will be closing this month after only three years, in part because of very poor student test scores — the second lowest in the state in math and English as measured by …
See all stories on this topic »

Online schools a virtual reality in Sacramento
Sacramento News & Review
When Kelly Krug’s son Ben struggled academically, the Fair Oaks mom looked for options that provided computerized instruction. Called “virtual schools,” these new classrooms allow students to learn course work entirely via online methods. Krug enrolled …
See all stories on this topic »

Pasco school officials fear funding implications of virtual bill
Tampabay.com (blog)
Lawmakers used the bill to create what some are calling a “level playing field” for all online course providers, essentially stripping away the preferred status that Florida Virtual School has enjoyed for years. But somewhere along the way, Pasco …
See all stories on this topic »

School notes
Tampabay.com
The school has collected more than 50,000 tabs, surpassing its goal of 10,000 tabs. The school will be collecting tabs until May 15. For information, call (813) 740-4888. Virtual school information session: Hillsborough Virtual School will hold an …
See all stories on this topic »

Virtual schoolspoised to go viral
Palm Beach Post
Florida Virtual School grow 20 percent a year as legislature starts requirement for online class to graduate. . By Allison Ross. Palm Beach Post Staff Writer. The calls from students usually start just after 9 a.m. for teacher Kim Bouchillon. “Hi Sara …
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Maine Democrats advance bills restricting virtual charter schools
Kennebec Journal
“I just can’t see where a full-time virtual school does much for a student,” said Rep. Victoria Kornfield, D-Bangor. “I can see the value in some (part-time) situation, but I’m just fundamentally against it.” Republicans objected to the votes, saying …
See all stories on this topic »

Google Glass: West Michigan online physics teacher takes students on virtual …
MLive.com
Andrew Vanden Heuvel, who teaches for Michigan Virtual School, Calvin College and Grand Rapids Community College, said his journey to Geneva, Switzerland, began after a call from Google. “Would you be willing to bring Google Glass to CERN and visit …
See all stories on this topic »

iNACOL Webinar: School District Highlights Response to Intervention Program …
Sacramento Bee
The Spring ISD Virtual School in Houston, TX developed a comprehensive RtI program – five years in the making – blending the best of face-to-face learning with online tools and resources. The program supports students across vast range of backgrounds, …
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When Education Gets Too Virtual
InformationWeek
He and his sister are in a virtual school, so getting the password let him grade some of his own schoolwork. The good news is that he isn’t as clever as he thinks he is and routinely gets stopped when he tries a tactic like this one. My hope is that as …
See all stories on this topic »

TEMECULA: Information meeting Wednesday for virtual school
Press-Enterprise
Parents and students interested in learning more about Temecula Advantage Virtual School are encouraged to attend an information meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 15. Temecula Advantage is the Temecula Valley Unified School District’s online school.
See all stories on this topic »

Educators on virtual charter schools: Hold off a year
Chicago Daily Herald
Cindy Hamblin is the director of the Illinois Virtual School, which is run by the Illinois State Board of Education and offers courses to students who don’t have access to them in their own districts. The Illinois Virtual School is not a stand-alone …
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Online Charter School Hopes to Escape from Limbo
NJ Spotlight
A department spokeswoman yesterday said that a decision has yet to be made about this or any other virtual school proposals. “We’re still waiting for a decision,” said Lorna Bryant, interim director of the planned school. “In the meantime, we are doing …
See all stories on this topic »

Virtual Education: Why it can work for you
Greenfield West Allis Now
Students enrolled in virtual school are never alone in the learning process. Highly-qualified, state-certified, teachers and staff are dedicated to helping students reach their full potential through goal-setting, course scheduling, personal and social …
See all stories on this topic »

Great Lakes Cyber Academy Approved for 2013-2014 School Year
Midland Daily News
Using the award-winning Florida Virtual School and Connections Academy curriculum, Great Lakes Cyber Academy offers a robust selection of core courses, including AP and Honors courses, as well as an exciting array of electives to provide students …
See all stories on this topic »

Fred Grimm: Boondoggle? Hey, it’s for the kids
MiamiHerald.com
The measure eased the vetting process for online vendors and allowed out-of-state firms to jump into the game while simultaneously cutting back funding for the public, state-run Florida Virtual School. What made this bill so disconcerting is that it …
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Legislation further undermines Florida’s public school system
Bradenton Herald
Legislation also reduces the per-student allocation for Florida Virtual School, the public entity that has been expanding exponentially as the state transitions toward a greater reliance on virtual education. Students completed 116,000 FLVS courses …
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Airport To Offer Online Classes
Monroe Evening News
Known as AVA, the virtual school offers a variety of classes online. AVA is open to any student, officials said, including those who might have moved out of the district but still want to earn a diploma from Airport Community Schools. Students who need …
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Dawn Patrol: Coach charged in hazing; 18 virtual-school appeals
Chicago Daily Herald
After a five-month investigation of allegations of hazing at Maine West High School in Des Plaines, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office yesterday charged former Maine West High School head varsity soccer coach Michael Divincenzo with hazing and …
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State panel won’t consolidate 18 virtual school appeals
Chicago Daily Herald
Administrators, district attorneys, school board members, union representatives and community members packed the meeting Wednesday of the Illinois State Charter School Commission in Chicago to argue against the proposed appeal process for a virtual …
See all stories on this topic »

Brevard School Board Budget: Breaks the Law, Lacks Priorities
Brevard Times
Also infuriating to a mother who just wants to see kids thrive in neighborhood schools, without the threat of closure and teacher cuts: the legislature’s gifts to Florida Virtual School. While Brevard taxpayers can be praised for generosity toward high …
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Ed Tech, Privatization And Plunder
InformationWeek
I’ve written before about putting my younger kids in a virtual school program run by the Broward County public school system. The Broward Virtual School operates as a franchise of the Florida Virtual School but also offers some programs through K12.com …
See all stories on this topic »

Finally, the Google news alert for cyber school.

Altoona pulls out of cyber school
Altoona Mirror
By Russ O’Reilly (roreilly@altoonamirror.com) , The Altoona Mirror As one local district cuts ties to a local cyber charter school to save money, …

Altoona pulls out of cyber school
Altoona Mirror
As one local district cuts ties to a local cyber charter school to save money, another is looking to take it over as a source of revenue. The Altoona Area school board has cut ties with Central Pennsylvania Digital Learning Foundation after managing …
See all stories on this topic »

Agora Cyber Charter School Teacher Wins National Parent Organization Award
MarketWatch
WAYNE, Pa., May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Agora Cyber Charter School (Agora), a state-accredited, tuition-free, public cyber school option in Pennsylvania, today announced that Agora music teacher Andrew Rinaldi has been named the 2013 …
See all stories on this topic »

Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School Teacher Named National American Pioneer …
Wall Street Journal
ARLINGTON, Va., May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — PublicSchoolOptions.org, a national alliance of parents that supports and defends parents’ rights to access the best public school options for their children, today announced Agora Cyber Charter …
See all stories on this topic »

Altoona Cyber School Program
Fox8tv
Altoona Area School District is no longer offering Cyber Schooling. The Altoona Mirror says the board decided to cut ties with Central Pennsylvania Learning …

Frazier candidates give opinions on test scores, cyber school
Uniontown Herald Standard
Despite concerns, two Frazier School Board candidates remain confident with the proactive measures being implemented by the district at the high school …

Primary Election Guide: Carlisle Area School Board
The Sentinel
School Districts are mandated to accept the financial responsibility of students attending cyber while we have our own cyber school that shows is very …

Great Lakes Cyber Academy Approved for 2013-2014 School Year
PR Web
Students in grades 9-12 from across Michigan have a new open enrollment option for Michigan’s 2013-2014 school year—Great Lakes Cyber Academy, a full-time, …

Pennsylvania cyber charter schools rally to oppose funding cuts
The Herald | HeraldOnline.com
By PA Cyber Charter School HARRISBURG, Pa., May 17, 2013 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A large contingent of PA Cyber Charter School students, parents, …

Pennsylvania cyber charter schools rally to oppose funding cuts
MarketWatch
HARRISBURG, Pa., May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — A large contingent of PA Cyber Charter School students, parents, teachers and staff were among a …

Pennsylvania cyber charter schools rally to oppose funding cuts
SYS-CON Media
By PR Newswire HARRISBURG, Pa., May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A large contingent of PA Cyber Charter School students, parents, teachers and staff …

Plugged In | 05.17.13 | (powered by iNACOL)

And finishing the day with news from the neo-liberals…

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PLUGGED IN  05.17.13 powered by iNACOL… Upcoming iNACOL webinars… > 05.17 Webinar: How State Educational Leaders are Advancing Competency Education >  05.21 Webinar: Research in Review - Examining K-12 Online Teachers Educational Practices News… Microsoft donates $1 million to help expand ‘blended learning’ in D.C. schools Washington Post | Washington, DC Microsoft has donated $1 million to help D.C. teachers redesign their classrooms using a “blended learning” approach that combines online learning with face-to-face instruction. Blended learning has drawn both excitement and skepticism as it has exploded in popularity in recent years. Boosters believe that (read) What We Can Learn From A Dinner Controversy In The Desert Forbes A few weeks back, I had the honor to emcee the closing awards dinner at the Education Innovation Summit in Scottsdale.  The evening took a sour note though as the dinner keynote, which Andy Kessler delivered, stunned and offended the majority of the audience by essentially arguing that as digital learning rises (read) Think Swiss Cheese CompetencyWorks I think about design a lot.  Indeed, Fast Company is a monthly read. Design is an empowering, creative process. It can also help us rethink the assumptions holding us back. The way design and the design process is taking hold in education is exciting and sometimes disturbing. It’s exciting that ( read) Digital education – Schools, firms starting to integrate tablet technology into classrooms Associated Press (GA) Time is up for the 13 students in Stephanee Stephens’ eighth-grade Spanish class. For the last few minutes they’ve been conjugating verbs, each typing away on a small tablet when a message pops up on the screen: “Eyes on the Teacher.” Stephens, with tablet in hand, asks for “voluntarios o victimas” to (read) State sets hearing dates for online school proposal Chicago Tribune | Chicago, IL A state commission will hold hearings next month as it determines whether to overrule 18 suburban school districts that rejected a proposal for an online charter school. The hearings – one for each of the 18 districts affected – will take place June 19-21 and June 24 in the western suburbs. The proposed (read) Governor signs bill to tighten enrollment requirements at privately run online schools Associated Press (TN) Gov. Bill Haslam has signed into law a measure to tighten enrollment requirements at privately run online schools. The administration legislation allows beginning online schools to start with an enrollment of 1,500 and continue to expand as long as they meet performance requirements. If they fail to do so for three (read) Profession(al) Development Getting Smart The teaching profession, in its current state, is unsustainable. It is unsustainable because of the stress related to the challenges and demands of individualized learning and diverse needs among students, the implementation of new standards, the reality of decreasing school budgets, and the lack of time and (read) Cyber Academy of South Carolina (CASC) Opens Statewide Enrollment for Students Entering Grades K Through 9 Press Release Cyber Academy of South Carolina (CASC), a new full-time, tuition-free online public school option, announced that they are now enrolling students entering grades K through 9 for the 2013-2014 school year, with plans to add an additional three grade levels over the next three years. The Cyber Academy of (read) Time to ride the tsunami Clayton Christensen Institute Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion on HuffPost Live. The topic was massive open online courses (MOOCs), prompted specifically by Amherst College’s most recent decision to decline entering into a partnership with edX. President of Amherst, Carolyn “Biddy” Martin, was on (read) Something missing? Send news items and other information of interest to joglesby@inacol.org… Do you know someone who should be reading Plugged In?  Please share the following link and ask them to subscribe: http://www.inacol.org/news/plugged-in/ - Thank you! Find out more about iNACOL and our mission on: Stay connected:

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Pam Moran, Mobile Learning, Data & Learning, Webinar Management, Horizon Report, Dropout Prevention, School Communities, AFEE/Macarthur/NWP

From yesterday’s inbox…

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This week’s update on the U.S. Department of Education’s Connected Educators initiative:

Connected Educator Profile: Dr. Pam Moran
We inaugurate our new Connected Educator profile series with an interview of Dr. Pam Moran, superintendent of Albemarle County (VA) Schools.  Dr. Moran shares how she became a connected educator, how she fits connectivity into her day, what she sees on the road ahead, and more…

http://bit.ly/pam_moran

Grunwald, Learning First, AT&T: Mobile Learning
Grunwald Associates LLC, the Learning First Alliance, and AT&T have released a new study on kids and mobile learning (scroll down within the link to see/get free report and infographic), based on a nationally representative online survey of more than 2,000 parents of kids ages 3-18.  Topics covered include devices used, mobile use in schools, attitudes towards mobile learning, what devices are being used for, and more…

http://bit.ly/ga_mobile_learn   (report is just below the fold)

SETDA, US Dept of ED: New Report on Data and Learning
On Monday, May 21, 10:00-11:30 AM, the State Education Technology Directors Association will be releasing a new report, Transforming Data to Information in Service of Learning, with a blended press conference at the National Press Club.  You can reserve a seat at the event or register to watch it live.  Confirmed speakers include Douglas Levin, Executive Director of SETDA, and Richard Culatta, Acting Director of the Office of Educational Technology, US Department of Education…

http://bit.ly/datatoinfo_watchlive

CoSN, NMC: Horizon Report 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 1-2 PM ET.  The Consortium for School Networking and the New Media Consortium Group will be unveiling the 2013 K-12 Horizon Report, detailing the six emerging technologies they’ve determined will have the biggest impact on K-12 education in the next three years, in an online event featuring NMC CEO Dr. Larry Johnson.  More information and registration at the link below (registration is free for CoSN institutional and corporate members)…

http://bit.ly/2013_horizon

edWeb, ETLO: Webinar Management
Tuesday, May 21, 3-4 PM ET. edWeb and EdTech Leaders Online get meta–in a good way–for a “webinar on webinars,” sharing tips and advice for webinar planning and management. Registration below…

http://bit.ly/webinar_mgmt

US Dept of Ed, AIR: Dropout Recovery–Getting Creative
Thursday, June 6, 12-1 PM ET.  The US Department of Education and the American Institutes of Research announce the first public event offered by the members of the Dropout Prevention and Recovery online community of practice, a webinar featuring three teams sharing their experiences implementing creative and innovative ways to find and re-engage the toughest to reach students who have dropped out of school…

http://bit.ly/dropout_creative

Future of Education: Engaging School Communities
Wednesday, May 22, 2 PM ET. Steve Hargadon’s Future of Education series continues with a discussion of how school communities that include teachers, parents, and students can help raise the achievement levels of low-performing schools, featuring Ernie Turner, President of Leadership in International Management, and communications consultant Simona David.  You can learn more about this event, and others upcoming, via the Future of Education home page…

http://bit.ly/future_ofed (scroll down for calendar)

Alliance for Excellent Education, MacArthur, NWP: Connected Learning
Wednesday, May 29, 2-3 PM ET.  Join Dr. Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, Director of National Programs for the National Writing Project, Dr. Mimi Ito, Chair of Digital Media and Learning at the MacArthur Foundation, Martens Roc, Policy & Advocacy Associate for the Alliance for Excellent Education, Katie Salen, Executive Director of the Institute of Play, and Dr. Craig Watkins of the University of Texas, for a wide-ranging “Dive Into Connected Learning.” Sign up below…

http://bit.ly/afee_connectedlearning

To see past issues of this newsletter, click here.

The Connected Educators initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Education under contract (ED-PEP-10-C-0059) with the American Institutes for Research in partnership with five organizations, including the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), Forum One Communications, the Friday Institute for Education Innovation, Grunwald Associates LLC, and the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA).

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