Blogging About Virtual Schooling

Today we focus on entries generally related to K-12 online learning.  Beginning with the thematic ones.

Policy

• Statewide Support for K 12 Online Learning Grows – David Nagel, THE Journal from Online Learning Update
• National Standards for Online Instructors from Teach Online
• Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning from Teaching and Developing Online
• A State-by-State Report Card on Ed Innovation from Teaching and Developing Online
• Getting Students More Learning Time Online from Teaching and Developing Online
• States boost access to online education from Virtual School News

Opinion

• ‘Convergent education’ online learning comes together – Gregg W. Downey, eSchool News from Online Learning Update
• iNACOL’s Susan Patrick on Trends in eLearning – David Nagel, THE Journal from Online Learning Update
• 10.5 Million PreK-12 Students Will Attend Classes Online by 2014 – David Nagel, THE Journal from Online Learning Update
• DiigoNotes – iNACOL’s Susan Patrick on Trends in eLearning from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org
• Poll: What is your job in K12 online education? from Online Educator
• Contingency Plans For Online Schools from 21stcenturyed.com
• Showing Up Is Half The Battle from 21stcenturyed.com
• Not the Only Disconnect from 21stcenturyed.com
• The student dropout crisis really bugs me from California Dreamin’ by Rob Darrow
• Online learning and the need for social opportunities from Clayton Christensen
• Education innovations overseas from Clayton Christensen
• The power of a heavyweight team to rethink education: A quest to learn from Clayton Christensen
• 10.5M PreK-12 students to take online courses by 2014, research firm predicts from Innosight Institute
• Florida Virtual School case study musings part II from Innosight Institute
• The decision: Build vs. buy from Innosight Institute
• The Link Between School Design and Quality Teaching from The Quick and the Ed
• Virtual Teachers -Don’t sit at a computer all day! from Shu-NCrew
• Increase Interaction Online from Shu-NCrew
• Online High School CEO Wins Prestigious Award at National K-12 Virtual School Symposium from Virtual School News
• The Pros And Cons Of Studying In An Online School from Virtual School News
• Online courses often pricier for students from Virtual School News

Research

• Dissertation: Preliminary Defense Over from California Dreamin’ by Rob Darrow

Tools

• Virtual Training in Second Life from Penn Foster Blog

Then the geographic focus…

Arizona

• Humboldt Unified will introduce online school in January from Virtual School News

California

• Swine Flu School Closings Drive Students to Online Learning and Tutoring from Online Learning Update
• Military Spouse Trisha Ewalt of Littleton NH – Online High School’s DETC Outstanding Graduate from Allied Online High School Blog

Colorado

• New military families in D-20 boost school enrollment from Virtual School News

Florida

• Like a game, but worth high school online learning credits – HANNAH SAMPSON, Miami Herald from Online Learning Update
• Like a game, but worth high school credits from Virtual School News
• 12-Year-Old Lakeland Actor Will Add His Voice to Macy’s Festivities from Virtual School News

Georgia

• Online Learning schools chart new course – D. Aileen Dodd, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Online Learning Update
• More high school students are taking online learning courses – Julie Hubbard, Macon.com from Online Learning Update
• Bricks-and-Mortar Money for Virtual Schools? from The Quick and the Ed

Idaho

• NW eLearn keynote today! from Online Educator

Maryland

• Download our brochure from The Virtual Education Blog
• Cyber schools: It’s time for them to be considered mainstream from The Virtual Education Blog

Minnesota

• More High School Students Learning Online – Mankato Fox 12 from Online Learning Update
• Building a digital classroom: Online learning options are growing from Virtual School News
• Cyber school founder gets $3 million to cut ties from Virtual School News

Missouri

• Online Learning: In a class of his own – TIM ENGLE, Bismark Tribune from Online Learning Update
• Analysis: Mo. cuts could unplug online learning school – DAVID A. LIEB, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from Online Learning Update
• Missouri Expands Statewide Online Education Offerings – Scott Aronowitz, THE Journal from Online Learning Update
• Online learning students go to school without being in school – Tim Engle, PhysOrg.com from Online Learning Update
• Budget cuts threaten Missouri virtual school from Virtual School News

Nebraska

• Using online learning technology to teach technology – Betsy Friedrich, Omaha World-Herald from Online Learning Update

Nevada

• Hundreds of Washoe Co. students forego classroom for online learning – Victoria Campbell, News 4 from Online Learning Update
• Military Tries Out Virtual Schools from Teaching and Developing Online

New Jersey

• Students discovering online learning through collaboration – Kristen Alloway, The Star-Ledger from Online Learning Update

North Carolina

• Online learning offerings in schools expand – Philip D. Brown, Richmond County Daily Journal from Online Learning Update

Oregon

• Online learning offerings keep Yakima students in school – ADRIANA JANOVICH, Associated Press from Online Learning Update

Texas [Note that some of these may not seem related to Texas, however, Miguel has been completing the TxVSN training and blogging about it - and I believe many of these entries are related to that training.]

• Creating an Oasis of Virtual Learning: 7 Steps to Avoiding the Mirage #moodle from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org
• DiigoNotes – Online Courses from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org
• onCUE Publishes Moodle Article from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org
• DiigoNotes – Implementing performance assessment in the classroom from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org
• Cheating in Online Student Assessment: Beyond Plagiarism from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org
• Online Learning Policies from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org
• TxDLA Extends Proposal Deadline to October 30 from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org
• Ed Tech October 2009 Newsletter from Things from my mind…

Washington

• Internet changes course of learning: More K-12 students drawn to flexibility, options of online learning – Jody Lawrence-Turner, the Spokesman from Online Learning Update
• Kelso schools to open ‘Virtual Academy’ from Virtual School News
• Online school adjusts course from Virtual School News

Wisconsin

• Racine Unified parents can access online learning resources for free – LINDSAY FIORI, Journal-Times from Online Learning Update
• Virtual school advocates hopeful about Obama visit from Virtual School News

And internationally we have:

Canada

• Calgary students might soon be able to put their iPods to use for online learning in the classroom – Shannon Montgomery, Candadian Press from Online Learning Update

Denmark

• Danish pupils use web in exams – Judy Hobson, BBC News from Online Learning Update

New Zealand

• NZ’s first fully virtual school from Derek’s Blog

Scotland

• Scotland Flu outbreak pupils to net online learning classes – Edingburgh Evening News from Online Learning Update

Seeking Non-US K-12 Online Teacher Blogger

This was posted to the iNACOL forums earlier today…

Hi, we are seeking a K12 online teacher outside of the U.S. to be a founding contributor to our new blog on the same topic. No compensation involved, but you have the opportunity to inform thousands of others in the field. Requirements, minimum of 1 blog post per month, 2-3 paragraphs.

Email Lisa Dawley lisadawley-at-boisestate-dot-edu, include link to your current blog, if available.

Thank you!

——————–
Lisa Dawley, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair
Dept. of Educational Technology
Boise State University
lisadawley-at-boisestate-dot-edu

Darren, may be something of interest for you or one of your teachers?

Blogging About The Virtual School Symposium

Starting the blogging about features this month with blog entries that I found related to the annual Virtual School Symposium.

• Disappointing Comments at iNACOL VSS2009 from 21stcenturyed.com
• K12 online teacher professional development from Online Educator
• This week at Virtual School Symposium! from Online Educator
• Conspiracy Code from Things from my mind…
• Gifted Kids Online, Differentiation and Web 2.0 from Things from my mind…
• Liberating Learning from Things from my mind…
• Speak Up Survey from Things from my mind…
• National Technology Plan from Things from my mind…
• Welcome and Opening from Things from my mind…
• Technology Innovation for a World Class Education from Things from my mind…
• Future of Education from Things from my mind…
• Some Facts about Online Learning from Things from my mind…
• VSS 09 from Things from my mind…
• Virtual School Symposium PreConference from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org

And of course my own entries can be found at:

http://virtualschooling.wordpress.com/tag/vss-2009/

Virtual Schooling Blog Carnival – Call For Submissions

The call for the December Blog Carnival edition reads:

virtual schooling – http://blogcarnival.com/bc/eprof_26744.html

Description – This is a carnival that is focused upon the use of online learning and distance at the K-12 level. Please submit items that are related to the field of K-12 education – elementary or high school – and online or blended/hybrid learning.
Keywords – K-12 online learning, virtual schooling, cyberschooling, distance education
Filed under – education
Submission deadline – Middle of the month (providing appropriate content)
Maintained by – Michael Barbour
Current status – This carnival is ongoing.

If you have something relevant to this topic, feel free to submit it to this Blog Carnival.

Odds And Ends

A few random things that I think may finish off my Friday blogging…

1. Carrie Jean Ross has a new blog up entitled, “Connections Academy Blog: Virtual Learning Connections“.  Take a look at http://blog.connectionsacademy.com/blog/posts.aspx

2. Tom Nixon is trying to make sure his list of accredited online high schools is as comprehensive as possible.  If you are part of an online program, visit Are you not listed here? to see if you are indeed listed.

3. Bob Blomeyer has what I think is a provocative blog entry posted on the ISTE Connects website entitled “Evaluating ‘Course Equivalent’ Online Learning Environments“.  Take a look at http://www.isteconnects.org/2009/11/19/evaluating-course-equivalent-online-learning-environments/

I think that’s all for now, see you in the AM…