The Journal of Distance Learning – Online Discussion

Tomorrow begins the first in a series of online discussions on the recent issue of the Journal of Distance Learning.  I mention this here in this forum because there are two articles in the issue focused on K-12 online learning: one by Rachel Roberts and mine own.

DEANZ is offering its members an opportunity to dialogue with the authors featured in the latest Journal of Distance Learning. Each week from 21 September through 26 October, one of the authors will be available to answer questions or issues relating to their publication. The schedule is as follows:

• 21 September – Michael Barbour, “Today’s Student and Virtual Schooling: the Reality, the Challenge, the Promise…”
• 28 September -Hamish Anderson, “Formative Assessment: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Online Quizzes in a Core Business Finance Course”.
• 5 October -Chan Chi Wai, “The Quality of Distance Learning from an Economic Perspective: A Case from Hong Kong”.
• 12 October – Gary Mersham, “Reflections on E-Learning from a Communication Perspective”.
• 19 October -Terry Stewart et al, “Interactive Scenario Design: The Value of Flowcharts and Schemas in Developing Scenario-based Lessons for Online and Flexible Learning Contexts”.
• 26 October – Rachel Roberts, “Video Conferencing in Distance Learning: A New Zealand Schools’ Perspective”.

Discussions will take place through forums available through the DEANZ Web site.

On the left hand side of the site http://www.deanz.org.nz you will find a login block.

Enter your username and password to login. A link to the forum will appear under the Members menu.

If you cannot remember (or do not know) your username and/or password please click the [Forgot Login?] link under the member login block and follow the instructions. In the event that this fails contact Carol Cooper-Taylor via the [Committee] link under the Main Menu, but please try to retrieve your login details yourself first.

Authors will prepare an introductory post for the start of the week, along with some possible questions for discussion. Please make the most of this opportunity to engage with the ideas raised in your journal. Discussions are limited to DEANZ members only.

Based on this description, I believe the discussions are only available to DEANZ members.  However, if you are interested in participating in the discussions I would contact someone at DEANZ to see if you are able to.

[DEANZ] DEANZ notes

This showed up in my inbox two or three days ago.  Note the Journal of Distance Learning information below.  You can find out more about the keynote in question in previous blog entries (see VHSM October Podcast Introduction, VHSM October Podcast, and DEANZ Keynote – Visually).

Hi DEANZ members Our most recent DEANZ Exec meeting provided several snippets of news that will be of interest and value to you. First, there is considerable progress in planning for the 2010 DEANZ Conference. We have already confirmed one (international) keynote speaker and are in contact with two others – one well known New Zealander and another from overseas. We want to confirm all three before announcing who they are, and will make a formal announcement about the keynotes and other aspects shortly. However, we want to tell you the date so that you can ….. Mark your diaries now!! April 25 – 28 is the time for the DEANZ conference in 2010. In the meantime keep your eye on the DEANZ website www.deanz.org for further information. The next issue of the Journal of Distance Learning is nearly ready for distribution. It’s a bumper issue with five good articles. In addition Michael Barbour has reworked his well-received keynote from the 2008 Conference and that is included along with several book reviews. You should be receiving this within a few weeks. The DEANZ Webinars have been very popular. We want spread the net even wider and use webinars for members to share their great ideas and innovations and to talk over the excellent practices in distance education and e-learning that exists throughout New Zealand. We are working on developing a fuller programme – if you know of anyone (could be you) with sound ideas to share, let one of the Exec committee know…. … and to remind you who the Exec Committee members are …  The easiest way to find out is to go to the DEANZ website and click on ‘Committee ‘ in the menu on the left hand side … or just click here (or try http://www.deanz.org.nz/home/index.php?option=com_contact&view=category&catid=45&Itemid=41) Finally, I can report that at last distance education has its own entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica. There’s been a Wikipedia entry since 2001, but the EB has been a bit slow in catching up. 2009 is the year it happened! Regards Bill Anderson ____________________________________ Dr Bill Anderson President DEANZ The New Zealand Association for professionals working in Flexible, Open and Networked Learning http://www.deanz.org.nz/ email:   president@deanz.org.nz Director, Distance Learning University of Otago New Zealand email: bill.anderson@otago.ac.nz

NCES Fast Facts

This was the last item that I came across in preparing for my IVHS presentation.

Question:

What percentage of elementary and secondary schools offer distance education?

Response:

Distance education in elementary and secondary grades, defined as credit-granting courses offered to elementary and secondary school students enrolled in the district in which the teacher and student were in different locations, has become an important element of the contemporary educational landscape. Distance education offers a way to help schools and school districts deal with overcrowding, student demand for Advanced Placement (AP) and college-level courses, and individualized schedules. Online distance education, that is, distance education courses delivered via the Internet, is considered by some policymakers as a way of helping schools and school districts address these challenges.

During the 12-month 2004–05 school year, 37 percent of public school districts and 10 percent of all public schools nationwide had students enrolled in technology-based distance education courses. This represents an estimated 5,670 public school districts and 9,050 public schools. The number of enrollments in technology-based distance education courses increased from an estimated 317,070 enrollments in 2002–03 to 506,950 in 2004–05.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2008). Technology-Based Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2002-03 and 2004-05 (NCES 2008-008), Executive Summary .

Related Tables and Figures: (Listed by Release Date)

• 2008, Digest of Education Statistics, 2007, Table 54. Number and percentage of schools with students enrolled in distance education courses and enrollment in distance education courses, by instructional level and district characteristics: 2002-03

Other Resources: (Listed by Release Date)

2005, Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2002-03

It comes from http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=79

An International K-12 Online Learning Program In South Africa

A few weeks ago I posted an entry entitled Name Some International K-12 Online Learning Programs.  At the time I was hoping to find out the names and contact information for some additional K-12 online learning programs outside of the United States and Canada.  In that entry I listed the following programs:

• Virtual Learning Network (New Zealand) – http://www.virtuallearning.school.nz/spaces/space.php?space_key=2
• Not School, Inclusion Trust (United Kingdom) – http://www.inclusiontrust.org/notschool/
• A School Without Walls (United Kingdom) – http://www.brightfuturesonline.co.uk/
• Virtual School for the Gifted (Australia) – http://www.vsg.edu.au/
• Virtual Schooling Service (Australia) – http://education.qld.gov.au/learningplace/vss/

And in the comments section, I was also alerted to the national K-12 online learning program in Turkey (TTNET VİTAMİN – http://www.ttnetvitamin.com.tr).

Well, a few months back I met an academic from South Africa while I was attending the Society for Technology in Teacher Education annual meeting.  She had indicated that a former student in her program was running a K-12 online learning program in that country.  Well, I finally got around to contacting her and she sent me some information about:

Brainline Learning World – http://brainline.com/cms/index.php

So once again if you are aware of other K-12 online learning programs outside of Canada and the United States, please post the name of the program and any contact information in the comments below.

Publication Notice: K-12 Distance Educators At Work: Who’s Teaching Online Across The United States

This article is a follow-up or at least based on the same research study that was reported in Examining TPACK Among K-12 Online Distance Educators in the United States

Archambault, L.M. & Crippen, K.J. (2009). K-12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online Across the United States. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 41(4), 363-391.

I haven’t been able to access this article yet myself, as the university library’s electronic subscription has a one issue delay (so when the Fall issue comes out, I’ll be able to access this issue).  Also, the ISTE website for their Journal of Research on Technology in Education hasn’t updated for the summer issue yet.  So, Leanna sent me the following abstract and keywords.

Abstract: Due to the current proliferation of virtual schools, a growing number of teachers are facing the challenge of teaching online. This study examines the demographic nature and experiences of K–12 online teachers. Findings show that online teachers are experienced in the traditional classroom, as indicated by their years of experience and the level of  their advanced degrees. These teachers seek a better means to engage with students, a greater sense of community, and the ability to teach without the constraints of traditional teachings, such as a bell schedule or issues of classroom management. Data also suggest that aspects of teaching online, such as the number of classes/students, student motivation, and lack of support, can be overwhelming at times. Through this study, we are able to gain a better understanding of the educators them- selves, including specific advantages and challenges of teaching in an online environment.

Keywords:  Distance education, online education, virtual schooling, teacher preparation, K–12

I should note that Miguel Guhlin from Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org has posted some of his own thoughts and notes about this article in the entry Journal of Research on Tech in Education: Who’s Teaching Online – which is worth the read.