online instruction: the benefits and pitfalls
TRANSCRIPT
Chris Niewenhuis, Riverside School DistrictFred O’Neal, South Whidbey School District
Carol Van Noy, Riverview School District
Online Instruction: The Benefits and Pitfalls
Education Faces New Challenges
Did You Know?
Engage Me
Some Provocative Questions
Some Provocative QuestionsDo all your students have equal ability?Do they all learn at the same rate?Do they all have the same level of preparation?Do they all have the same goals?Do they all have the same level of parental support?
Questions (continued)
….but today’s lesson is page 200…
…for everybody!
What’s wrong with this picture?
Provocative Questions (continued)
Is it more important to keep to the schedule, or for all learners to master the material?What would happen if we could let every student progress at their own rate, independent of the pace set by any other student….would the average time for students to master the material go up, or down (obviously a VERY important question) ?
Some Limitations of the Current Paradigm
Teacher centered, not learner centered
Age-based, not needs/abilities-based
Throughput of system is fixed (and inefficient)
A Way To Get Out Of The BoxMore and more learners are mastering courses when they are ready to, not when the schedule says it is time to do so.They progress through the material at their own pace and master material independent of any other student or teacher.
How? Online Learning!
What Is Online Instruction?
Online instruction comes in a range of models◦
Online instructional support/activities in conventional instruction◦
Teacher led e-instruction◦
Mediated Lecture e-instruction◦
Interactive multimedia instruction◦
Intelligent Tutoring
Online support activities and materials
Online lesson plansOnline lessonsOnline interactive materialsOnline reference materials and search enginesWikis and online textbooks
Teacher Led E-InstructionInstructor may be anywhereStudents may be anywhereOtherwise a normal classroom experienceLimits of current paradigm in terms of pacing, scheduling, and interactivity still apply.Allows students to access “master teachers”and subjects unavailable in their local school
Mediated Lecture E-InstructionInstructor has prepared mediated lecture materials to be delivered to students on demandStudents may be anywhere and may sign on at any timeNot a normal classroom experience since instructor may or may not be available on demandAvoids limits on pacing, access and subjects, and scheduleInteractivity is limited
Interactive Mediated Instruction
State of the art in terms of practical online instruction effectiveness and efficiencyFrees learners from constraints of pace, schedule, and locationWhen done correctly is highly interactive with frequent trials with feedback and self testsMore expensive to develop, but over time becomes easily the most economical per unit of performance improvement
Intelligent TutoringCurrently the most expensive of the alternative online instructional modelsNeeds more breakthroughs in software, artificial intelligence models and tools and instructional theoryA few are working in very limited domains, but when they work they are spectacularly successfulNot currently cost effective, but probably the future
Does It Work: What does The Research Say?
Research says that, properly done, online instruction◦
Reduces time to mastery◦
Improves performance◦
Improves student attitudes◦
Reduces costs
Time To MasteryOnline learning can greatly reduce the time to
mastery for most learners, and improve the likelihood of achieving mastery for the rest.
Improves PerformanceFletcher (2003) study reported that online instruction can improve performance from the 50th percentile to the 64th percentile on the left to over the 85th percentile on the right.
Improves performance (Cont)Watson (2007) compared the effectiveness of 3 online instruction programs vs traditional instruction as measured by pass rates on Advanced Placement exams.
Improves Student AttitudesThe research generally supports this, but always as an “adjunct” finding in research designed to look at performance and/or time to completion.In some studies it was found online instruction improved student attitudes towards the content being studied.In others it was found that it improved attitudes towards school.In some it was found that it improved the attitude of girls favorably towards technology to equal that of boys
Costs of Online InstructionToday in the state of Washington you can get a one/half credit online course for $250-300.This means that a credit, say Algebra One, English Two or French One costs you $500-600.If a full load is 6 credits a year or 24 credits in high school, then online instruction would cost $12,000-14,400.The corresponding costs for one student for 4 years of high school was $35,334 in 2008 (A Citizen’s Guide to Washington State K-12 Finance, 2008, OSPI)
Who Is Using Online Instruction?
Fast Facts About Online Learning (www.nacol.org)
Online Learning in Washington State
Under RCW 28A.150.262 and WAC 392-182-121, Washington is developing a unique network of alternative sources for online instruction.Under these regulations, parents or school districts can pay for online courses that meet all Washington State standards either directly, or by transferring FTE to the school district associated with the supplier.
Models for Providing Online Instruction in WA
Current major sources of online instruction include:◦
District-developed and managed—i.e., Federal Way, Everett, Spokane.◦
Membership model—Digital Learning Commons.◦
Regional Consortia—ESDs/WA Learning Source.◦
Contract for ‘courseware’ and other non- instructional resources with commercial vendors— Steilacoom Historical School District.◦
Outsourcing of entire program to commercial vendor—i.e., Quillayute Valley, Evergreen (Clark), Stevenson-Carson, Kittitas.
Online Learning Data: Annual ALE Report to OSPI2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
Districts 150 171 229ALE Programs
207 226 227
Digital/Online
26 29 45
Contract 1 4 8Oct Count
1880 3851 6566
FTE 1437 3108 5666
Washington Virtual AcademiesSteilacoom Historical School District #1 (K-8); Monroe Public Schools (9-12)Washington State Certificated Teachers◦
Highly Qualified
◦
School District employees
◦
61 (K-8) 33 (high school)
Learning Coaches - home-based supportField trips, social opportunities; newsletters;
competitions (art, spelling, writing)
Spokane Virtual LearningAll Curriculum Created In-House ◦
Aligned to Spokane Public Schools curriculum requirements
45 Courses grades 8-127 AP College Board approved Courses3 WASL Prep CoursesCulminating ProjectCredit Retrieval
2007 – 2008 ◦
SVL served about 1000 course enrollments◦
77 % of our students completed their online courses ◦
81% of all our students who completed their online courses had a passing grade
Internet AcademyStaffing◦
11.5 FTE Teachers◦
1.0 FTE Admin◦
2.0 Support StaffStudents◦
302 AAFTE◦
972 Students◦
4453 Courses
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60
70
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90
K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Head Count
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20
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K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
FTE
Internet Academy CurriculumGrades K-6Grades 7-8 High SchoolCredit RetrievalSummer School.5 credit courses1.0 credit courses
In HouseApexLearning OdysseyAventa Learning
Digital Learning CommonsWhat is our model?◦
K-12 state-wide ◦
Multi-resource/multi-vendor with stringent quality review and vetting
◦
Public/private partnership funding ◦
Non-profit organizationWhom do we serve?◦
241 schools 51% high school, 16% middle school, 8% elementary, 11% K-12, other33% are alternative schools or homeschool resource centers
◦
81,000 students ◦
5,800 educators◦
90% return rate
Some Online Contacts in Washington
Mickey RevenaughConnections [email protected]
Elisabeth SilverSpokane Virtual [email protected]/OnlineLearning/
Martin MuellerSuperintendent Public [email protected]
Ron MayberryInternet Academyron‐[email protected]
Gigi TalcottWashington Virtual [email protected]
Judy Margrath‐HugeDigital Learning [email protected]
How Do You Make Sure Online Instruction Works For
You?Sorting Through Online Learning Options: A Guide for ParentsKent School District Course Evaluation Rubic –a sophisticated tool used by the pros.
Questions and Discussion