E-Learning 101: How to build and lead a successful online school

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E-Learning 101:

How to build and lead a successful online school

Tom Luba

Information Systems Program Administrator, LBL ESD Adjunct E-Learning Instructor, Portland State University

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Agenda

• Introductions

• Reasons for attending this session • E-learning defined

• National trends and stats • The Oregon situation

• Creating e-learning success • Wrap-up and QA

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Why are you here?

• What is your school or district doing now?

• What is your school or district planning to do and why? • What are your school or district’s hopes and concerns? • What do you hope to gain from this session?

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E-learning Defined

What is your definition

of e-learning?

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E-learning Defined

E-learning is an approach to teaching and learning, representing all or part of the educational model applied, that is based on the use of electronic media and devices as tools for improving access to

content, communication and interaction and that facilitates the

adoption of new ways of understanding and developing learning.

Sangrà, Albert, Dimitrios Vlachopoulos, and Nati Cabrera. "Building an Inclusive Definition of E-Learning: An Approach to the Conceptual Framework." The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning 13.2 (2012): n. pag. Web. 1 Jan. <http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1161/2146>.

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E-learning Defined

• Types of e-learning • 100% online • Hybrid • Web-supported • Flipped classroom • Others???

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E-learning Defined

• Types of content and curriculum

• Complete programs

• Connections Academy • Insight Schools

• K12 Inc.

• Florida Virtual School

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E-learning Defined

• Content providers • Odysseyware • PLATO • Apex Learning • Discovery Education • Khan Academy

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E-learning Defined

• LMS/CMS • Blackboard • Moodle • Desire to Learn • Sakai • Edmodo • HotChalk Friday, July 5, 13

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E-learning Defined

• Complete programs • Advantages • Quick startup • Wrap-around support • External accreditation • R & D • Disadvantages • Expensive • Limited flexibility • Compliance issues

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E-learning Defined

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E-learning Defined

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E-learning Defined

• Typical e-learning assumptions:

• There are huge, untapped markets for students.

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E-learning Defined

• There are huge, untapped markets for students. • If we don't create our own, we will lose students.

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E-learning Defined

• E-learning will solve my alternative education problems.

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E-learning Defined

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E-learning Defined

• E-learning technologies will improve teaching and learning. • E-learning is less expensive than brick and mortar.

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E-learning Defined

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E-learning Defined

• Online teachers can use the same strategies as classroom. • "There's gold in them thar hills...."

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E-learning Defined

• Online teachers can use the same strategies as classroom. • "There's gold in them thar hills...."

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

• 21 states have state virtual schools

• 31 states have statewide, full-time online schools

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

• Estimated 1,816,400 course enrollments in 2009 – 2010 • Approximately 275,000 full-time students in 2011 – 2012

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

• Single and multi-district blended and online programs are largest and fastest-growing

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

• Top reasons are to oﬀer more courses and credit recovery

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

• More than 68% of households used broadband Internet in 2010 • 45% of households with an annual income of under $30K

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

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K-12 National Trends and Stats

• 72% 0 to 8-year olds have a computer at home

• 48% of lower income with computers have broadband access

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The Oregon Situation

• 50% rule restricted district ability to actively recruit students (ORCA exception)

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The Oregon Situation

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The Oregon Situation

• State restrictions made it diﬃcult to launch successful programs • Rules lifted opening door for districts to actively recruit students

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The Oregon Situation

• State restrictions made it diﬃcult to launch successful programs • Rules lifted opening door for districts to actively recruit students • Online charter laws changed to be more flexible

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The Oregon Situation

• Districts begin to see ADM leaving

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The Oregon Situation

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The Oregon Situation

• Districts begin to buy, build or farm out programs to reclaim ADM • Mixture of district-based programs sometimes not well-designed

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The Oregon Situation

• Districts begin to buy, build or farm out programs to reclaim ADM • Mixture of district-based programs sometimes not well-designed • Problems with achievement and graduation rates

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Creating E-learning Success

• Identify need

• Conduct a needs assessment

• Include students, parents, teachers, school and district administrators, community groups

• Look at district data -- alt ed, dropout rates, homeschool, etc. • Analyze data to determine if true need exists

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Creating E-learning Success

• Articulate purpose

• Write and present a purpose statement. • Describe what you hope to accomplish • Sketch out a preliminary plan

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Creating E-learning Success

• Conduct a SWOT analysis

• Internal strengths

• Internal weaknesses • External opportunities • External Threats

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Creating E-learning Success

• Conduct a SWOT analysis

• Strengths outweigh weaknesses, opportunities outweigh threats – supports a growth strategy.

• Strengths outweigh weaknesses, threats outweigh opportunities – supports a maintenance strategy.

• Weaknesses outweigh strengths, opportunities outweigh threats – supports a harvest strategy.

• Weaknesses outweigh strengths, threats outweigh opportunities – supports a retrenchment strategy.

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Creating E-learning Success

• Conduct a cost/benefit analysis

• Weigh costs and benefits to help determine a buy or build strategy

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Creating E-learning Success

• Develop a program budget

• Be sure to include all current and potential costs

• Don’t forget the cost of creating content, updating content, managing technology, professional development, etc.

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Creating E-learning Success

• Create a project team

• Include administrators, teachers, curriculum, technology....

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Creating E-learning Success

• Create a project plan

• Team writes the plan

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Creating E-learning Success

• Nurture teacher participation

• Include teachers on team

• Conduct teacher focus groups • Include teacher input in plan

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Creating E-learning Success

• Create a staﬀ development plan

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Creating E-learning Success

• Establish evaluation mechanisms

• Use multiple program evaluation mechanisms • State assessments • Local assessments • Student surveys • Parent surveys • Community surveys Friday, July 5, 13

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Creating E-learning Success

• Lead innovation

• Talk about e-learning as an innovation and a way to better serve students

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Creating E-learning Success

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Creating E-learning Success

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

2. Articulate purpose

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

3. Conduct a SWOT analysis

4. Conduct a cost/benefit analysis

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

4. Conduct a cost/benefit analysis 5. Develop a program budget

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

6. Create a project team

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

6. Create a project team 7. Create a project plan

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

8. Nurture teacher participation

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

9. Create a staﬀ development plan 10. Establish evaluation mechanisms

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

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Creating E-learning Success

1. Identify need

9. Create a staﬀ development plan 10. Establish evaluation mechanisms 11. Lead innovation

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Wrap up

Q & A

tom.luba@lblesd.k12.or.us tomluba@me.com