One hour, twice a week, every other week.That is the total amount of time our fifth
grade students spend in the computer lab over the course of the year.I’m reiterating this statement from the
introduction so you can see if you have a different feeling reading it after
all that has been discussed.Is it
enough?Is it enough time to have
students blog, to flip a classroom, to engage in challenge-based learning?The list goes on, but the answer remains the
same.No, that is not enough time or
exposure to technology for our students.
The benefits of flexibility and customization, the abundant
resources, and higher parent involvement are all great reasons to implement
more technology into the classroom.With
flipped classrooms, student blogs, challenge-based learning, microlectures, and
online learning modules, the possibilities are endless.Also, the online classroom is nothing to be
afraid of.Many teachers already employ
the same strategies in a traditional classroom that can be carried into the
virtual one.With all of these great
advantages of using technology in the classroom, what else can be said except, “Let’s
get started!”
I feel like a broken record, but much of the same ways we
assess students in the traditional classroom can be applied to the virtual
classroom.First, virtual teachers must
ensure that they are testing their students in multiple ways (DiPietro, et al,
2008).For example, just like in the
traditional classroom, the virtual classroom should not entirely consist of
multiple-choice assessments.Teachers in
both settings must mix up the assessment styles to ensure student success.
Virtual teachers must also address multiple styles of
learning in their assessments (DiPietro et al., 2008).For example, a virtual teacher interviewed
for “Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online: Lessons Learned From Michigan
School Teachers” stated “I really feel that the assessments are much better
online ...In an online environment you have many ways to be able to assess a
student, discussion boards. I am sure you are familiar with those, is really
good for students who may not be good test takers but [sic]are able to talk
about what they are learning, so having them do that in a discussion board
environment is a fabulous way to assess students.”
Most importantly however, is that technology allows students
to present their knowledge in so many different ways.All a virtual teacher has to do is be
flexible in their assessments.A virtual
teacher stated, “If I have a project and give students the outcomes, what I
need them to understand [sic] Then I can ask them ... Now, how can you do that
for me, what technology could you use? I would have kids come to me and say,
well, I play with Flash, can I make a Flash movie? I didn’t even know what a
Flash movie was, but said sure, go for it, surprise me.“ That to me, is the
single most exciting thing about assessing online.Students have so many different avenues to
express themselves and showcase their learning; it can become fun for them as
well.
As you can see, the online classroom is not something that
teachers should shy away from because they are scared they wouldn’t know how to
run it.Of course you would, it’s not so
different from a traditional classroom.The advantages however, are abundant and can open up many doors for
students that the traditional classroom can’t provide.
Up Next: A Wrap Up: Where do we go from here?
Resources:
DiPietro, M., Ferdig, R., Black, E., & Preston, M.
(n.d.). Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online: Lessons learned from Michigan
Virtual Schools. Blackboard. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from
https://blackboard.cmich.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content_id=_3050188_1&course_id=_86186_1
Ah, classroom management…the one aspect of the classroom
that terrifies most teaching undergrads (or at least this former undergrad). My
experience in the traditional classroom makes me think of classroom management
as “you better do this right or the kids will never let you live it
down.”Okay, maybe that was a tad
dramatic but my point is that classroom management can be tricky for even the
most seasoned of teachers in the traditional classroom.So is it the same in the virtual
classroom?Hardly.
According to “Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online:
Lessons Learned From Michigan School Teachers,” there are two key parts of
managing an online class.Yes, two.First, the teacher needs to quickly address
any inappropriate, disrespectful, or offensive behavior to create a safe online
environment for students. (DiPietro et al., 2008).A traditional teacher would follow the
necessary steps if something inappropriate happened in the classroom, and a
virtual teacher needs to do the same.
Also, teachers need to pay particular attention to any
student that shows signs of undergoing a personal crisis.Because the virtual teacher can’t see their
students everyday and learn their moods and mannerisms, it may be harder to
pick up on signs of distress in an online course.Teachers need to be vigilant in their
communication with students and making sure they are safe and to ensure their
well-being. (DiPietro et al., 2008).
While these two classroom management practices are of the
utmost importance, they are not particularly difficult if a teacher establishes open communication with students and maintains a strong presence in the
course forums.In my opinion, classroom
management of an online course can be as simple as that.
Up Next: Assessment…
Resources:
DiPietro, M., Ferdig, R., Black, E., & Preston, M.
(n.d.). Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online: Lessons learned from Michigan
Virtual Schools. Blackboard. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from
https://blackboard.cmich.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content_id=_3050188_1&course_id=_86186_1
On Tuesday, Johnny was absent from class and needs to make
up work during his and your lunch hour.On Wednesday, Jenny had to leave early for a lacrosse game two towns
over and missed a science test.She
can’t make it up until the following Monday during P.E.Does this sound familiar?We’ve all been there as teachers.We’ve all had to be flexible.And that is no different in the online
classroom.
According to “Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online:
Lessons Learned From Michigan School Teachers” teachers in the virtual
classroom need to be flexible too.For
example, in the online classroom teachers often schedule video or audio
conferences with their students.On one
such occasion, three of the students can’t access the room because of server
issues.The teacher in this case needs
to either reschedule the whole class or conduct a small group session with
those students.In other words, they
need to be flexible
Organization is also a key part of the online teacher’s
style, as it is in the traditional classroom.Because you as the teacher are not there to direct students on what to
do and what order to do it in, you need to have explicit instructions online
and easy folder navigation.The teacher
also has to be organized in their implementation of the course. “One of the
most important aspects of being a successful virtual school teacher is
organization above all ... The teacher has to make sure they are logging in at
certain times every day, they have to make sure they’re checking certain areas
of the course, for example, the message area, organizing the discussion board,
having grades set, and [sic] sending grades back to students” (DiPietro et al.,
2008).Again, much the same way that
teachers are available to students in the traditional classroom, they have a
responsibility to do so in the virtual school as well.
Up Next:Classroom
Management…
Resources:
DiPietro, M., Ferdig, R., Black, E., & Preston, M.
(n.d.). Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online: Lessons learned from Michigan
Virtual Schools. Blackboard. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from
https://blackboard.cmich.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content_id=_3050188_1&course_id=_86186_1
The world of online teaching can be a scary place for those
individuals with little experience with technology.Some questions that often arise revolve
around how to conduct a successful online classroom when the traditional
classroom may seem so much easier to operate.In this part of the blog series, I will go over some best practices for
conducting an online classroom.
In general, much of the practices that teachers abide by in
the traditional classroom transfer over into the online classroom.For example, according to “Best Practices in
Teaching K-12 Online: Lessons Learned From Michigan School Teachers” the online
teachers suggest “going the extra mile to support student learning.” Many of
you already do this in the traditional classroom, but what does it look like in
the online classroom? “The successful virtual teacher does all that he can to
help all students succeed and this involves using the data that they have
available to them, using the correct assessments, altering instruction, trying
to address multiple intelligences, supporting the students, being available,
again yet another challenge that is specific to the virtual world is just being
there for the student.” (DiPietro et al., 2008).All of those practices can be done online; in
fact they may even be easier to do online.There are tons of resources for online assessments, multiple
intelligence learning, and data collection.As far as being present, we can go back to the discussion on social
presence in a previous blog, where we discussed how to make students feel as if
they are interacting with “real” people.All of this support is certainly possible in the virtual classroom.
Another practice that successfully supports the online
classroom is having teachers that are not only capable of operating
technologies, but are interested in exploring new technologies (DiPietro et
al., 2008).In the traditional
classroom, most teachers are constantly rearranging lesson parts and updating
plans to include new ideas and projects.The same line of thinking applies to the virtual classroom.You can’t just build a group of online
lessons and assume that they will work for years to come. You must adjust lessons with the times and
update coursework with new and exciting technologies to enhance student
learning.
Up Next: Flexibility and Organization…
Resources:
DiPietro, M., Ferdig, R., Black, E., & Preston, M.
(n.d.). Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online: Lessons learned from Michigan
Virtual Schools. Blackboard. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from
https://blackboard.cmich.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content_id=_3050188_1&course_id=_86186_1
So now that I’ve provided some ideas for implementing more
technology in the classroom, it’s time to talk about how to make sure that
technology is effective.Anyone can
search for videos on YouTube and throw them up on a website for students to
view, but it’s important to remember that we still need to teach at the same
time.
One of the best ways to ensure meaningful communication and
learning between teachers and students online is establishing social
presence.This can be done in a variety
of ways including video introductions, profile pictures, group projects,
meaningful discussion responses, etc. (Bentley).The point of social presence is that the
students feel as if they are interacting with “real” people, not just names on
a screen.Sometimes, online learning can
come off cold and impersonal, but by establishing a good social presence among
all involved, students can feel the same sense of community that they get in
the traditional classroom.
Another idea to keep in mind when implementing technology
into the classroom is that most if not all students have some
experience with technology.Sometimes,
the students may even have more experience than the teacher.Marc Prensky calls these students “digital
natives,” a term used to describe students that have grown up with technology and
are quite capable of operating successfully in the technology filled
future.However, the teachers that
instruct these students can sometimes be “digital immigrants” or individuals
that did not grow up with technology and may have a harder time navigating the
digital world.Whether your students
or you as the teacher, are a Native or an Immigrant, any technology that we implement into the
classroom must enhance the students' digital wisdom.Prensky advises teachers to listen to their
students and for administrators and other education figures to inspire teachers
to want to change their classrooms, to want to include technology that speaks
to their digital native students. (Prensky, 2011).These ideas and more will be discussed in the
next few blog posts to ensure our teachers not only include technology, but use
it to its fullest potential and to the greatest benefit of our students.
Check out Marc Prensky talking about how students today understand the world through technology:
Up Next: General Best Practices...
Resources:
Prensky, M. (2012). Introduction. From digital natives to
digital wisdom: hopeful essays for 21st century learning (pp. 1-9). Thousand
Oaks, Calif.: Corwin.
Bentley, K. (n.d.). The Centrality of Social Presence in
Online Teaching and Learning. Understanding Change: Making the Transition to
Online Teaching. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from
https://blackboard.cmich.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content_id=_3050175_1&course_id=_86186_1
The flipped classroom is another way to incorporate
technology in the classroom, or rather outside of the classroom.The flipped classroom involves students
watching videos and lectures at home and communicating with other students and
the instructor in online discussion boards.In the classroom, the students then spend their time on exercises and activities.
(7 Things You Should Know About Flipped
Classrooms).The key strength of the
flipped classroom is that the in class time is used more effectively, for
applying and manipulating knowledge, not just lecture. “The value of a
flipped class is in the repurposing of class time into a workshop where
students can inquire about lecture content, test their skills in applying
knowledge, and interact with one another in hands-on activities.”(7
Things You Should Know About Flipped Classrooms).
The beauty of the flipped classroom is that there is no one
right way to do it.Teachers can
manipulate the model to work for their individual classes and students.For example, a teacher can put assessments
online to free up even more time for hands on activities in the classroom.In the flipped classroom model, teachers are
more like guides, helping the students through inquiry style lessons in the
classroom while providing the necessary content knowledge through an online
forum.For students, flipped classrooms
also help to allow each student to work at their own pace, viewing lecture
videos as many times as necessary or utilizing the discussion boards for
questions they may not have asked about in class.This could be a beneficial switch in our classrooms;
provided the teachers are willing to produce the videos and the students have
adequate access to technology at home.
Here is a helpful infographic on flipped classrooms:
Here is a helpful video about the flipped classroom:
Up next: Best Practices...
Resources:
7 Things You Should Know About Flipped Classrooms. (n.d.). EDUCAUSE Homepage. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7081.pdf
The Flipped Classroom: Turning the Traditional Classroom on its Head. (n.d.). Flipped Classroom Comments. Retrieved October 3, 2014, from http://www.knewton.com/flipped-classroom/
Ughhhhhh.That’s the
audible groan that most students can be heard making when a teacher mentions a
writing assignment.“My hand hurts.” “I
don’t know what to write.” “This is so boring.”These statements and more tend to come out at one point or another
during the school year involving the writing process.So the question begs, how do we get students
to like writing?Enter blogging.Blogging is everywhere on the Internet these
days, it seems only fitting that students try their hand at it as well.
There are many benefits of student blogging in the classroom.Blogging encourages dialogue between
students, creates a sense of ownership and enthusiasm about their personal
work, teaches responsibility, connects students, and oftentimes creates experts
according to the subject matter the student blogs on. (Adams).In an article for Edutopia, high school
teacher Michelle Lampinen, incorporated blogs into her classroom with great
success.She noticed the students’
writing improve by “leaps and bounds.”Lampinen noticed fewer errors and more quotations from stories and sources that even
translated into formal writing in the classroom.Lampinen also points out the added benefit of
increased class participation for her more introverted students. Some of
Lampinen’s students were even quoted as saying that blogging “is a good way to
have us write without it being formal or full of pressure. I also like the fact
that I have control over what I write about, and that definitely makes the
assignment easier." As you can see, blogging can have a great impact on
student learning and would be a great way to incorporate technology into the
writing curriculum.
Up Next:The Flipped
Classroom…
Resources:
Adams, M. (n.d.). The Benefits of Student Blogging – Marisa
Adams | Lumos Learning. The Benefits of Student Blogging – Marisa Adams |
Lumos Learning. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from http://lumoslearning.com/llwp/teachers-speak/the-benefits-of-student-blogging-marisa-adams.html
Lampinen, M. (2014, April 13). Blogging in the 21st-Century
Classroom. Edutopia. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blogging-in-21st-century-classroom-michelle-lampinen
Microlectures and Screencasts, a type of microlecture, are
an integral part of online education.While you can include technology in the classroom without these aspects,
the benefits of each would hopefully persuade you otherwise.Microlectures are “short, recorded, audio or video presentations on a single,
tightly defined topic.”(7 Things You Should Know About Microlectures).These presentations are concise in nature.
Rather than a full lesson or lecture in the classroom, these short videos
“chunk” the information, making it easier for students to learn.The microlectures could be uploaded onto a learning
management system for students to view.
“Microlectures provide a self-help resource for students,
either at the time of the lesson or later for review, explaining key concepts
or demonstrating techniques that might be difficult to master.” (7 Things You Should Know About Microlectures).I think one of the best benefits of using
microlectures in the classroom, is that the students can watch them outside the
classroom.If I were to make a video on
multiplying fractions, my students could view it as many times as necessary in
class and at home, even showing their parents if they need assistance with
their homework. “These short lectures encourage a self-directed model of
learning, allowing students to select lessons to watch and to move through them
at their own pace, stopping and replaying a recording as needed to ensure
understanding of the content.” 7 Things You Should Know
About Microlectures).
Here
is an example of a microlecture, a screencast, which I created about Lattice
Multiplication:
You
can see that I go through each step of the process with the students carefully,
making sure to explain exactly how to draw the lattice, multiply, and add the
numbers.Students can watch the video as
many times as they need to in order to understand the process.Microlectures can help to assist struggling
students when the teacher is not available, or just as a supplement or review
tool to enhance learning.They would be
a very useful and practical way of incorporating technology into the classroom.
Up
Next:Blogging…
Resources:
7 Things You Should Know About Microlectures. (n.d.). EDUCAUSE Homepage. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-microlectures
Another way to incorporate technology into the classroom is
to use challenge-based learning.Challenged based learning
involves students looking closely at information or concepts and figuring out
obstacles they can tackle from that information. For example, a student
studying a unit on natural resources may study the information and realize
there is a strong need for community involvement in stopping local
deforestation. After finding this problem, the student then goes on to
research solutions and connect with local people. When conducting this
research and these interviews, the student uses various technologies to
document the process.
Challenge Based Learning provides benefits on two fronts:
gains in skills relating to technology (i.e. creating podcasts, using LMS,
etc.) and increased motivation and satisfaction from working with a project
that the students can relate to.“Students have the satisfaction that comes from figuring out both the
issue to be tackled and the solution they develop.” (7 Things You Should Know About Challenge Based Learning).Investment in the outcome of the project is
also high for students.“In Apple’s 2008
study of CBL, findings showed student engagement among participating ninth and
tenth graders was rated at 97% or higher and that student involvement peaked
where they perceived the solutions they worked on to be of real value.” (7 Things You Should Know About Challenge
Based Learning).Challenge Based
Learning can make a big difference for our students and is another great way to
include online learning in the classroom.
Up Next: Microlectures and Screencasting
Resources:
7 Things You Should Know About Challenge-Based Learning.
(n.d.). EDUCAUSE Homepage. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-challenge-based-learning
Online interaction and discussion has proven to be a great
help on the journey for academic success.These discussions and interactions usually happen in what’s known as a
learning management system or LMS.Learning management systems “allow
teachers to post course materials, link to resources, host lessons and
discussions, allow students to submit assignments, allow collaboration and
communication between and with students, and depending on the platform, do a
whole lot more that matches the necessity of blending technology with education
today.” (Rodick, 2012).Meaning, a
learning management system is essentially a blueprint of your classroom that
you can put online for students and parents.
The
top two learning management systems are Schoology and Edmodo.Both offer platforms for not only discussion,
but full lessons and assessments as well.Online discussion allows for many students to participate in ways that
they may not have done in the traditional classroom.For example, a student that is shy and
dislikes speaking in front of others may not be motivated to participate as
much in a traditional discussion setting, take away the in class aspect of the
discussion and put it online, and that student may just feel more comfortable
contributing.According to Chen and
Looi:
“One
of the widely cited advantages of online discussion is its increased
flexibility due to removing time and space restrictions of the typical
classroom setting (Curtis & Lawson, 2001; Harasim, Hiltz, Teles &
Turoff, 1995; Henri, 1992). The asynchronous capabilities of online discussion
allow learners to have more time to think "deeply" before giving
their opinions (Moore, 2002). The interactive nature of online discussion helps
promote discussion among learners, creating a forum for the creation of knowledge
(Gay, Sturgill, Martin & Huttenlocher, 1999). Through online discussion,
education and learning can be transformed from a one way instructional approach
to a highly interactive approach to learning (Henri, 1992; Vrasidas &
McIssac, 1999; Warschauer, 1997). Online discussion can facilitate
collaborative learning, when learners are actively engaged in sharing
information and perspectives through interaction with other learners (Harasim,
1989).”
With
all of these great advantages to online discussion, it only makes sense to
incorporate it into our curriculum.Here
is a tutorial on how to use the learning management system Schoology:
Here
is a link to an Edmodo group I created that takes students through the creative
writing process. Join the group using the code: zj4bn5
You
will notice that there are folders of content, small group work, assignment
calendars, and a link out to a site to publish their final product as a digital
story.
Up
next: Challenge Based Learning
Resources:
Chen,
W., & Looi, C. (n.d.). AJET 23(3) Chen and Looi (2007)
Incorporating online discussion in face to face classroom learning: A
new blended learning approach. AJET 23(3) Chen and Looi (2007)
Incorporating online discussion in face to face classroom learning: A
new blended learning approach. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet23/chen.html
Rodick, W. (n.d.). Technoloducation. Technoloducation.
Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
http://williamrodick.tumblr.com/post/24466996448/learning-management-systems-learning-management
In my opinion, the best benefit of online learning is just
the sheer amount of possibilities that it brings to the classroom.In the traditional classroom, most teachers
use a textbook or a series of note pages to teach the lessons and then conduct
assessments.There may be trips to the
library thrown in for research and further reading, or to borrow a video on the
current subject matter.That’s great and
all, but the online world can offer so much more.
For example, let’s pretend our students are in the middle of
a unit on our solar system.In the
traditional classroom, students would look at pictures of the planets and read
a blurb about each one.They may
complete a worksheet comparing the planets to one another, right?Well how about instead of that process, the
students log on to the Internet and view footage of the Mars Curiosity rover launch and landing on the surface of the planet?Or they can work through an online interactive about the nine planets
and see how they orbit the sun?
These are just a few of the ways that online content can
extend activities and supplement or enhance the traditional curriculum.In the next series, I will be going over
specific ways to integrate technology into the classroom and how they can
benefit our students.
One of the best things about online learning for students is
the increased accessibility for their parents.How often have you had parents send in notes asking how to do a certain
type of math problem?Some of the
curriculum today is quite different than what we learned in school.For example, in Virginia Beach, we teach
lattice multiplication.I often have to
send home extra worksheets explaining to parents how to draw a lattice and
where to place the numbers, just so they can assist with homework.Even doing that, I still have parents that
don’t understand because it’s such a different way of multiplying than they are
used to.Fast-forward a couple of days
and I have half the class not using lattice multiplication because their
parents taught them a different way.
Enter online learning.Perhaps parents, like their children, are visual learners and need to
see a solution worked out for them.If I
taped a microlecture on lattice multiplication or created a screencast, then
made it available on a classroom website, the parents can then go on and view
the videos as many times as they would like until they were comfortable helping
their student.It’s not just math that
online learning works for increasing parent involvement either.Parents can benefit from viewing online class
work in any subject to stay informed of what is going on in the classroom.Studies have shown that parent involvement
has a major affect on student success both in the traditional and the online
classroom (iseek.org).If parents can
have such an impact on our students’ success, wouldn’t it be best to give them
as many tools as possible to do so?And
to make those tools easily accessible from home in the online format?
Up Next: Oh, the Possibilities…
Resources:
Supporting Online Learners' Success. (n.d.). ISEEK.
Retrieved September 26, 2014, from http://www.iseek.org/education/supportstudents.html
There are a great many benefits of using a form of online learning
in the elementary classroom.I have
mentioned before that I believe most of our technology learning time is not
being used effectively.Most teachers
use the one hour that they have in the computer lab to have students complete a
worksheet using a website.True blended
and online learning involves much more and our students can reap the
benefits.In an article for The Heritage
Foundation, author Dan Lips states, “In 2009, the U.S. Department of Education
published a meta-analysis of evidence-based studies of K-12 and postsecondary
online learning programs.The study
reported that ‘students who took all or part of their class online performed
better, on average, than those taking the same course through traditional
face-to-face instruction.’”
One of the main benefits of online learning is
flexibility.For students, online learning
can allow for self-pacing and repetition.For example, if a student is struggling with a particularly hard math
problem in a traditional setting, they can ask the teacher for help.However, what if that student needs more
help?Sure in the traditional classroom
teachers use things like small group teaching and re-teaching to help students
overcome misconceptions.But what if the
student needs even more attention but the teacher has moved on to the next
lesson?In online learning, a student
that struggles with the material can work at their own pace until their
understanding kicks in.If a teacher
uploads a video of him or herself working through that tough math problem, the
student can watch it as many times as needed.
Along those same lines, online learning can be extremely
customized for different types of learners.That student that struggled with the math problem may be a visual
learner and the video of his teacher working out the solution may have really
helped.If there is a student that learns
best when performing the math problems themselves, the teacher can add
supplemental resources to the lessons such as interactive websites where
students can practice the material.The
possibilities for customization are endless.
One hour, twice a week, every other
week.That is the total amount of time
our fifth grade students spend in the computer lab over the course of the
year.If they are lucky enough to have a
savvy scheduler of a teacher, they may get to use one of the school’s laptop
carts on occasion for special projects. That’s it.That’s the extent to which our students are
being exposed to online learning at its most basic level.In Virginia Beach City Public Schools, there
exists the “Compass to 2015” initiative for students to become successful 21st
Century learners that are able to participate and meaningfully contribute to
our society.“Our
Strategic Goal: Recognizing
that the long range goal of VBCPS is the successful preparation and graduation
of every student, the near term goal is that by 2015, 95 percent or more of
VBCPS students will graduate having mastered the skills that they need to
succeed as 21st century learners, workers and citizens.”(VBCPS)
Are our students being
provided with the best possible chance of becoming that exemplary 21st
century learner with the current state of online learning in our school?
To be blunt, in my opinion, there
is no way our students are being prepared for the technology filled future with
how little time they currently spend using technology.Online classrooms and blended learning are
here to stay, so to speak, and it is time our school got on the train, or we
risk our students falling further behind.Our students need to be exposed to the online classroom that involves
more than just an hour lesson where they go to a few websites and fill out a
note page.Part of our job as elementary
teachers is to provide a solid foundation for students to utilize in their
middle, high school, and secondary education as is reflected in our “Compass to
2015” strategic plan.This job now
requires elementary teachers to prepare students to be capable of participating
in online learning.My suggestions for
improved interaction with technology include whole units of the curriculum
conducted in online or blended format, more time in the computer lab or with
the laptop cart, and an at home initiative that supports online learning.This blog serves to highlight the express
need of meaningful online learning in our school, suggestions for improvement,
and ways to implement those suggestions.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools :: Compass to 2015.
(n.d.). Virginia Beach City Public Schools :: Compass to 2015. Retrieved
September 11, 2014, from http://www.vbschools.com/compass/index.asp
