Online Learning - Benefits and Challenges

Introduction
There is a conscious shift in the 21^st century use of the word distance learning to Virtual schooling. Virtual schooling system is therefore growing rapidly to meet up the speed of growth in technology. Every year, research shows alarming increases in rate of student’s enrolment due to changes in technology. People are more incline to change as change is a constant factor to everything. Clive Thomson, the author of the book on “Smarter than you think” in a 3minutes youtube video highlighted the way technology has revolutionized things in the past and still making waves today (see video). Hence the reasons for the rapid growth in enrolments for virtual schooling in the 21^st century.

Virtual schooling kept up with the pace of this growth until recent times, when research and studies of this system of education intervention began to show a decline in completion. Increasingly, researchers were beginning to view the trend in the area of its benefits and challenges and not just counting the possibilities therein. One would wonder that with the rate of growth in enrolments, there should be a corresponding increase in completion rate, no? This is however, note the case (although retention rate has been silent in most of the researches), completion rate drops as enrolment rate increases wherefore, causing concerns for the sector.

Why this study is important

Typically the traditional school systems records similar trend in some instances based on challenges, , therefore, lack of details on the traditional schools completion rate may note be ruled out completely. Nevertheless, the role played by teachers in both systems seem different; the methodology and approach differs. but with same message on learning outcomes; According to Garrison & Arbaugh, (2007), in the Community of Inquiry (COI) framework, where he looked at learning experience within the context of teacher’s interactions and the role of the teacher. The role of the teacher is therefore fundamental to learning experience as indicated in my popplet. The Virtual Online school  is shaddled with the responsonsibilty to:

• develops motivational ways to keep students attention span; 
• possess in-depth knowledge of online usage; 
• understand how to design instructions that clearly translates to meaningful lectures/lessons; 
• willing to constantly establish contact with student either via email, telephone to mentor and support students and improved learning; 
• the virtual school teacher must know how to use virtual board and work extra hour and maybe including weekends.

However, Michigan K-12 report on virtual learning effectiveness as analyzed by David Nagel (2014), indicated that "despite the enormous tasks of virtual school teachers, there are several challenges ranging from; teachers struggle to find meaningful presence with the student and a feeling of disconnect; teacher peoples ratio; the load of students work; and the fragmentation of teachers role which prevents them from having a sense of professional identity as indicated in another research articles by Abigail Hawkins; Charles R. Graham and Michael K.Barbour in “ Everybody is their own Island”: Teacher disconnection in avirtual school; Vol 13 No.2. pg.140 (2012).

If these tasks above are the responsibilities of an online educator, why should there be problems with completion rate? What has been the policy reaction to this dwindling effect? The draft research article by Jered Borup and Mark Stevens,  on factors influencing teacher satisfaction atan online charter school, the study dived into interesting issue about the confluence between teacher satisfaction, Student satisfaction and student performance. Therefore, each of this actors stimulates each other to achieve learning experience. The study also indicated the teacher influencer or stimulants and reiterate the need for teacher professional development.

Doug Valentine in an online journal article -Distance learning Administration, Volume V, Number III,fall 2002; examined the promises, problems and possibilities of Distance learning and drew some conclusions that “not all students are suited to this type of learning and not all subjects are best thought via this medium”; also similar to this was a research by Threkeld and Brzoska, (1994), they examined that a successful student must be able to tolerate some form of ambiguities and flexibilities. These are changes that are not easy to come, therefore creating bottlenecks to achieve successes in enrolment, retention and completion.

How can I use this information

In my views, creating a culture of change is difficult, and accepting that change is inevitable is challenging. It will therefore me that in other to address the reluctance to the changes experienced wiht the virtual online interventions, there will be conscious efforts by all, to adapt to the new development realities. Hence, gate keeper’s intervention is key to stabilizing the education system.  Policy advocacy should be enhanced such that is tailored towards effective learning experience with the five “ W” and “H” of a learning curve as mentioned by Jered Borup and Mark Stevens.

Citation: Pixabay on Questions?

1. What - Instructional Material: Creative learning materials to increase retention rate.
2. Who - Student/Teachers: Teachers utilizing the one to tone advantage to provide needed learning experience.
3. Where - Learning Environment: Make learning fun, involve the community and colleague, form a network of professional in the particular subject.
4. When - Time: The value of quick response and great feedback from teachers and structured arrangements for better communication.
5. Why - Learning outcomes.
6. How - Strong Policy oversight. 

Going forward, I will like to see more policy oversight on the issues of virtual schooling if this is intended to achieve the primary goals of a “No Child left behind” . The need for advocacy of creative innovative ideas for retention rate rather than enrolment rate. Integrating the curriculum into the traditional school curriculum and focusing of targeted course for greater impact. Instead of viewing Virtual schooling as an alternative to Traditional schooling system, it is important that the target audience should be student and not students who have lower academic scores as observed by Jemey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of MVU. 

Virtual Online School

Background:

The nature of Virtual School and standard of education cannot be overemphasized since we are in the 21st century ( the age of advanced technology and enhanced digital access). The articles, journals and video read and watched, reflected on type of structures, systems, demographics, nature and other thought around virtual learning/schooling. Various researches on the tools used in an online schooling systems, the learning environment itself and how this impacts overall learning outcomes. Essentially looking at Virtual schooling and its import on pedagogy especially in the United States schooling system.

It is interesting to see how Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser in their article on Virtual schooling (2007) described the reasons for the virtual schooling and the pace of its growth in the United States. I gathered from the research that VS provides a more flexible arrangements to students especially those students who do not have as much time as those in the traditional schooling system e.g. those who are sick, those who are engaged in other extracurricular activities e.g. spots, those who may be displaced or in a temporary situations where they need to continue in their studies (students who are affected by natural disasters such as weather situation), this explanation is similar to Susan Patrick video's (11:24) on “Benefitof online schooling”.

The purpose according to Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser(2070) is '' ....Help school respond to No child left behind legislation"The main trust to ensure that all children have access to education. Although, the focus is not on Adult education , virtual schooling tents to fill the gap with a clear message on an " all-inclusive growth in learning outcome" and therefore no one should be excluded in learning for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The various opportunities provided with definite instructional methodology, styles rapped around unique learning tools is provided to challenge the traditional way of doing things.

Therefore by my views, virtual schooling is contemporary teaching method where the pedagogy is transmitted from the teacher to the learning anytime, anywhere and any day. The video clips on a day in the life of an online teacher, expressed the responsibility and roles of a Virtual School teacher as a good team player, communicator, a good service representative and who interacts well to achieving learning outcome - Moore’s editorial concepts of interactions (A journal article by Lalonde, Joanne; Moore, Michael G. (1991).

With this background in mind, Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser(2070) in their article tried to define the common terminologies used for Virtual schooling or method of knowledge exchange. References to roles of each participants/actors in this type of learning environments was clearly explained and taking a look into how this ties with learners interactivity such as was referred to in the journal articles by M.Moore on the three types of learners interactions American Journal of Distance Education (1989) - editorial journal. In my views, virtual schooling places more emphasis on the learner, environment and instructor (teacher). In which case some tend to describe this actors differently as " Digital Nativity,Digital Immigrant, on Mark Prensky (2010) or additional definitions as " digital aliens or Integrators" . Depending on the type of actors in the Virtual Schooling environment, the ultimate goal is to achieve hundred percent (100%) learning outcomes. Therefore the teachers always ensure that whatever will be the easiest ways to satisfy the curiosity of the learners are being taught using web based tools as a means of transmitting the instructions or learning, ranging from Social, networking, presentation and multimedia tools.( see below)

Citation: WebCT from Pixabay

Reading through every lines of the article, I noticed the role of the instructor as being very key. The teacher is responsible to deliver based on set guidelines and instructions, I therefore see the need to build the capacity of teachers to be able to meet this demand. Teachers development in creative curriculum designs and mainstreaming the use of technological tools to all instructional designs that will meet emerging technological changes and fit the digitalized learning environments.

Teaching for me, becomes the main trust of all the articles and video's presented in module 3. The teacher becomes the equilibrium point between the learners, the parent, the school, teaching environment and all of this ties to a successful learning outcome (see my popplet on making learning Fun).  The research article ( one of the articles reflected on in this module) touched on ' the nature of teacher engagement at an online High school authored by Borup, J; Graham, CR; &Drysdale J.S (2014), published by British Journal of Educational technology, 45(5), 793-806. The research examined “teaching presence.....and identified additional roles". The research came up with various methodology of teaching and notable interventions used by teachers to enhance the culture of “teaching presence" or I call it“Culture of achieving excellence in learning"; I particularly enjoyed reading to know that the research output outlined various teaching improvements indicators that was adopted in teaching engagements to enhance greater impact on positive learning outcomes which is referred to as the six elements of teacher engagements.....

                                   "designing and organising learning activities; facilitating discourse with                                        students and partners; providing students with online one-on one                                                  instructions;nurturing a safe and caring learning environments;                                                    monitoring students to engage in learning activities ; and closely                                                    monitoring students behaviours learning" Borup, J; Graham, CR;                                                  &Drysdale J.S (2014), published by British Journal of Educational                                                technology, 45(5), 793-806.

Teachers in VS affirms the exciting nature of teaching, based on the journal research on technology in education which examines K–12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online across the United States (International Society for Technology in Education). In my views, the nature of teaching in a VS/online learning environments helps connect the student personally to their teacher and there is close relationship as compared to traditional school system where the teacher pupil ratio could pose a challenge- Leanna, Archambault; Kent, Crippen; (2009). As we continue to view this emerging phase of education intervention, I am hoping that the curiosity of " our digital minds "will be satisfied someday through conscious teachers engagements, teachers professional reforms that will result into impact in learning.

Additional Resources:

1. No Child left Behind Act  of the United State Government (2001)
2. Kim, Kerr; Reflection on the MDG written by Deputy Director, Education and Learning MasterCard Foundation (2015)
3. Ira Kaufman, in "Are You a Digital Alien, Digital Immigrant, or Digital Native? (2011)

Online Learning Movement

The three different journals and video's are very interesting and fascinating read for me. It gave me insights to online learning movements and environments, I discovered some facts, Demography, Dimension and categories of target audience or learners ( this fits into my reading in module one on the theory and practice of online learning (Anderson journal 2004) and Editorial journal by Lalonde J. Moore on " 3 types of interactions". All of this I have summarized in my shared popplet.  Interestingly, the articles and the video gave deeper insight into the history, fast facts, online environments, and the description of what was described as generational labels. In the Journal on Distance Learning, 2009, 13 (1) where three main ideas about distance learning or K-12 environments was explained. I discovered from my reading some fundamental facts as the journal looked intensively into:  (i). critically examinations of common generational labels which is assigned to generation of students; (ii). The second is characteristics these labels attribute to the youth we find in our schools, colleges, and universities and;  (iii) Lastly to describe the virtual school movement, with a focus on developments in North America. I learnt from the articles some examples used to describe the terms generational labels; which are: Generation Y, Echo, Net Generation, Neomillennials, Generation NeXt. Lancaster and Stillman (2002) stated that "one of the reasons for focusing on today's student as detailed in the Journal on Distance Learning, 2009, 13 (1) "those born on the edges of two generations are often referred to as cuspers, and may take the characteristics of either generation depending on their experiences". Lancanster and Stillman further stated that "when considering today’s students, it is important to note that one of the reasons we place so much attention on this group of individuals is their size".  However, from the  labels, three main generational labels were most dominant and have coverage in most media and literature's are: (a) Net Generation; (b) Millennials and; (c) Digital Natives.  found out that this explains alot about what we are this is similar to the comments story I watched on  " Do " Digital Native exists), please see video below.

I find the last description most intriguing as it described the generational label of Digital Natives as the most familiar term in K-12 learning environment. According to Prensky (2001), this group of learners "are all ‘native speakers’ of the digital language of computers, video games and the internet; those of us who are not native to this digital language are considered Digital Immigrants". In my views, I want to agree that this is not a myth as described in the video  " Digital native Exists. A platform to building the gap public schools enrollments using outlined platforms which is yet to be met by the traditional means or schools similar to what Susan Patrick explained in her you tube video on "Why online learning is a smart solution. " Education provides opportunity and high range of options to have access to best programs in education" - Susan Patrick.

Historically, based on the article, K-12 dates back in the earlier years, correspondence education used K–12 level by the Calvert School of Baltimore in 1906 (Moore & Kearsley, 1996); Canadian province of British Columbia in 1919 (Dunae, 2006); K–12 jurisdictions which began to experiment with educational radio as a method of distance education delivery. Radio was used extensively in the mid-Western portion of the United States—beginning in Ohio in 1929 and Wisconsin in 1930 (Clark, 2003), and most extensively in Australia with the School from the Air (Moore & Kearsley, 1996); K–12 community began using instructional television; for example, in 1961 the United States with the Midwest Program on Airborne Television Instruction (Clark, 2003) and finally; in late 1970s and early 1980s, audiographics (or telematics) began to appear in some K–12 jurisdictions. This model was primarily used in Australia (Oliver & Reeves, 1994). The import for me was more profound in the research article written by florida virtual school internationa (Watson J, Murin A, Vashaw L et. All 2011), where online learning practices and policies were reviewed. The nature of online learning, dimension etc. The difference between a virtual school and a cyber school which in most cases I would have seen as same was further explained better by Barbour & Reeves (2009) describing differences and how this ties to online learning movements especially in the American context, some of which is similar to what is explained in the article from iNACOL . I learnt that a Cyber schooling is often associated with the homeschooling movement in the United States—although, in legislative terms, the two terms have very different meanings. Students in these schools are not enrolled in a brick-and-mortar school, and take all of their schooling via the online learning programme (usually at home). While a virtual school uses a combination of asynchronous and synchronous delivery models. In the journal article by the iNACOL, the mission of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is to ensure all students have access to a world-class education and quality blended and online learning opportunities that prepare them for a lifetime of success focusing on strategic priorities of advocacy, quality and new learning model ( watch video by Susan Patrick on Benefit on online learning in education).

Going forward, the fast going pace of online learning is increasing by the day than any other education innovations. Online learning environment is easily reached by learners than students in the traditional school models, courses are more flexible as it covers different types of learners ( e.g High school athletics students); it provides a one -on-one opportunity for the student to be able to interact with their instructor/teachers ( student have access to best teachers in their field of study from all over the World). Interestingly, I see that it provides the opportunity for students to be able to interact with their peers all over the World and be able to exchange different ideas using a collaborative web based tools as described by Susan Patrick " Benefit of online Education"in the video I have watched. However, examples was drawn from the use by various countries and stressing the importance and how it motivated learning, helped refocus policy change in teachers professional developments in a " digital,connected, collaborative and network world. I ask myself this question " If in the 21st century, the use of technology is critical to this learning innovation, how do we ensure inclusive global learning environment in countries where technology is still lacking? A question I am yet to find answers.

My New post

New blogger

              Hi every one, my name is Janet ADEBO. This is my first time blogging, I must say its been very interesting and a fascinating experience for me.  I see that learning is real fun especially when you have the right tools to help you learn and there is truly no end to it!

Brief Professional Details

        I currently work with the World Bank under the Education Global Practice as a Program Assistant. I have over 17 years work experience out of which I would say 12 years working with the Education Sector in Africa ( West and Central Africa), where I have worked at grassroots level and promoting behavioral change among primary and secondary school students.

             I finished my graduate programs from the University of Abuja, Nigeria and Higher National Diploma from Kwara State Polytechnic in Nigeria.

Myself

            Driven by passion to be a teacher and continue with ambitions of a great mentor to others. As a young girl from a poor background and a local community, I was fortunate to free state scholarship and tuition for my undergraduate education ( although in a different pathway). 

            Three years after graduation, I was employed by Action-aid International Nigeria under the Global partnership for Education (GPE); to support the activities of ensuring that every girl and boy have access to quality basic Education in Nigeria. 

               Joining the World Bank where I had opportunities to work with state actors and gatekeepers in the education sector was an eye opener that  helped me connect the dots in my life. I know that success can and will be achieved if you are determined, unbroken, ready and willing to learn ( see video below).

           Therefore, these experiences became a driving force for me to learn more. IOLS will provide the platform and open up opportunities for new ideas on how to engage stakeholders, facilitate discussions and advocate for the use of emerging technology ( e.g Telephone, tablet and computers) in Nigeria  and other African Countries. It will create the avenue for easy access to education and enhance not just quality but education growth, through inclusive ideas of learning to be able to face current global development challenges.

          I am looking forward to a very exciting learning experience from all. Thank you for opening my mind and brain to this wonderful tool!

            

Test - Am a new blogger

This is a test as I am new to blogging. I am very excited about this and how this can help facilitate my learning process.