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Despite Spring’s official arrival, it seems the peace of warm solitude is not on most Canadian’s horizon for some time yet… We hope the damage from floods and winter’s last grasp has minimal impact on you and yours.
This issue highlights research, news, and commentary on e-learning based on the recent policy announcement in Ontario and the new DLAC group and its inaugural conference – plus highlights from April’s DLsymp19. Pay it forward – Pass it on!
Saskatchewan IT Summit
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- May 9-10 in Ottawa
- Evening keynote address // Full day skill building event
More info at http://www.boltt.ca/ottawa-spring-conference/
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blendED 2019: Alberta Blended & Online Learning
- October 23-25 in Edmonton
- Call for proposals is open!
http://www.blendedalberta.ca/
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Missed the CANeLearn – BC Partners Symposium?
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Save the date! February 24-26, 2020 – Austin TX
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In the News
Ontario to require 4 e-learning credits for secondary students
CANeLearn posted a series of blog entries in relation to the Education that Works for You – Modernizing Classrooms – a proposed policy from the Ontario government. Specific to e-learning the proposal calls for the centralization of delivery and the requirement that four of the 30 high school credits be via e-learning for all secondary students.
The announcement sparked considerable discussion and debate in both main-stream and social media channels. Unfortunately, a lot of the commentary included many discredited myths, misinformation, and pitted e-learning against classroom-based learning.
Read CANeLearn’s response here
Digital Learning Collaborative: Snapshot 2019
- First of DLAC’s, a new US-based consortium fostering digital learning, annual report (previously published as the Keeping Pace)
- Enrollments in US online schools are growing slowly at a rate of about 6% per year with 31 states that allow statewide online schools with an estimated 310,000 students enrolled nationwide
- The report includes 11 district-level digital learning use cases exploring a specific goal such as raising graduation rates, lowering dropout rates, addressing equity issues, offering career and technical education, offering world language courses, and providing continuity of learning during snow days and extended emergencies
- PDF report is online here
EdTech Innovation in Online Education
- The early days of online education looked suspiciously similar to traditional classes taken in brick-and-mortar classrooms.
- New edtech innovations create a synergy that makes online education the preferred choice for many learners.
- Read how here
Connecting to success: Technology in Ontario schools
A report based on the People for Education‘s annual survey that focuses on the use of technology in schools that found:
- 97% of elementary and 100% of secondary schools report at least some teachers use of technology
- 33% of all elementary, 40% of grade 7 and 8, and 66% of secondary schools encourage students to “bring your own device” (BYOD)
- 85% of elementary schools in high-income neighbourhoods fundraise for technology, compared to 54% of in low-income neighbourhoods
- Read more here
2019 Horizon Report (Post-sec)
- Six key trends, six significant challenges, and six important developments in educational technology as ranked by an expert panel of leaders from across the higher education landscape
- Find the report here…
Blended isn’t just about online learning—it’s making space for real-world relationships
- Beyond just restructuring the classroom, blended-learning models are starting to open up new connections and diversify students’ networks
- This has the potential to address not just achievement gaps, but opportunity gaps
- Check it out here
Alberta Education: Online Learning Website & Resources
- Alberta Education has launched an online site housing information and resourcesrelated to K-12 online & blended learning and distance education
- The site offers an online learning directory with links to program website along with two guides Intended
- Student & Families guide is intended to increase awareness and understanding of the nature of online learning, opportunities offered by online learning, and to provide some considerations for students and their caregivers to ensure success
- The School Leader’s guide provides school leaders with information and supports for quality online learning programming by highlighting practices and policies essential to a welcoming, caring, respectful, and safe online learning environment
Must-Read Books on Online Learning from teachonline.ca
- A fascinating and powerful collection of books and articles of interest to those teaching online and at a distance, instructional designers, administrators and policymakers
- Sorted list available here
Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams for Education
- While both online learning platforms can improve classroom productivity and collaboration, deciding on the best fit will depend on what schools’ priorities are
- Read the comparison blog post here
From the Digital Learning Collaborative’s John Watson
- MOOCs never amounted to much — and the Gartner Hype Cycle
- Read John’s take on MOOCs and how edtech hype never seems to live up to the glory of anticipation (early hype with the promise first, limitations and concerns buried in details and mostly overlooked)
- Specifically regarding MOOCs in K-12 they simply lacked the necessary interaction with teachers
- Read more here…
Journal of Online Learning Research – March 2019
- K-12 online and blended learning in international contexts
- Developing pedagogy and design skills in novice virtual teachers
- How traditional “best teaching practices” impact blended learning classrooms
- Blended learning in middle school math
- Global projects: Emerging collaboration and awareness
- Concerns of online K-12 teachers
- Check it out here…
OLTD/MEDL Major Project and Process Papers
- Recent Masters papers on topics related to blended and online learning from Vancouver Island University
- Read more here…
Happy reading!
IT4K12 Conference Highlights
- Recorded presentations from the November ERAC annual conference
- Archives here
Archives of DLsymp19
- Pictures, presentations, video recordings, and other items of interest from the April 7-9 event
- Links to all here
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