Virtual Schooling Scenarios

I think that some schools may be equipped to handle the scenarios listed.  However, the online learning policies present the "what" and not the "how" of online implementation.  I think that schools districts will have to come up with a plan beforehand on 1) how they are going to implement online learning and 2) how they plan on addressing the individual online learning needs of their students.


In regards to the rural area scenario, this is a district that would need to have a committee devoted to online learning.  They would need to allocate funds before the beginning of the school year to address the needs of their students (such as taking calculus). 


The scenario regarding the overbearing parent brings to mind a couple of things.  Is this more of a personal parent issue that needs to be addressed more so than an online issue?  And, if this student is allowed to take an online course because dad doesn't like the teacher, will other parents/students follow suit?  Oh, and is this student "prepared" to take an online course?


In regards to the student who came from a subpar cyberschool, they WILL have to take the district assessment.  So, the only thing that I can think of to do would be to use online learning in the classroom setting to help this student increase their skills.  Perhaps this student could do some remedial instruction online.  (Hopefully, this school already has an online program in place for just such students).


In the matter of a teacher being expected to facilitate online learning with no release time, this is a problem.  However, Michigan's online learning policy states that teachers need to have both online and face-to-face professional development.  If a teacher isn't given any time to "prepare" for this new task on addressing students' online learning needs, then the school is in violation of online learning policy.  Not to mention that the program may not serve the needs of students effectively if the teacher isn't given the proper supports.


The district should be able to provide online learning for the student who has leukemia fairly easily.  The school would have to allow the student to enroll in distance learning.  Section 5-O-A, allows for a student to experience a virtual learning experience in which students can take an unlimited number of classes online. 


I think that for any of the schools to be able to successfully handle the scenarios, they'd have to begin early, taking a stance on how they will deliver online instruction to their students.  Online learning is something that I believe is not going to come "faster than the speed of light", but it IS coming at a steady and constant speed.  We (educators, administrators, parents, students, etc.) have to begin getting prepared for it.

Virtual Schooling

Before the readings, my knowledge of virtual schooling was limited. 
Things that I learned:


Michigan was the first state to create legislation stating that an online learning experience be a requirement for student graduation.
(I had no idea that students had to participate in online learning in some way-minimum of 20 hrs., I thought that online learning was optional).

• MDE has provided elements that they deem necessary for students to learn in an online learning program.   Being exposed to RSS feeds, blogs, webquests, etc.  (all of which are things that I'm just learning about now, in this class).
• A lot of virtual schooling is done in school in the classroom

          (As I stated in my earlier blog, I thought that it was only done or mostly done at home).

• While some virtual schooling is supplemental, there is full-time virtual schooling available.
•  Michigan Virtual High School has an online program where students can learn Chinese.
• The governor is interested in monies following virtual students instead of staying in their home district-this is a concept that I'd never even thought about or considered.

I was right in thinking that teachers need to have some professional development in online education.  The readings stated that teachers are required to take one face-to-face class, along with a 4-6 week online class.  I was surprised to learn that teachers only need to be certified in the area in which they are teaching, and not have to have a Michigan certification to teach on-line.


Michigan is in the forefront of virtual schooling and legislation, providing unique programs and assistance for virtual learning.  It's also interesting to note that Michigan has been a "trailblazer" in other areas of education as well.  Michigan was one of the first states to have charter schools.  There are 2 full-time online charters in Michigan.  A side note:  Michigan is the only state that provides special education services from birth to 26. 


As Dr. Siko stated in his YouTube video, virtual schooling is something that is here to stay.  It is also something that educators need to stay abreast of because we will be(or may already be), a part of the process.

What I Know For Sure...About K-12 Learning

Well, after I thought about it, I guess I don't know that much about K-12 learning.  I know that students take all or most of their classes on line.  But aside from that, I guess I don't know what else is involved in K-12 learning.  I would imagine that students are expected to do assignments by a specified time.  I would also think that teachers would have to have specific training to teach on-line classes.  They would probably also have to do some continuing education to keep abreast of what's new in technology. 

Wikipedia, YouTube--Resource For the Classroom?

Well, let me start by saying that I've had instructors tell me that Wikipedia was NOT  a resource that could be used in a research project.  I've often heard that ANYONE could post something to Wikipedia, thereby, making it an UNRELIABLE resource. 
The news.cnet.com website gave me a different point of view.  They showed that while Wikipedia made errors, so did more reputable websites, like Britannica.com.  Also, Wikipedia was shown to be pretty accurate overall.


Although ANYONE can post something on YouTube, it IS a resource that I use myself at times. I look at YouTube as more of a social/entertainment website than an informational website. (Although I know that you CAN find useful information on this website).  I've used YouTube videos as part of  presentations and cited them in my resources. 


My district, DPS, blocks YouTube websites.  This is a little frustrating at times, because there are some things that I would like my students to view that they aren't able to.  However, I do understand that because of the nature of YouTube (it's a "public" website that is not really censored), this has to be done.


I would allow my students to use both YouTube and Wikipedia as "A" resource (one resource), not their ONLY resource.  Both of these websites can provide useful and valid information.  However, due to the nature of these websites, supporting websites/resources would have to be used.

Useful Special Education Blogs

I found several special education blogs that I liked.  These are my top 3:

• http://teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com/2012/09/ipads-for-learners-with-severemultiple.html

This blog provides a wealth of information related to IPAD apps that students with severe multiple needs could use in the classroom.  There are also lots of other great ideas for assisting students with severe needs.  There are links to all of the apps and you can view them before you buy them.  Of course, there are some free apps.

• http://nichcy.org/multiple-disabilities-in-your-classroom

This blog has a variety of tools you can use right now with your students in the classroom.  It also gives information about the type of assistance these students might need.  Things like: tapping into a students strengths, learning about assistive technology, dealing with behavior issues, etc.  There are at least a dozen links to things you can do to help your students in the classroom right now, (not after you take a course or PD)

• http://thejournal.com/articles/2014/01/21/teachers-get-free-online-common-core-pd-to-reach-struggling-and-special-ed-students.aspx

This blog provides links to online professional development for teaching the common core.  It also provides incite in assisting special education students in accessing the common core.  There's also a link to a site called "Power Up".  On this site, teachers are provided with free tools/ideas to use in the classroom.  Yes, "FREE".




The following are teachers on twitter that I am following:

• @toddwhitaker--his focus is leadership, teaching and motivation

             I sometimes need a little motivation to get and keep me moving

• @WeAreTeachers--I like this one because it is an online forum where teachers can share their successes and also their frustrations with fellow teachers (who understand)

• @timbuckteeth--The name sounds weird, but he is a proponent of teachers collaborating with each other to help themselves and each other.  It's a good premise!

• @TeacherCast--provides links to IPAD apps and other technology that can be useful in the classroom

• @ShellTerrell--she is also a proponent of networking and collaborating with other teachers; she gives some great resources, motivational techniques to get you moving in the right direction in your classroom

     Well, I must say, that I haven't really used twitter or feedly.com very often.  I suppose it's because I've been really busy with my classroom and this class. It's also because they are both relatively new to me.  I have to get used to them.  Once I use them more often and get more acquainted with them, I will probably use them way more often.  While doing this blog, I learned that I do like blog posts a lot!  I also like the idea of using an RSS feeder to organize my blogs.  This is a great idea!  Initially though, I will have to train myself to use this tool.  I'm used to adding sites to favorites.  The idea of using an RSS feeder to "hold my spot" is one that I'm beginning to like more and more.

SAMR & Students with Special Needs

I teach in a self-contained classroom with students who have special needs.   My students are ages 5-8.  I'd never heard of the SAMR model until this class, however, I have used some SAMR strategies with my students.   These are some of the things that I do in my classroom using the SAMR approach.


Substitution:
*Students view worksheet via Activboard.*
I make a worksheet on Microsoft Word using pictures and pull it up on my Activ board. I frequently present material to my students on the Activ board.


Augmentation:
*Students answer worksheet questions using an adaptive mouse.*


Modification:
*I take pictures of my students using an IPAD or digital camera and make a Power Point using Microsoft*


Redefinition:
*I add music to the Power Point presentation and present the slide show to my students on the Activ board*

Week 3

Hello everyone!
The topics this week have been very thought provoking.  Prensky (last weeks reading) suggested that Gen Xer's could multitask, this weeks readings suggest otherwise.  This weeks readings suggest that students are not able to multitask.  Students studies and grades suffer when they attempt to multitask during class time.  I, myself, can attest to that.  While sitting in a class one day, I decided to use my laptop to look up some information I needed for another class (among other things).  I missed a lot of what the instructor had to say.  I thought that I could do both things effectively, but I was mistaken.


Alicia, you mentioned something that I found interesting and right on point.  Teachers are overwhelmed with trying to incorporate technology into their lessons.  We are told to use technology in our lessons, but not always told "how" to do this effectively.  Reeves' article suggests that the research shows that one educational technology program isn't more effective than another.  We are not even sure if technology-based instruction is better than traditional instruction overall.  With that being said, how can we tell teachers that they "have" to use technology in their lessons? (On a side note, how can we use technology as part of the criteria in the teacher evaluation process?)


I was surprised by the information on the effectiveness (or lack there of) of teaching to multiple intelligences.  The research doesn't show that any one way of teaching is more effective than another.  I was shocked by this.  However, this doesn't mean that teaching to different learning styles is not effective, it just means that it has not been researched/done in a way to show accurate results.