Online Learning Survey Shows K-12 Growth
In one of the most robust studies of online learning in the United States, the Sloan Consortium predicts that both online and blended learning, a mix of traditional classroom and online learning, will increase by an average of 20 percent in the next two years. Overall, more than 700,000 K–12 students took an online course in 2005–2006. Almost two-thirds of the responding public school districts are offering online courses. Of these schools:
- 63.1% had one or more students enrolled in a fully online or blended course.
- 57.9% had one or more students enrolled in a fully online course.
- 32.4% had one or more students enrolled in a blended course.
How Does Your High School Stack Up?
See how your schools fare by comparing what you offer versus some of the standards called for in the Performance Indicators for Technology-Literate Students released by the International Society for Technology in Education.
Performance Indicators
All students should have opportunities to demonstrate the following performances. Prior to completion of Grade 12, students will:
- Identify capabilities and limitations of contemporary and emerging technology resources and assess the potential of these systems and services to address personal, lifelong learning and workplace needs.
- Demonstrate and advocate for legal and ethical behaviors among peers, family and community regarding the use of technology and information.
- Use technology tools and resources for managing and communicating personal/professional information (e.g., finances, schedules, addresses, purchases, correspondence).
- Routinely and efficiently use online information resources to meet needs for collaboration, research, publication, communication and productivity.
- Select and apply technology tools for research, information analysis, problem solving, and decision making in content learning.
Teacher Concerns on One to One
Teachers are much more concerned that one-to-one computer programs will force them to teach differently than they are worried about the programs’ consequence for learning, shows a new report from the Journal of Research on Technology in Education. More than half the teachers polled at one middle school said their top concern for these programs was the effect on them personally. Just 5 percent said their top concern was the consequence for learning.
Teachers’ Top One-to-One Concerns:
- Personal – 52%
- Collaboration – 23%
- Management – 18%
- Consequence – 5%
- Refocusing – 5%
Source: Journal of Research on Technology in Education, the International Society for Technology in Education, Spring 2007
