Barbour, M. K. & Unger, K. (2010, June). Preparing K-12 teachers to support online learning. A paper presented at the annual Canadian eLearning Conference, Edmonton, AB.
CeLC 2010 - Preparing K-12 Teachers to Support Online Learning
1. Instructional Technology
The Impact of the Virtual Schooling
Curriculum on Preparing
In-Service Teachers for the Roles as
Virtual School Facilitators
Dr. Michael Barbour - mkbarbour@gmail.com
Kelly Unger - klu728@gmail.com
2. Instructional Technology
Current state of VS
Students Enrolled in Online Courses
• 2001 = 40,000 – 50,000 (Clark)
• 2009 =>1,000,000 K-12 (Picciano& Seaman)
Students Enrolled in Online Courses
• 45 States (plus DC) reporting significant K-12
online learning activity
3. Instructional Technology
Current state of VS
• 2006 – Michigan adds online learning graduation
requirement
• Added 3 new standards for teachers in
Educational Technology
1. Online Technology Experience and Skills
2. Online Course Design
3. Online Course Delivery
• Necessitated changes to all endorsement
programs in the state
4. Instructional Technology
Current state of VS
• At Wayne State University changed reflected
in IT6230 – Internet in the Classroom
– preparing teachers for three new roles (Davis, 2007)
1. Virtual School Designer
2. Virtual School Teacher
3. Virtual School Facilitator
» most middle and high school teachers in Michigan
were more likely to play the role of the facilitator the
majority of course activities focused on this position
6. Instructional Technology
K-12 Online Learning
• TEGIVS scenarios & IA case studies
• Readings related to K-12 online learning
• Reflective discussions using blogs and RSS feeds
based upon the instructor’s prompt
• Activities and videos about K-12 online learning
• Individual project and group project from the
TEGIVS curriculum
• MI case studies
7. Instructional Technology
Purpose of Study
1. Examine the effectiveness of the chosen K-12
online learning curriculum, with the goal of
making continual improvements to the
course (Stringer, 2004).
2. Examine impact of TEGIVS curriculum on the
opinions of graduate students enrolled in
IT6230 about the role of the virtual school
facilitator.
8. Instructional Technology
Methods
• Four Semesters
– Winter 2008 - 9of 15 students
– Winter 2009 - 5of 7 students
– Summer 2009 – 5 of 14 students
– Winter 2010 – 4 of 10 students
• Data
– Blog comments based prompts by the instructor
– Individual and group projects
– Student evaluations of teaching
9. Instructional Technology
Methods
• Inductive analysis approach
(LeCompte&Preissle, 1993) and constant
comparative coding (Ezzy, 2002).
• Microsoft Word® as a tool to complete this
analysis following the procedure outlined by
Ruona (2005).
• Weekly meetings to discuss codes, categories
and potential themes.
11. Cycle 2 – Winter 2009
Instructional Technology
• Localized and revised
TEGIVS scenarios
• Modified individual
project
– Added tasks from
TEGIVS scenarios
• Discussion prompts
more closely tied to
readings
• More research-based readings
• Added ILO case studies to focus on VS
teacher role
5 week unit
13. Cycle 3 – Summer 2009
Instructional Technology
• Modified individual
project
– added specific tasks
related to ILO case studies
– added tasks related to
Converge special issue
• Discussion prompts
forced students to
explore new resources
– with a continued
emphasis on the readings
6 week unit
14. Initial Thematic Analysis
Instructional Technology
• Consistent with Winter 2008 and Winter 2009
– Benefits at-risk students
– More teacher preparation
– Support online learning
– Communication/interaction
• No longer apparent
– Appropriate access to technology
• No real new issues
15. Cycle 4 – Winter 2010
Instructional Technology
• Created Michigan-
specific online teaching
case studies
– used as part of
Individual Project
• Better sequencing of
topics
• Better coverage of topics
related to all three roles
• Better illustration of Web
2.0 tools for online
teaching
7 week unit
16. Instructional Technology
Design Lessons
• First you have to confront students’
preconceptions and dispel any myths
• Michigan-specific examples
• Discussions more meaningful when tied to the
readings, but push students to use resources
beyond (particularly with research-based
readings)
17. Instructional Technology
Continuing Design Issues
• More Michigan-specific content
• Continued revision of the Individual Project
• Better mix of practitioner-focused and research-
based readings
• Increase in materials related to “virtual school
designer” role
18. Instructional Technology
Thematic Conclusions
• Still unfamiliar to most teachers
• Mandated or not, teachers see benefits
• Number of perceived challenges decreases each
semester
• Most support virtual schooling and willing to give
it a try
20. Instructional Technology
The Impact of the Virtual Schooling
Curriculum on Preparing
In-Service Teachers for the Roles as
Virtual School Facilitators
Dr. Michael Barbour - mkbarbour@gmail.com
Kelly Unger - klu728@gmail.com
Hinweis der Redaktion
Update numbers
14 for analyzed data (W08 and W09)18 (Summer 09) addedAnd I believe there are 3 (I’m not on campus) from (W10)
After Slide 11 - add in individual slides for Winter 2008 (first bullet point focused on data, second bullet point focused on changes to the course) and Winter 2009 (same format)Then use Slide 12 as is.Actually in thinking a little more about this... for the Winter 2008, Winter 2009, Summer 2009 and Winter 2010 slides, use this model:- begin with what the course included at the start of the semesterthen present the bullet point (sub-points) on the trends in the dataThat format will allow you to have something on the slide for Winter 2010.
After Slide 11 - add in individual slides for Winter 2008 (first bullet point focused on data, second bullet point focused on changes to the course) and Winter 2009 (same format)Then use Slide 12 as is.Actually in thinking a little more about this... for the Winter 2008, Winter 2009, Summer 2009 and Winter 2010 slides, use this model:- begin with what the course included at the start of the semesterthen present the bullet point (sub-points) on the trends in the dataThat format will allow you to have something on the slide for Winter 2010.
After Slide 11 - add in individual slides for Winter 2008 (first bullet point focused on data, second bullet point focused on changes to the course) and Winter 2009 (same format)Then use Slide 12 as is.Actually in thinking a little more about this... for the Winter 2008, Winter 2009, Summer 2009 and Winter 2010 slides, use this model:- begin with what the course included at the start of the semesterthen present the bullet point (sub-points) on the trends in the dataThat format will allow you to have something on the slide for Winter 2010.
After Slide 12 - add in individual slide for Summer 2009 (first bullet point focused on first pass of the data, second bullet point on changes), then have a new slide for Winter 2010 or have it as third bullet point on Summer 2009 slide (I personally like the new slide better.
After Slide 11 - add in individual slides for Winter 2008 (first bullet point focused on data, second bullet point focused on changes to the course) and Winter 2009 (same format)Then use Slide 12 as is.Actually in thinking a little more about this... for the Winter 2008, Winter 2009, Summer 2009 and Winter 2010 slides, use this model:- begin with what the course included at the start of the semesterthen present the bullet point (sub-points) on the trends in the dataThat format will allow you to have something on the slide for Winter 2010.
After Slide 11 - add in individual slides for Winter 2008 (first bullet point focused on data, second bullet point focused on changes to the course) and Winter 2009 (same format)Then use Slide 12 as is.Actually in thinking a little more about this... for the Winter 2008, Winter 2009, Summer 2009 and Winter 2010 slides, use this model:- begin with what the course included at the start of the semesterthen present the bullet point (sub-points) on the trends in the dataThat format will allow you to have something on the slide for Winter 2010.
After Slide 11 - add in individual slides for Winter 2008 (first bullet point focused on data, second bullet point focused on changes to the course) and Winter 2009 (same format)Then use Slide 12 as is.Actually in thinking a little more about this... for the Winter 2008, Winter 2009, Summer 2009 and Winter 2010 slides, use this model:- begin with what the course included at the start of the semesterthen present the bullet point (sub-points) on the trends in the dataThat format will allow you to have something on the slide for Winter 2010.