December+1,+2010

In this Worthy of Note ...
Reports and Publications: K-20 Resources: K-20 Educause Learning Initiative Online Learning: K-12 Other Topics Trends: A Request

Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction // New York Times, Matt Richtel, November 21, 2010 // You may have read this feature article about students distracted by technology in last week’s NYTimes, but you may not have seen this summary video about those same students at Woodside High (CA). Joshua Kim, Inside Higher Ed, asks some leading questions in High School Students and Technology about this topic. **The video:** Fast Times at Woodside High: How Technology is Distracting Students.

**Reports and Publications: K-20**
Sloan C: Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010 //I. Elaine Allen,// //Babson Survey Research Group, and Jeff Seaman, Sloan Consortium, November, 2010// The 2010 Sloan Survey of Online Learning reveals that enrollment rose by almost one million students from a year earlier. The survey of more than 2,500 colleges and universities nationwide finds approximately 5.6 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2009, the most recent term for which figures are available. Read the abstract here.

Speeding Toward a Slowdown? //Steve Kolowich, Inside Higher Education, November 16, 2010// The author offers comments on the Sloan publication above.

2010 Managing Online Education Survey (MOE) //The Campus Computing Project, WICHE Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications (WCET)// Colleges and universities engaged in online learning are making major investments in faculty development programs according to a new national survey of senior campus officials who manage online and distance education programs. Faculty training is a major investment for online ed programs; ADA compliance remains a major vulnerability. Confirming data that first emerged from the 2009 MOE survey, the 2010 data reveal that many campuses do not have formal policies and procedures to assure that their online courses and programs are compliant with ADA mandates. Supporting documentation included.

Mapping the Terrain of Online Education //Kenneth C. Green, digitalweed, Inside Higher Education, November 21, 2010// The author of this blog offers comments on the Sloan publication and the Managing Online Education Survey.

Internal Barriers to Online Expansion //Inside Higher Education, November 12, 2010//

ADA Compliance Is a ‘Major Vulnerability’ for Online Programs //Wired Campus, Marc Parry, November 12, 2010//

The Experts' Guide to the Postsecondary Market //SIIA Software and Information Industry Association// This SIIA publication is a collection of articles from industry experts. Articles providing a general overview of issues in the Higher Education market are followed by chapters on Business Strategies, Product Development, Marketing and Sales. Download the sampler publication and prelimiary table of contents.

ENABLED BY BROADBAND, EDUCATION ENTERS A NEW FRONTIER (K-12) //John G. Flores, Executive Director, USDLA// This paper highlights success and growth in online education programs across the country. It also outlines the need for increased broadband access and suggests policy measures to ensure that barriers to continued growth in online learning are removed. Commentary on this paper can found at eSchool News, New Report Highlights Barriers to Online Learning, November 11, 2010.

**Resources: K-20**
AMSER; Applied Math and Science Education Repository AMSER is funded by the National Science Foundation as part of the National Science Digital Library, and is being created by a team of project partners led by Internet Scout. It is a portal of educational resources and services built specifically for use by those in Community and Technical Colleges but free for anyone to use.

The Scout Archives Speaking of Internet Scout, the Scout Report Archives is a searchable and browseable database to over nine years' worth of the Scout Report and subject-specific Scout Reports. It contains 26,840 critical annotations of carefully selected Internet sites and mailing lists.

The Geological Society of America Part of the Geological Society of America's vision is to foster the human quest for understanding Earth, planets, and life. Earth-science education is at the core of the National Academy of Science's National Education Standards, and GSA is dedicated to increasing the appreciation of Earth's history, processes, and resources. Please read more about our Teacher Advocate Program and the support it provides to earth science educators. Check out the links to the many educational and outreach resources on this page.

** Educause Learning Initiative **
7 Things You Should Know About… The EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative's (ELI's) //7 Things You Should Know About...// series provides concise information on emerging learning technologies and related practices. Each brief focuses on a single technology or practice and describes: What it is, How it Works, Where it is going and Why it matters to teaching and learning. For instance: 7 Things You Should Know About Privacy in Web 2.0 Learning Environments and 7 Things You Should Know About Open Educational Resources.

**Online Learning: K-12**
iNACOL: Lessons Learned from Virtual Schools: Experiences and Recommendations from the Field The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) announced the release of its first published book: Lessons Learned from Virtual Schools: Experiences and Recommendations from the Field at the annual Virtual School Symposium (VSS) today. The book was edited by Cathy Cavanaugh and Rick Ferdig. It is available for purchase.
 * The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) Publications **

According to Ferdig, "K-12 Virtual Schools are an important part of our 21st century educational system. This book captures the successes and lessons of leaders from some of the most experienced state-led and consortium-based virtual schools in the nation. Readers will get advice and strategies on everything from teacher professional development to data management."

iNACOL: A National Primer on Online Learning, Version 2 The biggest emerging trends in online learning include the growth of district-led online schools, the expansion of blended (or hybrid) learning, and the acceptance of mobile learning. Read more.

Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning 2010 //John Watson, Amy Murin, Butch Gemin, et al, Evergreen Education Group, 2010// Read about Keeping Pace here. Much of the information in //Keeping Pace// is changing; the newest information is available at the KP website,. The website includes two versions of this report—one that is the length of this print copy and one that is much shorter, without the state profiles—along with additional graphics that can be downloaded for use in presentations or print reports. State profiles on the website will be updated with new information throughout 2011. Read eSchool News report on KP 2010.

Check out the new blog on the Keeping Pace site. One of the primary goals is to point out misleading or inconsistent media reports, stories, etc. SREB and Keeping Pace continue a partnership that enables sharing of information about state virtual schools. The Educational Technology Cooperative survey results are being concluded and the annual State Virtual School Survey will be published soon.

More High School Students Acquire Online Credits

// Brian Thevenot and Sarah Butrymowicz, Texas Tribune, published in NYTimes, November 4, 2010 //
Focus is on the Houston Independent School District which offers self-paced make-ups to any student who fails a class.

** Other Topics **
Videos: Unleashing Technology to Personalize Learning // Education Week // 's Leadership Forum "Unleashing Technology to Personalize Learning," was a live, in-person forum, held October 5, 2010, in Washington, for district-level personnel charged with maximizing the effectiveness of technology in education.

Watch video presentations of Julie Young (//Balancing Academic Rigor and Student Interests//); Bryan Setser (//Demystifying Online Learning//); Karen Cantor (//Cyberbulling ― A Call to Action// and //No More Professional Development Excuses//); Eric Sheninger (//Opening Minds on Social Networking//); and Chris Lehmann (//Beyond Shiny Tools//).

Florida Virtual, Pearson Announce Partnership //Education Week, Ian Quillen, November 18, 2010// The Florida Virtual School and educational publishers Pearson have announced a partnership that will offer FLVS-designed courses through a program called Pearson Virtual Learning.

** Trends: A Request **
From George Siemens’ ELEARNSPACE ― about trends in education, technology and society: George and a few kindred souls are kicking off a website that tracks innovation in education through startups and entrepreneurship. He is looking to connect with people that may want to be involved in writing about and tracking trends and startups in the learning technology field (corporate, K-12, higher education). He bills it as somewhat of a blend between slashdot and techcrunch. Ideally, it will have broad representation from around the world so they don't get locked into tracking only startups and innovations that are occurring within a particular region or country. If you're interested in contributing, feel free to join this Google Group.