Learning Uninterrupted Keeping Students Learning When Schools are Closed

1. Learning Uninterrupted Keeping Students Learning When Schools are Closed Myk Garn Director, Educational Technology Southern Regional Education Board Susan Patrick President & CEO International Association for K-12 Online Learning Virtual School Symposium November 16, 2009

2. Learning Continuity by E-learning

3. Case Study: Singapore

4. Continuity of Learning ChartSingapore School/Campus Closure Significant Student & Staff Infection Significant Student Infection No/Limited Student Infection

5. Case Study: Katrina

7. We CAN do this…

8. A Community Responds… “It is hard for me to imagine what some of them are coping with, having nothing left except the clothes on their backs and what little they could take with them when the waters rose to devastate everything in their environment. I have great respect for each and every one of them, and for those who are pitching in to make their lives a little better.” Jim Gustafson Professor of Philosophy, Mass Colleges Online Commenting on his “Katrina Students”

9. A National Conversation & Capacity…

10. Why Virtual Really Matters…

11. They Also Lose Who Sit at Home…

12. Virtual Opportunity…

13. Learning Uninterrupted • Technology • Instructional Resources • Instructional Strategies • People

14. Continuity of Learning - Trends • States and district education leaders are reviewing policies for learning continuity and virtual education to help establish new school models: • Long-term solution: using blended models of online learning every day to help engage students in 21st century classrooms – • Short-term needs: preparing schools for readiness to use online learning for learning continuity in the event of school closures

15. Learning Continuity Readiness Assessment • Schools, districts and states could benefit by doing a readiness assessment for e-learning in advance and knowing what the student population has in inventory at home: computer and internet access at a minimum.   • If they don't have access, then the formulation of a plan or policy for expanding access in the short- and long- term as well as interim strategies in place.

16. Getting Prepared • What can the online learning community provide to assist US states, districts, schools and individual students displaced H1N1? • Short and Long -Term frameworks to help schools adopt e-learning for learning continuity • Readiness Assessment • Partnerships

17. Instructional Materials • What instructional materials are available? • Invest in digital content and instructional materials that could be delivered at a distance and used in online learning. • Accelerate use of proprietary and open educational resources (digital, adaptable, sharable, modifiable, re-distributable, i.e., creative commons licensing, MITE, Curriki, etc.)

18. Technologies • Phone conferencing • Web-conferencing solutions • Learning Management System solutions • Online Courses • Virtual Schools

19. Continuity of Learning “Drill”

20. It’s About People… • Technology • Instructional Resources • Instructional Strategies • People

21. People • Teachers • Inventory Internet access at home • Train teachers in use of the LMS, communication and distance learning tools (low tech and high tech) for short-term and long-term solutions. • Training parents and students • Inventory Internet access at home in the case of a school dismissal. • Train students and parents to access materials and services (low tech and high tech) • Schools use blended environment under normal circumstances to ensure a smooth transition in the case of an emergency. • Identify and train gap-fill tutors for online tutoring

22. National Standards and Guidelines

23. E-Learning Innovations That Work • Federal Stimulus: RTTT and Innovation funding • Research shows that K-12 online learning works: • Schools, districts and states eligible for innovation funding should consider investing in e-learning solutions

24. Thank You! Continuity of Learning Resources: www.inacol.org/col • Continuity of Learning Readiness Assessment • Continuity of Learning Framework (chart) • Reports, documents, and copies of slides • Resource Partners Disaster Preparedness Resources: www.sreb.org/programs/EdTech/Disaster • SREB State Emergency Management Websites • SLOAN Foundation - Sloan Semester • SREB State Partners