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iNACOL Virtual School Symposium 2012

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I am so excited.  Later this month I will be heading to the Virtual School Symposium being held in New Orleans by iNACOL the International Association for K-12 Online Learning.

This symposium will bring together over 2,000 representatives from national, state, district, private, and other virtual school programs to attend the premier K-12 online and blended learning conference. Experts in K-12 virtual education will have robust networking opportunities; learn about the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in e-learning; interact in session presentations; and gain access to the latest research and best practices reports.

I am especially excited because I will be able to get my hands on the book Lessons Learned in Teacher Mentoring: Supporting Educators in K-12 Online Learning Environments–with the chapter I co-wrote.  This coupled with the fact I’ve always wanted to visit New Orleans raises the excitement.

Just this week at the CELT Conference, I heard speakers mentioning personalized learning and much discussion revolving around common core, particularly in the Math/Science subjects.  So, I am looking forward to connecting with others, gathering in New Orleans, who are wrestling with these same issues.

One presentation I am looking forward to is: New Learning Models: Making Learning Personal which promises to discuss the lines of distinction between online, mobile, blended, and computer-based learning which are fading. What does this mean for education?  What will school look like when students can literally carry their learning with them on a cell phone – and when their “campus” is wherever they choose to work? Polices around competency-based learning are also on the rise. Learning is becoming less linear, more discovery and interest-based, and ever more personal. This session is being presented by Florida Virtual School’s Jill Dickinson, Director of Curriculum Management.

Then there is another session, Professional Development Needs for Blended Learning. This session will explore, via a panel, the challenges faced when a school implements blended learning, what professional development do teachers, administrators and other staff need to insure a successful implementation?

There are so many sessions that look so great.  I also plan to get myself down to the French Quarters, have some great food and hear some fabulous jazz. Stay tuned for more.

CELT: Connecting Education, Leadership and Technology

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I had the pleasure to attend a small, powerful conference at the elegant Hotel Northampton yesterday sponsored by CELT: Connecting Education, Leadership and Technology.

 

Keynote speaker Kathleen H. McClaskey from Personalized Learning spoke about how to move towards student led learning and how students need: motivation, engagement & voice in their learning.  She emphasized Universal  Design Learning [UDL] throughout her presentation.

Kathleen also suggested to have a look at CESA 1 in Wisconsin and the projects they have been working on. She also talked suggested we look at Competency Works and All4Ed-both excellent sources.
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Online learning Implementation Strategies was led by Lesley Professor Joan Thormann Ph.D
This presentation also confirmed some basic strategies for online learning: Joan spoke of pitching online learning to one’s district, building distinct capacity, infrastructure, LMS options, student readiness, observation & evaluations, blended learning, district policies and she mentioned her new book.
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E-Rate 2013 update: maximize your e-rate dollars
I also sat in on this session which was quite detailed. Not having an in depth background on this topic, I listened for items emphasized. Primarily the changes for 2013 were discussed.
Important:
ITT 46 ends 9/30/2017
Form 471 Item 21 attachments MUST be filed by form 471 (descriptions of services)

Eligible items:
residential locations ( maybe like DYS?)
Community use of services-  the example used was where schools are open after school allowing people from the community to come in and use the facilities.
CIPA Changed- June 30,2012
Updated Internet Safety Policy
– cyber bullying
-public notices or hearings

For More Information:
888.203.8100
Integrity.com

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Flipping the Classroom was presented by Eric Braun of 30 Hands Learning

This presentation focused primarily on the LMS 30 Hand Learning sells which has reasonable pricing and supposedly dovetails with other LMS like Moodle.
Eric Braun spoke about future initiates:

  • Shared Learning Collaborative -SLC
  • Content, tools & solutions – CTS
  • Learning, resource, metadata initiative – LRMI

Eric also spoke briefly about how teachers are paying teachers for the curriculum they build for Flipping Classrooms. Interesting ideas.

QR Codes for the Vision Impaired

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The company Digital Miracles L.L.C. is able to create braille QR codes which can be read by an iPhone Digit-Eye Audio Scanner & Labeler Application called Digit-Eyes and can be purchased for $19.99.  Briefly, the vision impaired person would feel the printed QR code, scan it using the iPhone application and the smartphone tells them in audio format what information is on the QR code.

While the system was developed primarily to offer a solution to the common problem experienced by the visually impaired: labeling and understanding the contents of [such as food labels], Digit-Eyes specializes in offering the ability to record your own labels. Users can make their own QR code labels, print them and the user can then record their own audio content on an iPhone or iPad that is played back whenever the QR code is scanned.

More in-depth research and testing would have to be done to determine the application of these types of QR codes.  However it might be one solution, for the vision impaired student, to using QR Codes.

QR Codes Used for Verbal Practice

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Imagine a language student being able to listen to pronunciation along with a study guide.  With a QR code embedded on a vocabulary sheet, students can download a mp3 file and listen along as they study.

Audio files can be created for any lecture or instruction where an auditory experience would enhance the learning.

QR Codes Used in Lab Settings

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Since labs are often difficult to make-up, labs can be video recorded and QR [Quick Response] codes can be applied to a lab calendar. Students are able to scan the QR code to download the lab.

Additionally, difficult procedures can be recorded by video and/or audio and added to lab handouts for distribution before, during or after class.