Check out the 21st century classroom in action

By Ian Richardson, Creston News Advertiser

The classroom buzzes with the low hum of conversation mixed with concentration. In one corner, senior Jacob Routh works on setting up a 3D printer. In another, sophomore Desi Osterhout and junior Cydney Seley sit on blue-green patterned armchairs, looking through Google Cardboard goggles that use smartphones to create virtual-reality experiences. At a long, markerboard-surfaced table in the room’s center, a group of students builds robots from Cubelets, box-shaped elements that use sensors to perform different functions. Another group builds circuits using a kit with snap-on pieces.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/10/09/21st-century-classroom-729/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=14045

Discover the Weekly Number of Hours Online Students Study

By Joe Chapman, US News

Year after year, one of the most common pieces of feedback I receive from students who are new to our online degree program is that they are surprised by the amount of time it takes to succeed in their online courses. Common misconceptions of online degree programs are that they are easy to complete or take less time than traditional college classes. However, I’m here to tell you that is not the case. Though Arizona State University’s online programs, called ASU Online, our undergrad and graduate courses are structured in seven and a half week sessions rather than 14-week semesters. For one session, a student should expect to spend six hours a week on course work for every course credit.

http://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/2015/10/02/discover-the-weekly-number-of-hours-online-students-study

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Penn State Berks adopts free online textbook for effective speech course

by Penn State University

The Penn State Berks communication arts and sciences (CAS) program is blazing a trail toward an initiative in higher education by adopting a free online textbook, which can also be downloaded and printed, for all sections of the course Effective Speech (CAS100A). This online textbook, “The Public Speaking Project,” will be used in the University Open Educational Resources (OER) textbook pilot initiative. The adoption of this free text has a positive impact on every academic program at Penn State Berks, as all students are required to take Effective Speech. Many universities and colleges have been working to reduce textbook costs for students, while state legislatures are encouraging colleges and universities to find ways to limit costs for students.

http://news.psu.edu/story/367038/2015/08/27/academics/penn-state-berks-adopts-free-online-textbook-effective-speech

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Get the most out of your education with online learning

by WOOD TV

Michigan has been recognized nationally as a leading force in online learning, and not just for higher education. The state is on the cutting edge of kindergarten through high school education. Among those leading the way is Michigan Virtual University. A request by the governor and legislation in 2000 led to the creation of Michigan Virtual University. It’s a wonderful option for students who cannot attend traditional school because of a health issue, scheduling conflict, or for other reasons. Students have a wider variety of courses available to them, taught by certified teachers from all over the state, including specialized classes and AP classes.

http://woodtv.com/2015/08/19/get-the-most-out-of-your-education-with-online-learning/

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The 7 do’s and don’ts of creating your own OERs

By Laura Devaney, eSchool News

Whether you know it or not, most educators have already started creating their own open educational resources (OER) in the form of tests, handouts, and presentations. Bringing them on online to share with other educators is just the natural next step. But there are best practices creating and sharing OERs, which are resources that are freely shared and able to be modified and redistributed. This “grass-roots, bottom-up” approach to content creation enables educators to tailor content to meet students’ needs,” said Tyler DeWitt, an MIT Ph.D. student and a student coordinator for the MIT+K12 video outreach project, during an edWeb webinar, which explored these and other related takeaways and gave several tips for creating OERs that work for educators.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/08/07/creating-oers-722/

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The Ultimate Guide to Gamifying Your Classroom

By Amanda Ronan, Edudemic

No one wants to been seen as the stuffy teacher stuck in the past who lectures from the front of the classroom and doesn’t seem to care about student engagement. Students today are tech savvy and have wandering minds. They are able to process information coming at them from several channels at a time—walking, talking, and texting. Changing up how you deliver classroom content can keep kids’ attention, draw on their strengths, engage them as lifelong learners, and be amazingly fun. What is this magical method? It’s gamification, a word that, according to Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, wasn’t even in use until 2010.

http://www.edudemic.com/ultimate-guide-gamifying-classroom/

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NC online charter school talking enrollment and mission

By Ali Weatherton, WNCT

School is one month out for many counties in North Carolina and one of the state’s new free online charter schools talked to parents about still getting their children into online courses. It’s all through one of the state’s two new public virtual charter schools some of your tax dollars are going to help open this fall. It’s focusing on giving students a free education in six core courses including English, Math, Art and Music.

http://wnct.com/2015/07/27/new-online-charter-school-comes-to-north-carolina/

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Digital Curriculum Results in Greater Achievement for Boston Public Schools

PR News Wire

Boston Public Schools (BPS) recently announced a historic milestone with the graduation rate at the highest level in recorded history. Data released by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shows the 2014 four-year graduation rate stands at 66.7 percent, up from 65.9 percent in 2013 and continuing an upward trend since 2006 when that figure was 59 percent. The data also shows the district’s annual dropout rate has dipped to a record low at 3.8 percent. Director of Online and Blended Learning for BPS High Schools, Janice Manfredi, attributes the increase in achievement in part to the use of Apex Learning digital curriculum for the district’s credit recovery program, which targets students most at-risk of dropping out.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-curriculum-results-in-greater-achievement-for-boston-public-schools-300103845.html

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EdX Expands Free Course Offerings for Summer Learners

by EdX

EdX, the nonprofit online learning initiative founded by Harvard and MIT, has announced a special selection of high-quality, free courses available to help all combat “summer slide.” The offering is provided in conjunction with efforts from the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on closing the achievement gap through high-quality summer learning for all children and youth. The NSLA’s mission is to increase access to educational and developmental opportunities throughout the summer months. On Friday, June 19th, the NSLA will lead National Summer Learning Day, an annual day of advocacy dedicated to elevating the importance of summer learning, keeping kids safe, healthy, and academically active throughout the school break. The program points parents and students to educational opportunities, like edx.org where learners can enroll in free online courses.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/edx-expands-free-course-offerings-for-summer-learners-300098583.html

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The future ‘hybrid’ classrooms

by Irene Fang, the Voice Kaleo

Paul McKimmy, Director of Technology & Distance Programs and recipient of UH Mānoa’s Excellence in Online Teaching award, acknowledged that there are downsides to online learning but also pointed out some overlooked advantages. In first place, online classes are not meant to be a copy of physical classrooms. Replicating a face-to-face classroom, McKimmy said, “may or may not be the best strategy” for a given course. With the development of technology in the past decade, online learning tools have advanced beyond a mere replication and now allow integrating with traditional methods. One such innovative tool is Blackboard Collaborate, a licensable platform also accessible through UH Mānoa’s College of Education.

http://www.kaleo.org/news/campus/the-future-hybrid-classrooms/article_93d10dea-0d8b-11e5-bfa4-5f81abcd3ff7.html

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As Magna Carta turns 800, free online event celebrates significance

by eSchool News

A 30-minute live streaming event celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta–first signed on June 15, 1215–will bring together historians and other experts to explore the iconic document’s impact on the rule of law. The event is free for schools. Chief Executive and Keeper of The National Archives, Jeff James said, “The National Archives is a window on more than 1000 years of our nation’s history and our collection at Kew is open to everyone, for free. This is a new venture for us and we are delighted to partner with Discovery Education to allow children around the world access to see Magna Carta.” The free event will take place on June 15 at 9:30 a.m. EST. An archived version will also be available online.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/06/05/magna-carta-800/

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Rural teachers, students seek AP classes

By Gene Lucht, Iowa Farmer Today

Nationally, 47.2 percent of rural school districts had no students enrolled in AP courses. The number fell to 5.4 percent for suburban districts and 2.6 percent for urban districts. The New Hampshire researchers found the size of the district wasn’t the only problem. The further the district was from an urbanized area also mattered. And, even where AP classes were offered, small and rural districts had lower levels of both participation and success. It is no secret that smaller districts have a more difficult time finding enough students and teachers to make offering an in-class AP course feasible, Mattingly explains. Rural schools are trying to deal with the problems of size and geography. In Iowa, the state has worked to deal with that problem by offering online AP classes through the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa.

http://www.iowafarmertoday.com/news/regional/rural-teachers-students-seek-ap-classes/article_3f80d844-e903-11e4-9f0e-2bf826aca797.html

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Game-Based Simulations Teach Environmental Science at ASU Online

By Rhea Kelly, Campus Technology

To better engage its online learners, Arizona State University is piloting game-based simulations from Toolwire in its ASU Online environmental science courses.

In five story-based games, students “will take on several leadership roles, with increasing responsibility, to help a community address challenging environmental and sustainability issues,” according to a press release. Interactive features include the ability to download digital learning objects, take notes and respond to questions using tools in the game such as mobile phones and e-mails.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/04/01/game-based-simulations-teach-environmental-science-at-asu-online.aspx

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6 Ways Social Media Can Change Your Classroom

By Amanda Ronan by Amanda Ronan, Edudemic

Remember when schools had policies outlawing cell phones in the classroom? Teachers used to tell students, “Keep it in your locker, in your backpack, in your car, or at home, just don’t bring it in here. Your phone is a distraction.” Yet here we are, a handful of years later handing out laptops and tablets to every student, holding Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) days, and encouraging students to engage in class work online in ways we never imagined tolerable, or even possible. Today, many forward-thinking teachers are embracing gadgets and social media as a way to connect with students, families, and other classrooms.

http://www.edudemic.com/twitter-college-lecture/

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