scholarly journals Evaluating Digital Instructional Materials for K-12 Online and Blended Learning

TechTrends ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Frances Rice ◽  
Kelsey R. Ortiz
Author(s):  
Nina Bergdahl ◽  
Melissa Bond

AbstractIt is well-recognised that engagement is critical for learning and school success. Engagement (and disengagement) are, however, also influenced by context. Thus, as digital technologies add complexity to the educational context, they influence classroom leadership, lesson designs and related practices, and thereby engagement. Despite being critical, engagement and disengagement are not well explored concerning these influences, with a lack of research undertaken within socially disadvantaged schools. In this qualitative study, 14 classroom observations were conducted, during five months, in twelve classes in an upper secondary school in Sweden, along with dialogues with teachers (n=12) and students (n=32). The data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Identified themes include digital context, teacher leadership, engagement and disengagement. A network of relations between the (dis-)engagement compound and themes is presented. The results identified processes in which engagement shifted into disengagement and vice versa; in particular, that the intention of active learning does not automatically translate to active learning for all students, although teachers employed a higher work pace than did their students. Teacher self-efficacy and awareness of how to manage digital technologies in and outside the classroom was found to play a vital role in facilitating engagement. Understanding the (dis-)engagement compound in blended learning environments is key to inform active and visible learning for future research and supportive organisational structures.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105345122110018
Author(s):  
Matthew L. Love ◽  
Kathy B. Ewoldt

Online learning continues to be an increasingly popular option in K–12 and postsecondary settings As this trend continues, it is important that the developers of online instructional environments and materials proactively consider the needs of all students. This includes determining how special education and specially designed instruction can be provided in online environments. For students with learning disabilities (LD), a systematic process for determining whether available learning materials address academic standards and specific student needs is key. To support practitioner lesson planning, this column provides guidance for aligning asynchronous learning materials to academic standards and the needs of students with LD. Guidance for supplementing and augmenting available materials is also provided.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andi Kristanto ◽  
Mustaji Mustaji ◽  
Andi Mariono

The use of e-learning is becoming the global issue now. In an educational field, there are many institutions already use it. The study very important aimed to test the feasibility and effectiveness the development of instructional materials e-learning based on the blended learning in audio/radio media development course. The background laid behind the problem is the experience the students had that is having difficulties in developing the audio/radio media manuscript. This caused by the limited time lecturer had to explain the screenwriting material, and duration the students had to write the audio/radio script, so it affected the lack of students’ understanding of the course material also to the students’ scriptwriting result which is not feasible to produce yet. Standard mastery of the subject specified within 6 (six) weeks in maximum, and the students should have been able to develop the script established on the rules of production. Thus, the outcome of this research would be the e-learning-based instructional materials based on blended learning, Semester Lesson Plan (SLP) audio/radio media. This inquiry aims at the improvement of the quality of the work of the audio/radio manuscript. This study implements the Research and Development methodology which is based on the steps generally refers to the opinion of Borg and Gall. The R & D steps was done with modified to simplify it into three main stages, namely the introduction, the development, and testing. Data obtained from the learning experts get the percentage of 91.67%, the course professionals and media specialists each earn a percentage of 100%. Based on these data, the model of blended learning instructional materials for the development of audio/radio media course that have been developed could be the solution of the research question stated that blended learning models of instructional materials that have been evolved are practical for use in learning instructional activity.


Author(s):  
Gina Tovine ◽  
April Fleetwood ◽  
Andrew Shepherd ◽  
Colton J. Tapoler ◽  
Richard Hartshorne ◽  
...  

While the growth of blended learning environments in higher education and non-educational settings has continued to increase in recent years, this has not been the case in K-12 settings. Recently, in an effort to explore the viability and effectiveness of K-12 blended learning environments, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) has been piloting blended learning communities in a number of their schools, providing opportunities to explore factors that influence the effectiveness of K-12 blended learning communities. Thus, the purpose of this chapter is to report the results of a study designed to assess conditions that influence the effectiveness of K-12 blended learning communities, and to explore learner, instructor, course, and other factors important to successful blended learning communities. Findings will inform the design, development, and implementation of future K-12 blended teaching and learning environments in an effort to support and strengthen student achievement, the preparation of teachers to facilitate effective blended learning environments.


Author(s):  
Shuyan Wang

As an effective visual communication tool, desktop publishing is used in every area such as general publications and graphics, multichapter documents, and publications with tabular materials such as technical and statistical publications (Chagnan, n.d.). General publications and advertising graphics like newsletters, magazines, brochures, small booklets, posters, and flyers are created and distributed every day. Classroom teachers in K-12 usually send flyers, newsletters, and/or posters to students and parents to announce classroom news, activities, field trip instructions, and the like. College and universities use brochures and flyers to recruit students and to advertise new courses. Additionally, more and more instructional materials are created with desktop publishing programs in classrooms.


Author(s):  
Suzanne Riverin

This chapter examines the use of blended learning in an online community which supported teacher professional development in the province of Ontario, Canada for ten years. The online network which was called The Education Network of Ontario/ Le Réseau éducatif de l’Ontario (ENO/REO) used a blend of tools and some face-to-face opportunities to support teacher professional development across the province. Teachers were encouraged to use the ENO/REO environment to join in discussions, create and maintain online projects and share research and curriculum resources. The chapter will focus on a study which examined the effect of long term participation in such a community in order to provide insight into the use of blended learning in online communities for professional development.


Author(s):  
Kathryn Strom ◽  
Bradley Porfilio ◽  
Bobbie Plough

This paper describes the first cycle of an action research study investigating the impact of new blended learning courses in a professional doctorate program, the results of which will inform future course planning and pedagogy.  Specifically, core researcher-faculty members associated with the program were interested in understanding how a blended learning program impacted students’ learning experiences. In our findings from this initial inquiry, we detail both constraining and enabling elements of the hybrid experiences provided to students. We also describe the revised action plan created from these findings to improve our ability to utilize the online portion of our doctoral coursework to meet our larger goals of preparing educational leaders to fight for issues of social justice in K-12 settings and beyond.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (64) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Barbour

Depending on the reference, the practice of K-12 online learning began sometime between 1991 and 1996. Yet two and a half to three decades later, there is still little research to describe the K-12 online or blended learning student experience, which has resulted in a lack of understanding of the actual instructional model, nature of the curriculum, and type and amount of support employed by K-12 distance, online, and blended learning programs. Further, much of the available research is atheoretical, methodologically questionable, contextually limited, and overgeneralized. All these factors make the K-12 distance, online, and blended learning research that does exist of little value in guiding practice. This manuscript examines the maturity of research in the field of K-12 distance, online, and blended learning, with the goal of providing researchers with meaningful impact on future practice.


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