Liberating. Unique. Different. Interesting. Individualized. Worthwhile. Relevant.
It is amazing how descriptive seven simple words can be.
These words are the answers that a student panel gave Susan Patrick, President and CEO of the International Associate for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) when she asked the questions ‘what one word would you use to describe your virtual school experience’? Ms. Patrick was moderating a student panel during a National Policy Forum hosted by iNACOL on Capital Hill this week.
Educational leaders, policy makers, legislators, and the country’s top K12 online learning thought leaders gathered this week in Washington DC to discuss best practices, challenges, and opportunities for K-12 online learning in the US. Joining Ms. Patrick was a wide range of experts in online and blended learning including: Julie Young, CEO of Florida Virtual School, Mickey Revenaugh, Executive Vice President of Connections Education, Rick Ogston, CEO of Carpe Diem Charter School, Karen Cator, Director of the Office of Educational Technology of the US Department of Education, and Michael Robbins Senior Advisor for Nonprofit Partnerships at the US Department of Education.
Key ideas from these thought leaders included:
1. Julie Young, CEO, Florida Virtual School (who will deliver 280,000 fully online course enrollments this year): Online and Blended Learning is the medium but what is most important is always putting the student at the center of every decision we make (as educators), and creating all kinds of choices for them.
2. Mickey Revenaugh, EVP, Connections Education: ‘Sync time’ is important but what is most important is giving students the opportunities to work when they want at a time that is best for them to learn.
3. Rick Ogston, CEO, Carpe Diem Charter School: The ‘flipped schools’ model that is learner centered has been paramount in the success of his program.
4. Karen Cator, Director of the Office of Technology, US Department of Education: Untethering learning from time and space is a necessity as we rethink teaching and learning (i.e. the removal of seat-time requirements).
5. Susan Patrick, President and CEO of iNACOL: Top virtual schools develop models where students advanced based on mastery and where assessment is meaningful to the students.
Michael Horn, co-author of Disrupting Class and co-founder of the Innosight Institute, shared his framework for engaging skeptics of online programs that offer models like fully online, open enrollment, anytime & any pace. He asks four simple questions:
1. Would you agree with the statement that not all students work and master content at the exact same pace?
2. Would you agree with the statement that students come to school (online or on-ground) with different cognitive abilities?
3. Would you agree with the statement that students come to school with different backgrounds, experiences and knowledge (i.e. prior learning)?
4. Would you agree that some students come better prepared for and may have a stronger aptitude for some subjects than others?
If you agree with these four questions, does it not seem reasonable that open-access / mastery-based models would better serve students?
In the end though, it was the voices of the students that rang loudest. For me personally, it was a powerful reminder as to why I work where I work and why I do what I do.
Liberating. Unique. Different. Interesting. Individualized. Worthwhile. Relevant.
iNACOL is a non-profit organization that facilitates collaboration, advocacy, and research to enhance quality K-12 online teaching and learning.
FLVS will deliver 280,000 enrollments this year. Hear what their students are saying here.
Connections Academy is a leading, fully accredited provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual schooling for students in grades K through 12.