Friday, June 18, 2010
VSM Podcast – AERA 2010: Duck And Cover: Are Rural Students Taking Basic Courses To Avoid Taking Them Online?
AERA 2010: Duck And Cover: Are Rural Students Taking Basic Courses To Avoid Taking Them Online?
Also note this entry is crossposted as VSM Podcast – AERA 2010: Duck And Cover: Are Rural Students Taking Basic Courses To Avoid Taking Them Online? at Virtual School Meanderings.
Labels: AERA, AERA 2010, conferences, cyber school, education, high school, podcast, podcasting, presentations, research, rural, rural education, VHSM Podcast, virtual school
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VSM Podcast – AERA 2010: Duck And Cover: Are Rural Students Taking Basic Courses To Avoid Taking Them Online? Introduction
The May 2010 podcast is a recording of the first presentation that I made at the AERA 2010 conference, and was also the third Sunday session related to K-12 online learning. It was described in the program as:Scheduled Time: Mon, May 3 – 10:35am – 12:05pm Building/Room: Sheraton Denver / Grand Ballroom Section 2
In Session Submission: Rural Education SIG: Roundtable 7
Authors: *Dennis M. Mulcahy (Memorial University – Newfoundland)
*Michael Kristopher Barbour (Wayne State University)
Abstract: As out-migration ravages rural regions in Newfoundland and Labrador, more schools are relying upon virtual schooling to offer courses students require to graduate. There are concerns that virtual schooling has been shown to be an effective alternative, primarily, for a select group of students. However, with a wider range of students forced into this largely independent learning environment, data from Ministry of Education reports indicate that rural schools who rely upon the CDLI for their required course offering have a substantially higher than average enrollment in basic level courses. If the reason for this is due to students trying to avoid online courses, significant changes are required in the design, delivery and support of the province’s virtual school.
As always, the actual podcast is in the entry that immediately follows this one.
Note that this entry and the actual podcast are backdated to the time of the event.
Also note this entry is crossposted as VSM Podcast – AERA 2010: Duck And Cover: Are Rural Students Taking Basic Courses To Avoid Taking Them Online? Introduction at Virtual School Meanderings.
Labels: AERA, AERA 2010, conferences, cyber school, education, high school, podcast, podcasting, presentations, research, rural, rural education, VHSM Podcast, virtual school
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Monday, May 03, 2010
AERA 2010 - Online Distance Education In Rural High Schools: Expanding The Role Of The On-Site Facilitator
The second session on K-12 online learning that I had outlined for Monday at the AERA 2010 conference was:Scheduled Time: Mon, May 3 – 10:35am – 12:05pm Building/Room: Sheraton Denver / Grand Ballroom Section 2
In Session Submission: Rural Education SIG: Roundtable 7
Online Distance Education in Rural High Schools: Expanding the Role of the On-Site Facilitator
Authors: *Julie Thompson Keane (University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill)
*Matthew J. Irvin (University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill)
Claire de la Varre (UNC-Chapel Hill)
Wallace Hannum (University of North Carolina)
Abstract: The main objective of this study was to provide a richer and more detailed understanding of facilitators’ experiences and explore the effect of an intervention to improve the support facilitators provide rural students taking an advanced online course. Little research has examined key factors in online distance education, how to improve outcomes, or has involved rural secondary schools. This is noteworthy as dropout rates are typically higher in online courses and rural schools more often use such courses. We identified important themes and experiences in facilitators’ role that may inform future practices and began to clarify the effect of our intervention. Additional findings and connections between results, the intervention, and support for rural youth in online courses will be provided.
Like the previous session, I was presenting while this session was happening (and I'll be making a podcast of this second Monday roundtable of mine too) - but as luck would have it these folks were presenting in the same session, so we were at the same table.
This paper was a part of the larger study that Matt and his colleagues have been doing at the National Research Center for Rural Education Support in North Carolina. The project was looking at the training of school-based facilitators who were supporting virtual school students at rural schools. In the quantitative data, they had found that in the control group (i.e., where facilitators weren’t trained) there was a 70% drop-out rate, whereas in the treatment group (i.e., where facilitators had received their training) had a drop-out rate of only 40%. This particular paper focused on the qualitative data they have been collecting.
One of the main themes that came out was the rigor of the courses – particularly the Advanced Placement curriculum, which essentially scared the students out of the courses.
Another one of the main themes related to the facilitators positive views towards the scenarios that the NRCRES developed. Essentially these were cases that focused on issues that students might experience in a virtual school environment to help prepare the teachers for what their students might have to go through.
A third theme was the students concerns with their grades. As many of the students were the higher achieving students, they did not want anything that would potentially jeopardize their academic standing within the school and for their educational futures.
Another issue that came up related to notions of time management and helping students develop strategies for better structure and managing of their time.
Finally, there was a theme related to the benefits of virtual school – which was primarily related to the ability to enroll in some of these advanced-level or Advanced Placement courses that had never been offered at their local schools. There were also some comments related to personal growth, preparation for potential online studies they might have to take in post-secondary.
Note this entry is crossposted as AERA 2010 – Online Distance Education In Rural High Schools: Expanding The Role Of The On-Site Facilitator at Virtual School Meanderings.
Labels: AERA, AERA 2010, conferences, cyber school, education, high school, presentations, research, virtual school
Posted by MKB @ 3:33 PM Comments (0) | |
