May 3, 2011
Help us create Keeping Pace 2011
It is hard to believe it is already time, but we are thrilled to have kicked off Keeping Pace 2011 with our first sponsor call. We are able to make so much information publicly available on our website because we have a fabulous group of sponsors each year who support this important work. Many have been with us for many years, but we are also excited to welcome some new sponsors to the mix this year. We will spend the next six months researching and writing, and again release this year’s report at the Virtual School Symposium in November.
The research process begins with brainstorming, and we would like to hear from Keeping Pace readers, practitioners, policymakers, and anybody else with an interest in K-12 online and blended learning. What significant trends can be identified this year? What are people talking about? What should people be talking about? Where should we be heading? What is happening legislatively?
It is important to us to create a practical, usable guide for policy makers and practitioners around the country – and that includes you. What would you like to see covered in Keeping Pace 2011? What information would you like to have at your fingertips but can’t seem to find? What information would help you make an argument to grow online and blended learning in your school, district or state?
We look forward to hearing your feedback, not just now, but through the research and writing process over the next six months. While we can’t make guarantees about what we’ll be able to publish either here on the blog or in the print report, we look forward to hearing your ideas. Feel free to respond here in the comments, or by emailing Amy directly.
3 Responses to Help us create Keeping Pace 2011
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The blog is our place to comment on key issues as they’re happening–new legislation, new studies, new schools, and anything else that’s impacting online and blended learning. If you’d like to see an item added, please email Amy. And please let us know what you think in the comments section!
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Amy: I think there is a lot of buzz around mobile space and how it may or may not relate to online and blended learning. As KP 2010 correctly noted, it could be the “next big thing,” but, I am curious to see what specific initiatives are being undertaken by the various online learning groups (statewide virtual schools and otherwise) and the participation and buy-in from their students.
Also, the rise of individual districts serving their own students in exclusive online learning environments (not in a charter school model, but, regular public schools) is an emerging trend that I’d like to see considered.
Thanks for your great work.
I’m interested in the status of rules and regulations pertaining to teacher certification across state lines.
I’m also interested in where we are related to measuring accountability via seat time or how many times a student clicks into a course site versus actual student performance.
What are schools looking for in relation to blended learning? What models appear to be most successful?
I know that a challenge that you have as it relates to reporting data on various online programs is that you can only report what data the various online programs provide; however, I wonder if there is not a way to do some sort of fact-checking to validate such things as enrollment numbers. A related issue pertains to clarifying that enrollments as defined by supplemental programs differ than how full-time virtual programs report enrollment.
Also wonder if you could/should report student performance data (based on state, district, or other high-stakes assessments.