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The World in the Palm of Your Hand

Blended Virtual Learning Environments & the Future of K12 Education

By: Brody Morrison

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School of the Past

Image from: http://cmsreport.com/files/images/Commodore64_350px.jpg

Image from Microsoft Office Clipart

Image from my 1992 year book. I am on the right with fellow student on the left.

Image from Microsoft Office Clipart

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School of the Past

Image from: http://www.oberlin.edu/library/special/oberlin/deweycatalog/carddrawer-small.jpg

Image from: http://www.zimmermanzinger.com/uploaded_images/0207CardCatalog-780848.jpg

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School of the Past

Image found at: http://www.365questions.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/library.jpg

Image from Microsoft Office Clipart

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Technological Benefits

All images are Microsoft Office Clipart

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Change

Image from: http://leadinganswers.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/03/13/change.jpg

Image from Microsoft Office Clipart

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Finger Tip

Standard School VLE Blended School

Image below from: http://www2.dcc.ufmg.br/projetos/tablet_edu/imgs/foto1.gif

Image above from: http://jkontherun.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/tablet_pc_in_classroom_hq.jpg

Both image from Microsoft Office Clipart

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Internet Growth

Image from: http://thumb18.shutterstock.com.edgesuite.net/display_pic_with_logo/73363/73363,1219205589,1/stock-vector--technological-growth-vector-16332277.jpg

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VLE’s in Demand

Example of VLE usage, different kinds, and the increase in their usage

Image from: http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/InfoKits/effective-use-of-VLEs/intro-to-VLEs/introtovle-intro/introtovle-different-vles

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VLE’s Examined

• Characteristics of VLE’s?

• Benefits of VLE’s?

• Role of the Teacher?

• Student Expectations!

Images from Microsoft Office Clip Art

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Virtual Learning Environments (VLE)

The environme

nt is computer

based

There is sharing of

information between students,

teaches, and tutors.

There is the potential to

improve communication and support

to students

Image: Microsoft Office Clipart

VLE

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Students Increase Technology Skills

• Image from: http://www.northwestern.edu/disability/wp-content/uploads/student-computer-test.jpg

• Image from: http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/51028618.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939847EC77F5F8D1CE17878C26432AFE6D39F71A9C9BC19C35

• Image from: http://clc.yale.edu/wp-content/uploads/dsc_00041.jpg

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Students Increase Average Grades

Images from Microsoft Office Clip Art

“The results showed an increase in average grade…” (Leese, 2009)

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Students Take Responsibility in Learning

• Image from: http://www.middlebury.edu/NR/rdonlyres/36A52F7C-22F0-4191-946C-4ED66BDD42D1/0/handsonearth.JPG

• Image from: http://www.masternewmedia.org/images/future-of-learning_id2728501_size390.jpg

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Student will tutor other students

• Image from: http://www.youthempowermentproject.org/images/CBM%20kids%20at%20NOPLAY%20for%20tutoring%20002.jpg

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Students learn real world skills

• Collaboration

• Teaching, and

• Dealing with aspects of • negative group interactions

Image from: http://www.hispanickids.org/common/imagelib/index.htm/613_280_250_crop_45651.jpg

Image from: Microsoft Office Clip Art

Image from: Microsoft Office Clip Art

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The Benefits of Blended VLE’sStudents have an increase in

technology skills

Students have an increase in

average grades

Students take responsibility for

their learning

Students will tutor other students

Students learn work skills:•Collaboration•Teaching•Dealing with aspects of negative group interactions

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Teacher & Student Expectations

There is a “Focus on student a

chievement

--not o

n discipline” (Barbara, 2

005)

Image from: http://216.97.229.165/diverse/img/photos/biz/110909CPMSAC25-1.jpg

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Teacher & Student Expectations

• Diverse learning with…

• Text

• Video

• Audio

• Images

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Teacher & Student Expectations

Keeping Focus

Image from: http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4695275/focus-main_Full.jpg

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

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Teacher & Student Expectations

“An active instructor directing discussion boards and providing students with regular feedback and assistance is likely to create a different learning experience than a VLE without such guidance”

(Hove & Corcoran, 2008)

Image from: http://www.apcom.net/bin/content_3/Newsletter/imgs/C_3_Newsletter_39_foto.jpg

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Teacher & Student Expectations

Model proper behaviour

Have technological

skills

Provide examples of

desired content or ideal

assignments

Teacher

Image From: http://csdtechpd.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/img_1192.jpg

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Conclusion

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References

Barbara, F. (2005). A Virtual School Principal's To-Do List. T.H.E. Journal , 32 (6), 34.

Barbera, E. (2004). Quality in virtual education environments. British Journal of Educational Technology , 35 (1), 13-20.

Bridge, P., & Appleyard, R. (2008). A comparison of electronic paper-based assignment submission and feedback. British Journal of Educational Technology , 39 (4), 644-650.

Davis, N., & Roblyer, M. D. (2005). Preparing Teachers for the "Schools That Technology Built": Evaluation of a Program to Train Teachers for Virtual Schooling. Journal of Research on Technology Education , 37 (4), 399-409.

Fox, C. (2006). Using Technology to Expand Opportunity: Going Virtual. T.H.E. Journal , 33 (12), 6-8.

Heaton-Shrestha, C., Gipps, C., Edirisingha, P., & Linsey, T. (2007). Learning an e-learning in HE: the relationship between student learning style and VLE use. Research Papers in Education , 22 (4), 443-464.

Hove, M. C., & Corcoran, J. K. (2008). Educational Technologies: Impact on Learning and Frustration. Teaching of Pschology , 35, 121-125.

Huett, J., Moller, L., Forshay, W., & Coleman, C. (2008). Implications for instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. TechTrends , 52 (5), 63-67.

Hughes, G. (2007). Using blended learning to increase learner support and improve retention. Teaching in Higher Education , 12 (3), 349-363.

Leese, M. (2009). Out of Class---out of mind? The use of a virtual learning environment to encourage student engagement in out of class activities. British Journal of Edcucational Technology , 40 (1), 70-77.

McGill, T., & Hobbs, V. (2008). How students and instructors using a virtual learning environment perceive the fit between technology and task. Journal of Compute Assisted Learning , 191-202.

Motteram, G. (2006). 'Blended' education and the transformation of teachers: a long-term case study in postgraduate UK Higher Education. British Journal of Educational Technology , 37 (1), 17-30.

Oliver, K., Osborne, J., & Brady, K. (2009). What are secondary students' expectations for teachers in virtual school environments? Distance Education , 30 (1), 23-45.

Weller, M., Pegler, C., & Mason, R. (2005). Students' experience of component versus integrated virtual learning environments. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning , 21, 253-259.

Westbrook, V. (2006). The virtual learning future. Teaching in Higher Education , 11 (4), 471-482.