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| There is a lot of innovation in educational technology, but often by the time a new idea is validated, it is too old to employ. Therefore, this section includes only those resources that have some reasonable evidence behind them but may not satisfy the definition of “research.” Best practices often fit this description.
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| "Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online: Lessons Learned from Michigan Virtual School Teachers" |
This article discusses a study of 16 virtual school teachers from the Michigan Virtual School (MVS). It reports on best-practices from the interviews conducted with MVS teachers; and also provides research triangulation for those practices. The paper concludes with implications for policy, research, and practice. From the Journal of Interactive Learning, Spring 2008.
http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/viewarticle.cfm?
volID=7&IssueID=22&ArticleID=113
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| Connecting Students to Advanced Courses Online |
This guide highlights six providers of academic course work that are going beyond the convention of brick-and-mortar schools by delivering rigorous curricula to students through Internet technology. These providers, along with the schools and districts they serve, recognize that American students must master advanced technical skills and solve complex problems to prepare for demanding higher education and workforce environments. Education is not a “one-size-fits-all” endeavor, and advances in technology provide an opportunity. Innovations in Education prepared by WestEd for the U. S. Department of Education, 2007.
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/advanced/coursesonline.pdf
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| Distance Teaching and Learning Conference |
The annual conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, provides an exchange of current resources, research and best practices from around the world that are relevant to the design and delivery of distance education/training.
http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/
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| Evaluating Online Learning: Challenges and Strategies for Success |
The evaluations highlighted in this guide represent a broad spectrum of online options, from programs that provide online courses to Web sites that feature education resources. The evaluations themselves range from internal assessments to external, scientific research studies. All demonstrate how program leaders and evaluators have been able to implement strong evaluation practices despite some challenges inherent to examining learning in an online environment. Innovations in Education, prepared by WestEd for the U. S. Department of Education, 2008.
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/evalonline/evalonline.pdf
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| Final Report: A Comprehensive Report of Florida Virtual School |
Florida TaxWatch’s comprehensive report on Florida Virtual School provides a positive, research-based review of the performance and accomplishments of FLVS. Florida TaxWatch is a private, nonprofit organization that provides the citizens of Florida and public officials with research and analysis on how tax dollars are being spent. “Florida TaxWatch examined the viability of Florida Virtual School as a credible alternative to traditional schooling as regards both student achievement outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Florida Virtual School earned high marks in both,” the report states.
http://www.floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/110507FinalReportFLVS.pdf
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| Laboratories of Reform: Virtual High Schools and Innovation in Public Education |
Bill Tucker at Education Sector reports that while the importance of effective teaching and learning has not changed, the Internet has enabled educators to significantly alter the experience of schooling. Virtual schools are personalizing student learning and extending it beyond the traditional school day. They've created new models for the practice of teaching — with opportunities to easily observe, evaluate and assist instructors — and they are pioneering performance-based education funding models. A thorough reporting of this reform effort. Education Sector, 2007.
http://www.educationsector.org/research/research_show.htm?doc_id=502307
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| Research Findings from the West Virginia Virtual School Spanish Program |
Conducted by Rockman et al and funded by the U. S. Department of Education and published in 2006, this research was designed to assess the impact of the WV Virtual School Spanish Program as part of a larger, three-year initiative Its goal was to provide empirical data on student achievement in a virtual foreign language course using a quasi-experimental design with experimental elements. The middle school course is a hybrid virtual program that combines computer-based, classroom, and audio-interactive components to rural and isolated schools where certified Spanish teachers are not available. It is an effort to provide both access to challenging course work and equity of access to those outside of population centers.
The findings provide support for the program and we identify best practices and offer suggestion for further development of the virtual course offerings.
http://wvde.state.wv.us/techworkplan/Ed%20Pace%20Research%20Brief.pdf
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| A Synthesis of New Research on Online Learning |
In late 2004, NCREL (Learning Point) funded eight research studies on K-12 online learning. The studies were completed by July 2005. This synthesis is based on final research reports submitted to NCREL by the research teams. An overview of the field, summaries of the eight studies and implications for researchers, policy-makers and practitioners are included in this paper.
http://www.ncrel.org/tech/synthesis/synthesis.pdf
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| "Tips and Tricks for Teaching Online" |
Although it is a little dated, this article offers many best practices from a variety of resources, including research studies, publications and discussions among online instructors.
http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Oct_04/article04.htm
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| Virtual Center for Online Learning Research (VCLOR) |
Primarily directed to the higher education online venue, VCLOR’s research is current and is most directly concerned with the delivery of improvement of online education course work over the Internet, and with determining which practices may be involved in increasing the effectiveness of online learning. VCLOR publishes the Journal of Interactive Online Learning.
http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/
http://www.ncolr.org/
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| Virtual Schools and 21st Century Skills |
Virtual school leaders, administrators and teachers must ensure that students who learn in online environments are gaining the skills necessary to compete as citizens and workers in the 21st century. This document attempts to articulate a vision for 21st century learning in virtual schools and to identify ways in which online learning can improve outcomes for all students. NACOL and Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2006.
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/documents/VSand21stCenturySkillsFINALPaper.pdf
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