You are here:

The State of 21st Century Learning in the K-12 World of the United States: Online and Blended Learning Opportunities for American Elementary and Secondary Students
PROCEEDING

, , Brandman University, United States

E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education, in Washington, DC, United States Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), San Diego, CA

Full Text

Abstract

This paper is an examination of the current state of blended and online learning throughout the K-12 world in the United States. The analysis is predicated upon the potential of electronically-mediated learning (e-learning) to effectively prepare students for the demands of 21st century citizenship through the affordances of such learning environments, which in theory, support the growth of critical thinking and a personalized educational experience. Findings include three themes: a call for clarity of what is encompassed within each modality, a lack of large-scale data for informing decision making and practice, and a glaring need for professional development beyond training on any isolated skill or understanding.

Citation

Greene, K. & Hale, W. (2016). The State of 21st Century Learning in the K-12 World of the United States: Online and Blended Learning Opportunities for American Elementary and Secondary Students. In Proceedings of E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning (pp. 826-840). Washington, DC, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved December 16, 2019 from .

© 2016 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

References

View References & Citations Map
  1. Aguti, J.N. (2016, January 14). ICT integration& Digital competencies– a must for 21st century teachers. [presentation transcript]. Retrieved February 5, 2016, from http://dspace.col.org/bitstream/handle/11599/1766/2016_AgutiJ_ICT-Integration-Digital-Competencies_Transcript.pdf
  2. Aizikovitsh-Udil, E., & Cheng, D. (2015). Developing critical thinking skills from dispositions to abilities: Mathematics education from early childhood to high school. Creative Education, 6, 455462.
  3. Alijani, G.S., Obyung, K., & Yanjun, Y. (2014). Effectiveness of blended learning in KIPP New Orleans’ Schools. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 18(2), 125-141.
  4. Archambault, L., Debruler, K., & Freidhoff, J.R. (2014). K-12 online and blended teacher licensure: Striking a balance between policy and preparedness. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education 22(1), 83-106. Retrieved February 4, 2016, from https://www.academia.edu/6459023/K-12_Online_and_Blended _Teacher_Licensure_Striking_a_Balance_Between_Policy_and_Preparedness
  5. Arnett, T. (2014). Personalizing education. Education Canada, 54(4), 16-19.
  6. Barbour, M.K. (2014). A history of international K-12 online and blended instruction. In R. Ferdig& K. Kennedy (Eds.), Handbook of research on K-12 online and blended learning (pp. 2550). Pittsburgh, PA: Entertainment
  7. Boser, U. (2013). Are schools getting a big enough bang for their education technology buck. [report]. Center for American Progress. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education/report/2013/06/14/66485/ areschoolsgettingabigenoughbangfortheireducationtechnologybuck/
  8. Chi-Cheng, C., Kuen-Ming, S., Chaoyun, L., Ju-Shih, T., & Yu-Sheng, H. (2014). Is blended e-learning as measured by an achievement test and self-assessment better than traditional classroom learning for vocational high school students? International Review Of Research In Open& Distance Learning, 12(2), 210-231.
  9. Christensen, C.M., Horn, M.B., & Johnson, C.W. (2008). Disrupting class: How disruptive innovation will change the way the world learns. NY: McGraw Hill.
  10. Clark, T. (2013). The evolution of distance and online education in American schools. In M.G. Moore (Ed.), Handbook of distance education (3rd ed.) (pp. 555573). New York: Routledge.
  11. Clark, T. (2015). Mathematician’s apology. Faculty Work: Comprehensive List. Retrieved from http://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/faculty_work/288 Clark, T. (2016). History of K-12 Online Learning. Retrieved from https://virtualschoolmooc.wikispaces.com/history
  12. Clements, M., Pazzaglia, A.M., & Stafford, E. (2015). Online course use in Iowa and Wisconsin public schools: The results of two statewide surveys. [brief]. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest. Retrieved from http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/midwest/pdf/REL_2015065.pdf Clements, P. (2014). The need for better data about K-12 online learning: Starting with how and why. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://ltd.edc.org/need-better-data-about-k-12-online-learning-starting-how-and-why
  13. Cracraft, L. (2015). Effect of blending learning on student’s percent increase in assessment Scores. [research paper]. Northwest Missouri State University Missouri Department of Educational Leadership College of Education and Human Services. Retrieved January 29, 2016, from http://www.nwmissouri.edu/library/researchpapers/2015/Cracraft,%20Lyndsey.pdf
  14. Cuban, L. (2001). Oversold and underused: Computers in the classroom. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  15. Davis, M.R. (2015). Schools test impact of blended learning, extended school days. Education Week, 34(20), 7. Retrieved January 29, 2016, from EBSCOhost.
  16. Dede, C. (2010). Technological supports for acquiring 21st century skills. In E. Baker, B. McGaw, & P. Peterson (Eds.), International encyclopedia of education (3rd ed., P. 1–22). Oxford, UK: Elsevier. Retrieved January 28,
  17. Dewey, J. (1916). Democracy and education. NY: Freepress.
  18. Dilley, A., Kaufman, J.C., Kennedy, C., & Plucker, J.A. (2015). What we know about critical thinking. Partnership For 21st Century Learning. Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/ourwork/ 4csresearchseries/criticalthinking
  19. DreamBox Learning. (2016). Blended learning: What is blended learning? Retrieved February 4, 2016, from http://www.dreambox.com/blendedlearning Evergreen Education Group. (2015a). Keeping pace with K-12 online and blended learning: An annual review of policy and practice, 12th ed. Retrieved from http://kpk12.com/cms/wpcontent/uploads/KeepingPace2012.pdf
  20. Fischman, G.E., & Hass, E. (2012). Beyond idealized citizenship education: Embodied cognition, metaphors, and democracy. Review of Research in Education, 36(1), 169-196.
  21. Foundation for Critical Thinking. (2013). Our concept and definition of critical thinking. Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/ourconceptanddefinitionofcriticalthinking/411 Freire, P. (2003). Pedagogy of the oppressed. NY: The Continuum International Publishing Group.
  22. Garrison, D.R. (2011). E-learning in the 21st century: A framework for research and practice. NY: Taylor& Francis.
  23. Groff, J. (2013). Technology rich innovative learning environments. [paper]. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Paris: France. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org %2Fedu%2Fcer%2FT
  24. Hughes, J., Zhou, C., & Petscher, Y. (2015). Comparing success rates for general and credit recovery courses online and face to face: Results for Florida high school courses. [report]. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory Southeast. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs INACOL. (2015). Blending learning: The evolution of online and face to face education from 2008–2015. In Promising practices in blended and online learning. INACOL, The International Association for K–12 Online Learning. Retrieved from http://www.inacol.org/resource/blendinglearningtheevolutionofonlineandface
  25. Khan Academy. (2016). Teaching in a blended learning environment– rethinking the role of the teacher. [learning module]. Retrieved January 29, 2016, https://www.khanacademy.org/ partner-content/ssf-cci/sscc-teaching-blendedlearning
  26. Kena, G., Musu Gillette, L., Robinson, J., Wang, X., Rathbun, A., Zhang, J., Wilkinson Flicker, S., Barmer, A., & Dunlop Velez, E. (2015). The condition of education 2015. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC. Retrieved January 15, 2016, from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch Kraft, R. (March 18, 2015). Blended learning pilot program succeeding in Parkland: School board hears presentation on program, which will expand. [news report]. Retrieved January 29, 2016, from http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/Local/blended-learning-pilot-program-succeeding-inparkland/31862240
  27. Leyva, J. (2015). 21st century teaching and learning with technology integration at an innovative high school: A case study. [dissertation]. Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California. Retrieved from University of Southern California Digital Library.
  28. Lokey-Vega, A., & Barbour, M.K. (2015). Introduction. Online Learning, 19(5), 9-12. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/ced_fac/219/ Lorenzo, G., & Dziuban, C. (2006). Ensuring the Net Generation is net savvy. [paper]. EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/255631307
  29. Mayadas, F., Miller, G., & Sener, J. (2015). Definitions of elearning courses and programs: Version 2.0. Retrieved from http://garyemiller.blogspot.com/2015/05/neweditionofelearningdefinitions.html
  30. Mayes, R., Natividad, G., & Spector, J.M. (2015). Challenges for educational technologists in the 21st century. Education Sciences, 5, 221-237.
  31. Means, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R., & Baki, M. (2013). The effectiveness of online and blended learning: A metaanalysis of the empirical literature. Teachers College Record, 115(030303). Retrieved from www.sri.com/sites/default/files/publications/effectiveness_of_online_and_blended_learning.pdf
  32. Means, B., Baki, M., & Murphy, R. (2014). Learning online: What research tells us about whether, when and how. NY: Routledge.
  33. Means, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R., Baki, M., & Jones, K. (2009). Evaluation of evidence-based practices in online learning: A meta-analysis and review of online learning studies. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED505824 Molnar, A., Huerta, L., Shafer, S.R., Barbour, M.K., Miron, G., & Gulosino, C. (2015). Virtual schools in the U.S. 2015: Politics, performance, policy, and research evidence. Introduction. Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center. Retrieved January 15, 2016, from http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/virtual-schools-annual-2015
  34. Molnar, A., Miron, G., Huerta, L., King Rick, J., Cuban, L., Horvitz, B., Gulosino, C., & Rankin Shafer, S. (2013). Virtual schools in the U.S. 2013: Politics, performance, policy, and research evidence. Introduction. Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center. Retrieved February 1, 2016, from http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/virtualschools-annual-2013
  35. National Education Policy Center. (2013). Nation’s online elementary and secondary schools expand rapidly, but academic performance lags behind other public schools, new report finds [press release]. Retrieved February, 5, 2016, from http://tinyurl.com/bpoxwmd NPR. (February 2, 2015). Virtual schools bring real concerns about quality. Retrieved February 1, 2016, from
  36. OECD. (2013). Innovative learning environments. Educational Research and Innovation. OECD Publishing.
  37. Okojie, M.C.P.O., Olinzock, A.A., & Okojie Boulder, T.C. (2006). The pedagogy of technology integration. The Journal of TECHNOLOGY Studies, (XXXII)2. Retrieved from cholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JOTS/v32/ v32n2/ okojie.html
  38. Pahomov, L. (2014). Authentic learning in the digital age. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. Partnership for 21st Century Learning. (N.D.). What is 21st century learning and citizenship all about? Education for a changing world-A parents’ guide for 21st century learning and citizenship. Retrieved October, 4, 2016, from http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/Citizenship/P21_Citizenship_Overview.pdf
  39. Picciano, A.G., Seaman, J., Shea, P., & Swan, K. (2012). Examining the extent and nature of online learning in American K-12 education: The research initiatives of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Internet and Higher Education 15(2), 127-135. Doi:10.1016/J.iheduc.2011.07.004
  40. Pytash, K.E., & O’Byrne, W.I. (2014). Research on literacy instruction and learning in virtual, blended, and hybrid environments. In R.E. Ferdig, & K. (Eds), Handbook of research on K-12 online and blended learning (pp. 179200).
  41. Rice, K. (2014). Research and history of policies in K-12 online and blended learning. In R.E. Ferdig, & K. (Eds), Handbook of research on K-12 online and blended learning (pp. 51-81). ETC Press. Retrieved January 29, 2016,
  42. Snyder, J.A. (2015). Progressive education in black and white: Rereading Carter G. Woodson's Miseducation of the Negro. History of Education Quarterly, (55), 273–293.
  43. Soskin, E. (2016). Virtual high schools: Why full-time online education could replace traditional classroom learning: Confronting criticisms. Retrieved February 4, 2016, from http://sites.duke.edu/writing101_ 09_s2013_ejs37/confronting-criticisms/
  44. Soulé, H., & Warrick, T. (2015). Defining 21st century readiness for all students: What we know and how to get there. Psychology Of Aesthetics, Creativity, And The Arts, 9(2), 178186. Doi:10.1037/aca0000017Sparks,S.D.(April13, 2015). Blended learning research yields limited results. Education Week. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/04/15/blended-learning-research-yields-limitedresults.html
  45. Thompson, G. (2015). Distance learning: 13 keys to successful blended learning. T|H|E|Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from https://thejournal.com/articles/2015/09/01/13-keys-to-successful-blended-learning.aspx TNTP. (2014). Reimagining teaching in a blended classroom. [working paper]. Retrieved online January 28, 2016, from http://tntp.org/assets/documents/ TNTP_Blended_Learning_WorkingPaper_2014.pdf
  46. Towler, L. (2014). Deeper learning: Moving students beyond memorization. NeaToday. Retrieved from http://neatoday.org/2014/11/25/deeperlearningmovingstudentsbeyondmemorization2/U.S.DepartmentofEducation.(2010).Evaluationofevidencebasedpracticesinonlinelearning:Ametaanalysisandreviewofonlinelearningstudies.RetrievedJanuary22,2016,fromwww.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/ppss/reports.html
  47. U.S. Department of Education. (2012). Fast facts. Retrieved January 15, 2016, from https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/ display.asp?id=79
  48. U.S. Department of Education. (2016). Future ready learning: Reimagining the role of technology in education. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://tech.ed.gov/files/2015/12/NETP16.pdf Watson, J., & Murin, A. (2014). A history of K-12 online and blended instruction in the United States. In R.E. Ferdig, & K. (Eds), Handbook of research on K-12 online and blended learning (pp. 1-24). ETC Press. Retrieved
  49. Ya-Ting, C.Y., Gamble, J.H., Yu-Wan, H., & Tzu-Yun, L. (2014). An online adaptive learning environment for critical-thinking-infused English literacy instruction. British Journal of Educational Technology, 45(4), 723-747.

These references have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. Signed in users can suggest corrections to these mistakes.

Suggest Corrections to References

Also Read

Related Collections