Jackson, B., Barbour, M. K., Parks, R., & Kennedy, K. (2017, March). K12 online and blended learning: Current research and challenges into implementation and teacher education. A panel presentation at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education conference, Austin, TX.

1. How Long Must We Wait?
Michael K. Barbour
Associate Professor, Instructional Design
Touro University, California

2. Davis (2007)

3. Borup (2015)

6. Keeping Pace with K-12 Digital Learning

7. Keeping Pace with K-12 Digital Learning

8. What Do We Know?
• a number of scholars have documented the
absence of rigorous reviews of virtual schools
(Barbour & Reeves, 2009).
• “based upon the personal experiences of those
involved in the practice of virtual schooling”
(Cavanaugh, Barbour & Clark , 2009)
• “a paucity of research exists when examining high
school students enrolled in virtual schools, and the
research base is smaller still when the population
of students is further narrowed to the elementary
grades” (Rice, 2006)

9. What Does The Research Say?
1. Comparisons of student performance based upon
delivery model (i.e., classroom vs. online)
2. Studies examining the qualities and characteristics
of the teaching/learning experience
– characteristics of
– supports provided to
– issues related to isolation of online learners (Rice, 2006)
1 Effectiveness of virtual schooling
2 Student readiness and retention issues (Cavanaugh
et al., 2009)

10. What Does The Research Say?
• Rice (2006) first reported on this policy literature
by describing it as focused on “efforts to
promote a change in traditional views of
education in the K-12 environment” (p. 428)
• most recent policy literature has tended to focus
on the role for-profit corporations and
educational management organizations,
particularly within the online/cyber charter
school industry:
o “(a) lack of oversight/accountability, (b) improper use of
public funds, (c) failing grades, and (d) drop out rates that are
higher than their traditional school counterparts” (Hasler
Waters, Barbour, & Menchaca, 2014, p. 383)

11. What Do We Know?
• Cavanaugh, Barbour and Clark (2009) defended
this state of affairs, writing that “in many ways,
this [was] indicative of the foundational
descriptive work that often precedes
experimentation in any scientific field”
• We can ask, however, how long must we wait?
(Barbour, 2011)

12. Why Is This A Problem?
Lack of research means…
• General lack of understanding of the field as a
whole -> lack of importance assigned to the
field
• No models for teacher education or professional
development
• No best practices and few promising practices

13. Associate Professor, Instructional Design
Touro University, California
mkbarbour@gmail.com
http://www.michaelbarbour.com
http://virtualschooling.wordpress.com