Online Learning Research - Schwirzke and Darrow

1. Online Research
Schwirzke (2011) / Darrow (2010)
Kelly Schwirzke, Ed.D.
Rob Darrow, Ed.D.
#Iste12 * San Diego

2. Schwirzke 2011 Research
 Online Learning In California K-12 Schools: Status And
Perceptions Of Administrators
 Nature and extent of online education in California K-12
public schools, superintendents’ perceived importance of,
and barriers to, online and blended learning.
 Considered in relation to the results of the Picciano and
Seaman (2007, 2009) national studies
Picciano, A., & Seaman, J. (2007). K-12 online learning: A survey of school district administrators.
Needham, MA: The Sloan Consortium
Picciano, A., & Seaman, J. (2009). K-12 online learning: A 2008 follow-up of the survey of U.S. school
district administrators. Needham, MA: The Sloan Consortium.

3. Nature of OL/BL
 Offering Advanced Placement or college-level courses
 Meeting the needs of specific groups of students
 Offering AP and advanced courses
 Permitting students who failed a course to take it again
 Reducing scheduling conflicts for students
 Certified teachers are not available for F2F

4. Extent of OL/BL
Online Blended
 No students, No Plans  No students, No Plans
– 40.4 % – 42.5 %
 No students, Plans  No students, Plans
– 19.2 % – 26.0%
 Yes, Yes  Yes, Yes
– 40.4% – 30.8%

5. Barriers Across Studies 2007 2009 2011
Federal, state, or local laws or policies 18.1 20.0 28.1
Limited technological infrastructure 15.0 23.8 43.8
Need for teacher training 36.3 37.5 39.7
Funding based on student attendance 39.9 43.8 41.1
Course development / licensing costs 42.9 48.0 44.5
Concerns about course quality 51.1 48.6 56.2

6. Resource: Teacher Training
 Alliance of nonprofits, universities and educational agencies
 iNACOL National Quality Standards for Online Teaching
 Units available for a fee
 Course + portfolio = certification
 History & Concepts, Pedagogy, Building Community, Accessibility,
Assessment and Evaluation, Policies and Preparation
http://leadingedgecertification.org/

7. Resource: Planning & Policy
 California eLarning Framework
– Curriculum
– Delivery
– Professional Development
– Program Management

8. Resource: Quality Courses
CLRN HOme
http://clrn.org
California Learning Resource Network

9. List View

10. Resource: Policy & Practice
 Keeping Pace Annual Report
– State Profiles
– Enrollment Data
– Models Programs
– Trends

11. eLearning Strategies Symposium
 CLRN/CUE partnership http://elearns.org
 December 7-8, 2012
 Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa
– Big Picture
– Content
– Capacity Building
– Gear
– Pedagogy

12. Research Studies - California
 Darrow (2010).
Online charter schools
and at-risk students
 Schwirzke (2011).
Perspectives about
online learning from
superintendents

13. California
– 13% of the total U.S. K-12 public
school student enrollment
– 20% of the U.S. public charter
school enrollment
– Top rated state regarding
charter school law and policy
– National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (2010)

14. Comparison Study
 Online charter high school students
– 14 existed in California – 2006-2009
And
 Traditional high school students
 Comparisons in:
– Achievement Rates
– Dropout Rates

15. Results:
California Standards Test /
English-Language Arts
(CST ELA)
2007-08 and 2008-09
 Taken yearly in grades 9, 10 and 11
 Selected Online Charter Schools
 Selected Traditional Schools

16. Year: 2007-2008
CST ELA Comparisons
Percent Proficient and Above
Online Charters Traditional Schools

17. Year: 2008-2009
CST ELA Comparisons
Percent Proficient and Above
Online Charters Traditional Schools

18. Results: Dropout Rates
2006-07 and 2007-08
 Reported yearly in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12
 Selected Online Charter Schools
 Selected Traditional Schools

19. Year: 2006-2007
Dropout Percentages by Grade
Online Charters Traditional Schools
Note: 2006-07 Online Charter School Enrollment in
Grades 11 and 12 was less than 100 students per grade

20. Year: 2007-2008
Dropout Percentages by Grade
Online Charters Traditional Schools

21. Findings: In California…
 Enrollment in online charter schools has
increased each year for the past three
years: 80% in past two years
 Percent of students in charter high
schools: 6% of total 9-12 enrollment
 Percent of students in online charter high
schools: .16% of total 9-12 enrollment

22. Contact Information
Rob Darrow, Ed.D. Kelly Schwirzke, Ed.D.
Director of Member Services Instructor, Oasis Independent Study /
Coordinator of Online Learning
iNacol
Alternative Education Programs
559-838-6151
Santa Cruz County Office of
rdarrow@inacol.org
Education
www.inacol.org
P 831-466-5655
Rob’s Wiki:
C 831-359-1778
http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com
kschwirzke@santacruz.k12.ca.us
http://iste12.wikispaces.com