Chat Transcript for MVLRI Webinar 12/10/2014

John Watson and Keeping Pace Report

John Watson:Hi folks, if you haven't mentioned where you are from, please let us know in the chat window. This is
John Watson, Evergreen Education Group. We are based in Colorado but I'm joining today from Tempe, AZ.
Diane Mayse:Diane Mayse is from Connections Education!
Paula:Paula Burdette: from The National Association of State Directors of Special Education
David:David Daum: The University of Southern Indiana
MarianneC:Hi All - Marianne Checkley logging in from iScoil in Ireland
David Ranzolin:David Ranzolin: Scout from University of California
kelly ewing:Scout from University of California
Anissa:Anissa Vega from Kennesaw State University
Anne Roycroft, FLVS Global:Anne Roycroft, FLVS Global
Jason Haas:Jason Haas - Ed Consultant with NC Christian School Association. Doctoral Candidate at Liberty
University.
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:do you see this as a natural progression or one that is influenced by artificial
external factors?
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:yes
Joe Freidhoff:John, to emphasize your point, while MVS is one of the largest SVS in the country, we estimate its
enrollments for the past school year represents only about 5% of the virtual enrollments in the state for that year.
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:state to district
Paula:How about from fully online to blended - do u think this is natural or influenced externally or both?
Paula:thanks. That seems logical.
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:I'm not sure that quality online learning at the K-12 level is really that much
cheaper.
Scott Petri:It seems like schools have been pushing the students who are least likely to succeed into online
learning. What checks can a District institute to prevent this?
su verma:It will provide flexibility of scheduling especially for high schoolers who wants to do million things
Paula:To follow up on Scott's question: When students at risk for failure (including students with disabilities are
enrolled in fully online learning, they don't appear to succeed. Schools don't seem prepared to support them. What
checks should districts and programs put in place to prevent this problem?
su verma:i am sharing based on my students telling me
Anne Roycroft, FLVS Global:many times administrators are unprepared in terms of their own training. I see a need
for us to educate decision makers about best practices
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:then again, I have read research showing that some special education kids do
better in online environments.
su verma:Ann, you are corrct
Paula:Dennis, right.
Paula:I meant to say when they are pushed there inappropriately. Thanks for catching that.
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:ah, makes sense.
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:the difficulty is determining what is an appropriate vs. inappropriate reason.
Paula:yep, it's an individual decision (special ed anyway)
Kathryn Kennedy:You're doing great, John, thanks!
Justin Bruno:You're hitting them all out of the park!

Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:but research can inform those individual decisions. I think that special ed
students that are trying to avoid unnecessary distractions of the FTF classroom can be particularly effective in online
learning, for example.
Paula:great point Dennis. Im working with the Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities and we're
asking states and districts what they are doing to help IEP teams make the appropriate decision for each kid. A study
we did shows that avoiding distractions is one of the major reasons why students and their parents choose fully
online.
su verma:This elem vs secondary is very helpful to me
Anne Roycroft, FLVS Global:depending on implementation, a special needs students can gain personalized and
differentiated instruction from a highly qualified online teacher more so than in a face to face classroom and can
adjust their pace to suit their needs
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:all depending on the specific disability, right Anne?
Anne Roycroft, FLVS Global:depending on the unique needs of the student, the ability of the teacher, and the way in
which the online content is implemented (lots of depending...)
su verma:That's where I help many in developing their OL system
Paula:This is great John!
su verma:YOu are doing Great....very Useful info
su verma:I could use some grant/funding info
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:interesting piece by Justin Bathon et al on funding for virtual schools from the
NEPC
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:http://www.enetcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/NEPCreport_Financing_Legislation-for-Online-schools.pdf
Paula:Dennis is this the finance study that John referred to?
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:oh I would love to get a copy of that one too, John
su verma:Ditto
su verma:Hm...my state is little behind
Joe Freidhoff:John, happy to jump in when you
su verma:I am sorry I did not say where i am from, Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit (agency in between Dept. of Ed
and Sch. District) in PA
David:Has Keeping Pace considered looking into the specific subject matters (ex. Math, Science, History, PE, etc.)
taught at each blended and/or online school? If not, what are the barriers to do so? One of the things that interests
me most is not just the fact that blended and online learning is so prevalent, but what are the subjects that are
being offered in the blended and online mode. Which subjects are most popular to be taken using blended or online
modes? Which are least popular? What is it about those subjects that are most popular that make them so? And of
course a million other questions!
Paula:John, right - federal data requirements are necessary or we'll always have different infor from different states
Paula:imho
Joe Freidhoff:John, I can try to address David's questions
Kathryn Kennedy:Yup!
David:Thanks John and Joe. Joe has your data been published? If so, where?
Paula:Joe,MI has this data! do you have data like this for students with disabilities?
Paula:Published? where is MI's data published?
Kathryn Kennedy:http://media.mivu.org/institute/pdf/effectiveness_report_2013.pdf
David:John a national perspective would be great but as you said unrealistic!
Kathryn Kennedy:this one is last year's
su verma:thanks Kathryn
Paula:thanks!
Kathryn Kennedy:The 2014 report will be published in January
su verma:True, John
Scott Petri:Thanks for the info Kathryn. Great resources for K12 BL teachers.
su verma:it makes me feel better
Kathryn Kennedy:You're welcome!

su verma:but I think we need to be pushing a little more

Kathryn Kennedy:The 2014 has added data reporting. Will send out a link when that one's out.
Paula:I love it! "significant digital elements"
su verma:Beautiful!
su verma:Wow!
Paula:It looks like quite a capital output for the Nexus schools
Kathryn Kennedy:That webinar is scheduled for the Effectiveness Report Feb 11, 2pm eastern.
Paula:traditional schools will need a bond for that!
Kathryn Kennedy:Will send out the registration link when it's available.
su verma:Thanks Kathryn
Paula:shopping mall - interesting
su verma:I was late and would like to watch the beginnig of this webinar....so would the recording link available
later?
Scott Petri:John, are you looking at how many Districts are shifting teacher PD online? It seems MOOCs would be
ideal for this.
Kathryn Kennedy:Yes, Su - we will send out the archive. thanks!
su verma:I would like to learn everything possible for Prof. deve
su verma:Perfect!
su verma:Any one plan to collaborate for Prof deve....I am open to talk
Kathryn Kennedy:http://media.mivu.org/pdf/Leg_Report_2014.pdf
su verma:Thanks Kathryn....you always do a fantastic job
Kathryn Kennedy:http://www.mivhs.org/Portals/0/Files/Mentors/GD_MentorOnlineLearners_WEB.pdf
Kathryn Kennedy:this is the mentoring guide Joe mentioned.
Justin Bruno:micourses.org
Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas:gotta run. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.
Justin Bruno:thanks for attending Dennis, take care!
Kathryn Kennedy:kpk12.com
Kathryn Kennedy:Our pleasure - thank you!!!!
Paula:As usual MVLRI - great webinar! thanks John
Kathryn Kennedy:Thanks Paula!!
Rob Maser, Friday Institute:Thanks guys, well done
Anissa:Thank you.
su verma:Thanks for very valuable information....well done
Kathryn Kennedy:Don't forget, we are looking for Fellows - http://www.mvlri.org/About-Us/Fellows/MVLRI-FellowsProgram
Kathryn Kennedy:Thanks everyone!!
su verma:AWESOME!
su verma:I may like to present and also collaborate
Kathryn Kennedy:see you on a future edition!
Diane Mayse:Great information - thanks everyone!
Kathryn Kennedy:Thank you!!
John Watson:Thanks everyone for the fantastic discussion!
Justin Bruno:Thank you again John!
Kathryn Kennedy:For sure!