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Online Learning Resources

Jane Langan

Department of Instructional Technology, Kennesaw State University

ITEC 7482: Facilitating Online Learning

Dr. Justin Castile

March 13, 2023

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Facilitating online learning requires specific knowledge of the field of education along

with many more technical components including troubleshooting technology and maneuvering

through learning management systems that can help assist students based on their learning styles.

Online educators also need to be aware of students with disabilities and those who are learning

English as a second language. After the outbreak of the pandemic, the need for online education

across the country is evident. Online education can allow for equity and quality education to

every student, regardless of region. Facilitating online learning can certainly be a rewarding

challenge. As I considered what I wanted to research on the SREB and Aurora websites with

regards to the full implementation of online learning, there are two main issues that I wanted to

explore, that of cost and teacher preparedness.

As with most topics in education, cost is always a primary consideration. The necessary

investment in online education continues to be a concern, even despite to obvious benefits

witnessed during lockdown. Everyone needs to be on board with the implementation of online

education including administration, teachers, and parents. The International Association for K-

12 Online Learning (now Aurora) published a supportive article in 2019 detailing online learning

as a cost-effective way to deliver quality education. Rather than detailing the outlay of dollars

and cents, this article dealt more with cost savings that result from online learning. One very

important point brought up in the article was that of qualified teachers: “40% of public school

districts in America today say they need online learning resources because certified teachers are

not available for traditional face-to-face instruction — an increase of 38% since 2006” (p. 1).

Most concerning, in my opinion, were the number of math and science teachers who were

teaching outside of their major of study.

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An additional financial point of consideration is the cost benefits to students of simply

having access to courses to which they might not otherwise have access, specifically Advanced

Placement (AP) courses. Students who are able to take AP classes save substantially on college

tuition, but many students simply do not have the opportunity to do so. The article notes, “Our

educational challenges are unevenly distributed. All of the issues described above are even more

pronounced for our minority students, low income students, and students in rural areas” (p. 2).

The educational needs of students are continuing to grow and providing opportunities through

online learning education can assist in meeting these specific needs to prepare students to be

equipped to meet the demands of the 21st century. In a publication from the Southern Regional

Education Board (SREB), it is noteworthy that, “districts are using online learning as a way to

compete for funding, attract and produce students who achieve at higher levels, and adapt to

increasingly demanding state and federal mandates” (Lynde, 2015) Investing in online learning

will help ensure a strong future for our students. Overall, it is evident that the need and benefits

of online learning surpasses the financial obligation because it is a worthwhile investment to all

of the stakeholders involved in the transition.

The second issue of particular interest to me in considering the future of online learning

is that of teacher preparedness. Teachers need specific training geared towards online learning to

adequately support the college and career readiness standards that have been put forth in the state

of Georgia. While trying to teach during the pandemic has left some teachers shell-shocked and

fearful of online learning, it needs to be understood that teachers can ease into this transition of

online learning more gently through personalized learning and project-based learning

opportunities rather than an immediate full adoption. Online learning may be received differently

by different teachers, especially at the different levels of elementary, middle, and high school. In
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time, though, online education will become more and more prevalent at each level. Holly Lynde

notes that, “while districts are predominantly offering courses at the high school level, the

number of districts offering options, including full programs, at the elementary and middle

grades levels is noteworthy” (2015). As an educator myself, I believe that with time we will see

more and more students at all levels having successful online learning opportunities.

Teachers who are interested in specialized training in working in the online arena have a

wealth of opportunities from which to choose to gain this training. In fact, in response to the

pandemic, in 2020 the Aurora Institute offered a webinar that can still be accessed on their site.

Their reasoning was that the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to turn to remote options to

educate students, a shift that created major challenges for many who have spent little to no time

teaching in an anytime, anywhere modality. This webinar is actually a series of six free, two-

hour online courses for teachers to thrive through this transition. In reviewing the introductory

slide deck used, some of the series’ learning objectives include learning how to create and

distribute digital content, how to leverage various online tools to assess learning, and how to

meet individual student needs, including social-emotional needs (a particularly hot topic in

today’s US climate). In order for educators to see the success of online learning they need the

knowledge and training to operate and facilitate the implementation of the programs

Through reading information put forth by Aurora and SREB, I feel that my questions

have been thoughtfully answered through their creditable research and publications. In the next

few years, I am interested to see how many more students are utilizing some type of online

learning and how teachers are implementing this transition in their classrooms. This transition

needs to be funded by dedicated school districts and supported with well-trained instructors who

are willing to support this shift in education.

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References

Aurora Institute. (2020, September 9). Transitioning to remote learning: Free online

professional learning opportunities for teachers. YouTube. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0hXfphyfYg

iNacol. (2019, December 16). K-12 online learning: A smart investment now more than ever.

Aurora Institute. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://aurora-institute.org/resource/k-12-

online-learning-a-smart-investment-now-more-than-ever/

Lynde, H. (2015, December 10). Increasing online learning options for K-12 students: The role

of school districts. Southern Regional Education Board. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from

https://www.sreb.org/publication/increasing-online-learning-options-k-12-students-role-

school-districts