Recent Changes

(Frey et al 2004)
4. Participate in a SIG or other professional group to ensure training in online teaching is as up-to-date as possible. Take advantage of any institutional or online training available to be best prepared as an online instructor.
(How do I cite this one? I just made it up, based on some comments from Carolyn &(From my reading overall.)professors in MSU's CEP courses)
5. Create a strong online social presence via audio & video podcasting, webinars, photo(s), and frequent, positive, prompt interaction with students.
(Brown et al 2009, Tallent-Runnels et al 2006)

Spiegelman, M, Glass, R. (2009). Games and Web 2.0: a winning combination for millennials. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(3) 273-289.
Tallent-Runnels, M K, Thomas, J A, Lan, W L, Cooper, S, Ahern, T C, Shaw, S M, Liu, X. (2006). Teaching courses online: a review of the research. Review of Educational Research. 76(1) 93-135.
Websites:
Quality Matters Program
http://www.qmprogram.org/
Michigan Virtual University
http://www.mivu.org/
http://www.learnport.org/
AHEAD
http://www.ahead.org/resources/universal-design/resources
The American Distance Education Consortium
http://www.adec.edu/online-resources.html
APLU Sloan National Commission on Online Learning
http://www.aplu.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=282
Canadian 2009 “State of the Nation in K-12 Learning”
http://www.inacol.org/research/docs/iNACOL_CanadaStudy_200911.pdf
Center for Online Learning
http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/col/id/
Center for Research on Learning and Teaching
http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsot.php
INACOL - Online Learning
http://www.inacol.org/
APLU Sloan National Commission on Online
http://www.inacol.org/_
The International Center for Distance Learning
http://www.aplu.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=282
TheResearch and Praxis _
http://www.usdla.org/_
The Michigan Community College Association
http://www.mcca.org/
Center for Online Learning
http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/col/id/
Center for Research on Learning and Teaching
http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsot.php
Principles of Online Design
http://www.fgcu.edu/onlinedesign/designDev.html
The International Center for Distance Learning Research and Praxis 
http://www.usdla.org/
The American Distance Education Consortium http://www.adec.edu/online-resources.html
AHEAD http://www.ahead.org/resources/universal-design/resourcesMichigan Virtual University
http://www.mivu.org/
http://www.learnport.org/_
North American Council for Online Learning
http://www.edgateway.net/cs/nacol/print/docs/437
Principles of Online Design
http://www.fgcu.edu/onlinedesign/designDev.html
Quality Matters Program
http://www.qmprogram.org/
Research on K-12 Learning – a Synthesis (from 2005)
http://www.ncrel.org/tech/synthesis/
Canadian 2009 version of the same “State of the Nation in K-12 Learning”
http://www.inacol.org/research/docs/iNACOL_CanadaStudy_200911.pdf
A Blog on VirtualVirtual School Research Blog by Michael
http://virtualschooling.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/k-12-online-learning-research-article-publication/

10. Create Online Course Guidelines or standards at the institutional level, including training and support opportunities for instructors.
(Chatham-Carpenter et al 2010, Gaide 2005)
Works CitedWORKS CITED
Articles:
Brown, A, Brown, C, Fine, B, Luterbach, K, Sugar, W, Viniciguerra, D C. (2009). Instructional uses of podcasting in online learning environments: a cooperative inquiry study. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(4) 351-371.

Retention of Students in Online Classes - Top 10 Suggestions
Trixi Ayahr Beeker, CEP 812, 15 December 2010
my top ten10 suggestions for
The suggestions are divided into the 5 main categories which seem to most effect student retention in online classes, based on current research. This is an area which is still developing, and investigators are just now beginning to perform the in-depth scholarly studies which will help answer the question: "How can we best increase student retention in online classes?"
COURSE DESIGN

Retention of Students in Online Classes - Top 10 Suggestions
CEP 812, 515 December 2010 of a longer-termlonger-term, fascinating project into the three5 main categories classes, based in the moston current research I could find.research. This is a researchan area which in online classes?"classes?"
COURSE DESIGN
1. Use an online course design checklist.
(Chatham-Carpenter et al 2010, Gaide 2005)
Works Cited
TechQuest: References Cited
Articles: Articles:
Brown, A, Brown, C, Fine, B, Luterbach, K, Sugar, W, Viniciguerra, D C. (2009). Instructional uses of podcasting in online learning environments: a cooperative inquiry study. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(4) 351-371.
Chatham-carpenter, A, Seawel, L, Raschig, J. (2010). Avoiding the pitfalls: current practices and recommendations for ePortfolios in higher education. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 38(4) 437-456.

Frey, B A, Alman, S W, Barron, D, Steffens, A. (2004). Student satisfaction with the Online MLIS Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. 45(2) 82-97.
Gaide, S. (2005). Increase retention by establishing institutional and faculty benchmarks. Distance Education Report. 9(18) 4,7.
satisfaction and
retention. retention. Online Journal
Jorgensen, H. (2002). Wisconsin technical college gets dramatic enrollment, retention results with “overnight” online program. Distance Education Report. 6(5):5.
Miller, M D, Rainer, R K, Corley, J K. (2002). Predictors of engagement and participation in an online course. The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 6(1).
Michigan Virtual University
http://www.mivu.org/
http://www.learnport.org/ http://www.learnport.org/
INACOL - International Association for k-12 Online Learning
http://www.inacol.org/ http://www.inacol.org/
APLU Sloan National Commission on Online Learning
http://www.aplu.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=282
Principles of Online Design
http://www.fgcu.edu/onlinedesign/designDev.html
and Praxis http://www.usdla.org/
http://www.usdla.org/
The American Distance Education Consortium http://www.adec.edu/online-resources.html
AHEAD http://www.ahead.org/resources/universal-design/resources
A Blog on Virtual School Research by Michael Barbour
http://virtualschooling.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/k-12-online-learning-research-article-publication/

(Chatham-Carpenter et al 2010, Gaide 2005)
Works Cited
In Progress!...TechQuest: References Cited
Articles:
Brown, A, Brown, C, Fine, B, Luterbach, K, Sugar, W, Viniciguerra, D C. (2009). Instructional uses of podcasting in online learning environments: a cooperative inquiry study. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(4) 351-371.
Chatham-carpenter, A, Seawel, L, Raschig, J. (2010). Avoiding the pitfalls: current practices and recommendations for ePortfolios in higher education. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 38(4) 437-456.
Frey, B A, Alman, S W, Barron, D, Steffens, A. (2004). Student satisfaction with the Online MLIS Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. 45(2) 82-97.
Gaide, S. (2005). Increase retention by establishing institutional and faculty benchmarks. Distance Education Report. 9(18) 4,7.
Herbert, M. (2006). Staying the course: a study in online student satisfaction and
retention. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 9(4).
Jorgensen, H. (2002). Wisconsin technical college gets dramatic enrollment, retention results with “overnight” online program. Distance Education Report. 6(5):5.
Miller, M D, Rainer, R K, Corley, J K. (2002). Predictors of engagement and participation in an online course. The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 6(1).
Nash, R. D. (2005) Course completion rates among distance learners: identifying possible methods to improve retention. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 8(4):1.
O’Connor, E A. (2009). Instructional and design elements that support effective use of virtual worlds: what graduate student work reveals about second life. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 38(2) 213-234.
Rizopoulos, L A, McCarthy, P. (2009). Using online threaded discussions: best practices for the digital learning. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(4): 373-383.
Santovec, M L. (2004). Virtual learning communities lead to 80 percent retention at WGU. Distance Education Report. 8(8): 4.
Spiegelman, M, Glass, R. (2009). Games and Web 2.0: a winning combination for millennials. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(3) 273-289.
Tallent-Runnels, M K, Thomas, J A, Lan, W L, Cooper, S, Ahern, T C, Shaw, S M, Liu, X. (2006). Teaching courses online: a review of the research. Review of Educational Research. 76(1) 93-135.
Websites:
Quality Matters Program
http://www.qmprogram.org/
Michigan Virtual University
http://www.mivu.org/
http://www.learnport.org/
INACOL - International Association for k-12 Online Learning
http://www.inacol.org/
APLU Sloan National Commission on Online Learning
http://www.aplu.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=282
The Michigan Community College Association
http://www.mcca.org/
Center for Online Learning
http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/col/id/
Center for Research on Learning and Teaching
http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsot.php
Principles of Online Design
http://www.fgcu.edu/onlinedesign/designDev.html
The International Center for Distance Learning Research and Praxis http://www.usdla.org/
The American Distance Education Consortium http://www.adec.edu/online-resources.html
AHEAD http://www.ahead.org/resources/universal-design/resources
North American Council for Online Learning
http://www.edgateway.net/cs/nacol/print/docs/437
Research on K-12 Learning – a Synthesis (from 2005)
http://www.ncrel.org/tech/synthesis/
Canadian 2009 version of the same “State of the Nation in K-12 Learning”
http://www.inacol.org/research/docs/iNACOL_CanadaStudy_200911.pdf
A Blog on Virtual School Research by Michael Barbour
http://virtualschooling.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/k-12-online-learning-research-article-publication/

Challenges of high-tech education include the need for extreme care with safety of k-12 students on the Internet. Teachers need to teach students how to avoid e-stalkers and e-abuse, as well as e-ttiquite with their own classmates. Other challenges include the expense financially, and time-wise of keeping up with new technical developments, as well as the continually looming specter of the digital divide.
However, the promised of a fully high-tech educational system far outweigh the challenges. These include – if everyone on the planet is provided the opportunity to equally participate – nothing less than the creation of a technical ‘collective consciousness’ for humanity where all recorded thoughts and learning are available for everyone to learn from and share.
2.3. Current Technology
While not currently teaching in the K-12 system, I have accrued much experience in teaching in other settings. Below is a list of my teaching experiences to date, as well as a brief description of how I’ve used technology in those instances.
Guest Presenter, Pre-school class, Child Development Labs
Editing and grading midterm and final exams
Providing learning support to students via email and weekly office hours
3.4. Technology Enhancement
I plan to enhance and increase my technology use in education in the following ways:
Become well – versed in the use of CMS such as Angel and Moodle, but completing any freely available online tutorials / training while I’m in the application process, as well as participating in any related training while teaching at community college.
Updating my RSS feed to include all current interests / needs and being more consistent about reading it (again on a weekly basis seems a good timeline).
Trying out and learning about virtual reality (VR) worlds such as Second Life. I will investigate whether there is much research to date about using VR in online learning – it seems there is applicability and need in this realm.
4.5. Timeline for
A timeline is a bit of a challenge to create at the moment, which is probably why I left it out of the first version of this document – because it seems my entire life it in transition at the moment. I just successfully defended my master’s in Fisheries and Wildlife at MSU and am currently wrapping up loose ends for graduation. I’m also starting to apply for part-time and full-time positions to teaching and teaching-related areas. And, in January 2011, I will be starting a new graduate program in Environmental Journalism (with an aim to do environmental journalism and environmental programs for children). All this while prevailing at my ‘other’ job as a single parent of a wonderful 3yo boy!
However, I am also committed to continuing education in terms of keeping up-to-date and even ahead of the curve in educational technologies. So to keep it simple, I will aim to initiate each technology enhancement area one semester at a time.