#blog: eLearning Days: New Digital Learning Collaborative report analyzes policy and guidance of this growing practice
by Kathryn Kennedy
Cross post from the Digital Learning Collaborative Blog
Early winter storms have hit multiple states already this year resulting in a wave of headlines reporting on school closings and a shift to online instruction until schools reopen. Is this practice growing? How many states allow schools to shift instruction to online? And how do state agencies ensure that online instruction, used in this way, is effective? This report explores the increasing use of online “snow days” and the use of digital learning to avoid interruptions in instruction. The report defines eLearning Days as those that:
explicitly allow districts to use online resources and instruction for students in traditional schools, to continue instruction during an interruption in physical attendance that affects most or all students,
allow such instruction to count towards attendance and funding, and
are based on the district meeting certain requirements that vary significantly by state.
The report finds that a dozen states have policies to allow eLearning Days: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. An additional four states (Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska, and Virginia) have at least one district using a waiver or other means to implement such days. The report includes links to policy as well as eLearning day resources developed by states, districts, and schools.
State guidance and district implementation guides can assist policymakers and practitioners in many areas including but not limited to:
teacher preparation,
student expectations and training,
parents/guardians expectations and training,
students with special needs, and
communication expectations and requirements.
The report provides the first national scan of eLearning Day issues and covers many of the details to be addressed in planning for eLearning days. Experts stress the need for extensive planning. Few of these issues can be addressed in a short period of time, particularly those that entail working time and conditions, or other issues in employment contracts. In addition, students, parents, and teachers have to become comfortable with instructional practices during eLearning days, which is likely to take time. Some schools, including those in other countries, include a practice eLearning day in their planning to have everyone learn the process with plenty of preparation time. The implementation of eLearning days is still in an early stage. As more schools implement such days, we expect further findings to emerge regarding both pitfalls and best practices. To learn more, and to explore state-by-state policies and practice, download the full report at the DLC website.
#blog: Online learning for Pre-K children
by Kathryn Kennedy
Cross post from the Digital Learning Collaborative Blog
As a researcher and practitioner in the field of K-12 digital learning, I’m frequently asked by people, “Are kids really learning online as early as Pre-K?” My answer to them is “yes.” It’s happening in part because of a Waterford Institute program called UPSTART (Utah Preparing Students Today for a Rewarding Tomorrow), a nonprofit organization that helps Pre-K students prepare for Kindergarten. Thanks to a 2015 Obama administration grant totaling $11.5 million, UPSTART is bringing early math, reading, and science lessons to four- and five-year-olds. These lessons are 15 minutes a day, and the program is funded at the state, school, or partner level. Families do not have to cover the cost of the program.
The program helps children who have transportation issues or who do not have educational options in their area; children whose families cannot afford paid-for pre-school options; children whose families would rather not send their children to school at such a young age; and children who speak English as a second language or who need additional language support. In their fifth year, the program’s site shares Program Evaluations for every year it has been in place. Additionally, the site highlights case studies of how the program is serving young children. According to a PBS News Hour report, more states including Idaho, Mississippi, Indiana, South Carolina, and Ohio, as well as cities like Philadelphia are incorporating UPSTART. The program is aligned to early learning standards. A total of 1,577 students were served by UPSTART in year 5 of their implementation.
In some instances, UPSTART partners with local organizations to provide learning to children who would normally not have the opportunity to attend Pre-K. As an example, UPSTART partners with the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development to reach the remote regions of the state, especially those that are high poverty areas. UPSTART program requires parental or guardian support at home while the program supplies the technology and resources that families need to support their children. UPSTART offers coaches that help support children’s learning and their parents’/guardians’ facilitation process.
UPSTART is a robust example of a Pre-K online learning program. In general, Pre-K online learning raises important questions about the logistics of programs at this level. Programs that are offering or that are thinking about offering learning opportunities at the Pre-K level need to think about the following, for example:
What happens if a child does not have a family member to help them do their work?
Is there an access and equity issue with those children who don’t have the support they need at home?
Do children have the technology and connectivity they need to do the work?
Would it make sense for traditional schools or community centers to open up space to support this type of program so that the onus of care is not on the parents or guardians?
Even with these questions in mind, it’s important to consider that programs are attempting to fill an area of non-consumption (as explained by the Christensen Institute). This effort can be an important step forward, if and when done mindfully and intentionally.
Will we see programs like UPSTART continuing to be replicated elsewhere? We will continue to keep an eye on the latest updates in this area and share them out.