Growth of Online Learning
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31 states offer full-time virtual schools with an enrollment of approximately 275,000
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Teachers lead instruction over the Internet from separate locations
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Use software and web-based platforms
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Online interactions: synchronously or asynchronously
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Blended learning—online learning opportunities with face-to-face settings
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Online delivery
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Some student control over time, place, path, pace of content/instruction
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Supervised locations where some learning occurs
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Accessibility challenges
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Often use resources that haven’t been examined for accessibility
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Ease of access—not applicable for many online tools and content
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The teacher is a key factor, regardless of setting!
The teaching and learning environment must be fully accessible to the widest range of learners in any setting
Main Ideas
Online Learning Advantages & Disadvantages
NOTE: Benefits can only occur when students are able to access and participate in online instruction
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Ability to present content in multiple ways
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Major principle of universal design for learning
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Audio, video, text, other methods to convey meaning
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More immediate access to student performance data
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Ability to customize pace and focus of instruction
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More individualized, differentiated instruction based on student data
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Must be aware of accessibility barriers students with disabilities can face in an online learning environment
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Content often is not appropriately designed for, or accessible, to many students with disabilities
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Enrollment of students with disabilities in online learning environments is about half of their enrollment in traditional school settings
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Hard to measure participation & outcomes if students don't disclose disability
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Digital environments are often designed without accessibility in mind
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Hard to go back and change due to cost, expertise, and the technology required
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