The document discusses the benefits of online learning for both students and teachers, highlighting its capacity to fill instructional gaps, enhance language fluency, and improve various academic skills. It also outlines how online learning can aid teachers in acquiring new skills, collaborating globally, and managing instructional tasks efficiently. However, it acknowledges potential barriers such as teacher discomfort with technology and the need for proper support and resources.

1. Online Learning: What are the benefits?By Lynne Krewson

2. What can online learning do for our students?Fill in instructional gaps in any academic area such as math facts and students learning English.Help our ELL students become more fluent and knowledgeable in English. http://www.english-online.org.uk/course.htm, or http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/?gclid=COnJtdj5tqQCFUmA5QodYDNL0w, or http://www.nonstopenglish.com/allexercises/elementary-004.aspFree online schools are available for our students http://www.pavcsk12.org/enroll/ a virtual charter school for Pennsylvania students, orhttp://www.connectionsacademy.com/landing/Google-Pennsylvania.aspx a cyber school academy.Practice math facts to mastery http://www.jumpstart.com/free-online-game.aspx?pid=googpd&cid=free%20math%20fact%20games%20online&gclid=CLyC4aaBt6QCFUmA5QodYDNL0w, or http://www.ixl.com/, or http://www.softschools.com/math/games/Improve reading skills/levels or letter recognition http://www.foniks.org/ or http://www.starfall.com/, or http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_en.php#, or http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/interact-read.htmImprove writing skills http://www.essaypunch.com/, or http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/?lnkid=TNav:SA:Write%20and%20Publish&ESP=SA/ib//acq/write_publish_tnav_SA///nav/txtl////, or blogs, wikis or discussion boards can serve as a writing practice tool.

3. What can online learning do for teachers?Teachers can learn about current best research in our field.Teachers can practice new technology skills without being embarrassed in front of peers while learning.Teachers learn about emergent new technology that may be directly transferred to their classroom.Teachers use online learning to research tools that will support meaningful, authentic, student learning. They can learn to use technology to differentiate their instruction (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009).Teachers collaborate and communicate with teachers from around the world to learn about different viewpoints and practices (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009).Online courses are convenient for teachers. Work can be completed in your own home at a time that is most convenient for you (Hargis& Schofield, 2007).Some universities you may research: www.waldenu.edu/, www.Phoenix.edu, or www.Drexel.com/TeachingAmount of time spent grading is reduced since many programs automatically assess student work (Hargis& Schofield, 2007).

4. Some ExamplesWeb Quests enrich learning and problem-solving skills (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007).Blogs improve writing, English and collaboration skills as well as deepen understanding through others’ viewpoints (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009).Wikis improve 21st Century skills such as collaboration and communication. School work can continue outside of school (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009).Social Networking sites where students can share educational or personal information in order to build relationships and establish a team mentality. Using this format can engage students and encourage them to think differently (Gillard& Bailey,2007). http://groups.google.com/group/reaching-and-engaging-all-learners-through-technology-group-1?hl=en&pli=1Bookmarking sites to assist students in using relevant, meaningful sites on their levels. The teacher can recommend sites to students using sites such as this one. http://www.delicious.com/lynnekmath

5. Possible BarriersTeacher assistance will be needed by many students since it is new.Planning lessons may take longer in the beginning (Gillard & Bailey, 2007).Some activities/vocabulary may be above students’ levels. This will take time to learn.Students may know more than teacher about technology, so the teacher may feel inadequate.Students become more responsible for their own learning. The teacher may have trouble giving up his/her role as information provider (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009).Teacher may not be comfortable using technology to teach students.We may not detect improved achievement due to technology integration (Gillard& Bailey, 2007).Students may not have necessary keyboarding skills and will need practice (Hargis & Schofield, 2007).Once you use online learning you will want to use it more often. Funding for additional technology may be difficult to secure (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007).

6. What can we do?Work together to prepare our students for the 21st Century work world (Lemke & Coughlin, 2009).Support one another by offering solutions and giving suggestions.Keep trying and researching what technology we can utilize to improve our students’ learning.Find authentic problems for students to solve (Young, Birtolo,& McElman, 2009).Find online games that will teach and engage students at the same time (Young, et. al., 2009).Encourage responsibility and self-motivation through technology (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007).

7. References:Cavanaugh, C., & Clark, T. (2007). The Landscape of K-12 Online Learning. In P. Adamson, B. Adamson, & N. Clausen-Grace, et al (Eds.), What Works in K-12 Online Learning (Chapter 1, pp. 5-19). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education. Gillard, S., & Bailey, D. (2007). Technology in the classroom: Overcoming obstacles, reaping rewards. The International Journal of Learning, 14(1), 87–93. Hargis, J., & Schofield, K. (2007). Integrating Online Learning into Elementary Classrooms. In P. Adamson, B. Adamson, & N. Clausen-Grace, et al (Eds.), What Works in K-12 Online Learning (pp. 33-47). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education. http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/interact-read.htm http://moodle.org/http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/?lnkid=TNav:SA:Write%20and%20Publish&ESP=SA/ib//acq/write_publish_tnav_SA///nav/txtl/ http://www.connectionsacademy.com/landing/Google-Pennsylvania.aspx http://www.english-online.org.uk/course.htmhttp://www.essaypunch.com/http://www.foniks.org/http://www.ixl.com/

8. More References:http://www.jumpstart.com/free-online-game.aspx?pid=googpd&cid=free%20math%20fact%20games%20online&gclid=CLyC4aaBt6QCFUmA5QodYDNL0w http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/?gclid=COnJtdj5tqQCFUmA5QodYDNL0w http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_en.php#http://www.nonstopenglish.com/allexercises/elementary-004.asp http://www.pavcsk12.org/enroll/ http://www.rcampus.com/ http://www.softschools.com/math/games/ http://www.starfall.com/ Lemke, C., & Coughlin, E. (2009). The change agents. Educational Leadership, 67(1), 54-59. Young, J., Birtolo, P., & McElman, R. (2009). Virtual success: Transforming education through online learning. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36(5), 12–17.