The document discusses how online learning and course management systems can benefit students and teachers. It suggests that schools gradually incorporate virtual learning activities that foster student collaboration, such as blogs and wikis, and then transition to using a course management system. This allows all lessons and assignments to be posted online, enabling students to learn at their own pace and collaborate with peers and teachers. Both students and teachers can experience benefits such as increased engagement, motivation, and preparation for global learning. However, some teachers may be hesitant to change methods they have used for years.

1. Online Learning in Schools By Michael Sheredy January 30, 2011

2. Learning Management Systems Virtual Learning Environment Work is done over the Internet with a number of different assessments Lessons and activities are posted online Normally used in schools to make learning more interactive

3. Participatory Learning Research has shown that students learn better by collaborating with others than by doing work individually When students collaborate, they get to discuss material with their fellow students in class, and they begin to make connections between what they know, and what others know

4. How Are We Currently Teaching Most learning taking place in schools today is learning with no collaboration amongst students We are currently teaching using activities that do not lead to retention of material for our students We are currently teaching in a way that is not interesting to our students, because we are failing to include many of the digital tools that our students already use for entertainment purposes to teach our students Students are often disinterested in the material being taught, and the way it is being taught to them

5. So How Could We Change We could gradually incorporate Virtual Learning activities that foster collaboration amongst students The easiest way would be to start by implementing collaborative learning activities like blogs and wikis into our classes

6. Change Cont. After we begin implementing these new technologies into the classroom, we could begin to make the change to the online classroom A way that we could do this is by moving to a Course Management System in our schools

7. Types of Course Management Systems Moodle and rCampus are two free web based course management systems On these systems all assignment and lessons are posted online, so our students are in control of their own learning while they collaborate with their fellow classmates on a particular topic Students also have one on one interaction with their teachers

8. Who Can Benefit From Course Management Systems? All students benefit from CMS These online learning modules help with students who may need extra help, while it could also challenge students who are advanced CMS is also great for students who are at risk of dropping out, pregnant, or students who are being home schooled

9. How Could Course Management Systems Help the Students of Our School All lessons will be posted online, so students can have access to everything that is being done in class Students could use this to review material they may not understand Students could recover work from when they are absent, helping students to not fall behind in class

10. Student Benefits Cont. Students engage in activities where they get to collaborate with other students in the class that helps them get a better understanding of the material by looking at other perspectives on the topic Teachers can get involved in these discussions as well, and they can give you one on one attention if you do not understand a topic that was covered in class

11. Student Benefits Cont. Students learn to use technology not just for entertainment purposes, but also for educational purposes Students get to learn doing activities that are more engaging and interesting that help keeps their attention Students are motivated to come to class and learn everyday

12. How Could Us Teachers Benefit From Course Management Systems Teachers can post assignments and lessons online, eliminates problems of having to stop to catch up students who are behind or absent Teachers promote a learning environment that includes student collaboration so students better understand the material being covered Teachers prepare students for global learning that they will benefit from in the future

13. Teacher Benefits Cont. Teachers get students to use digital tools to create artifacts that gets students to put to use ideas being learned in our lessons Teachers teach to students in a way that lets them all give their own ideas and opinions of a topic Teachers teach lessons to students in a way that combines the different types of learning styles of our students, and this gets all our students involved in these lessons Teachers teach in a way that is more motivating to our students, which helps cure the major problem of lack of student effort in our schools

14. Other Benefits of Course Management Systems Parents have the opportunity to see what is going on in class Parents get the opportunity to help or monitor their students work Parents can then contact the teacher if there is any questions or concerns that they may have This builds better relationships between teachers and parents

15. Reasons For Teachers to Not Want to Make the Move to the Online Classroom Teachers will have to make changes to lessons that they have been doing for years Teachers will have to leave their comfort zone Teachers will have to put in a some work to change, that will take some time that we do not have

16. Reasons For Teachers TO Make the Move to the Online Classroom Better instruction in our classes Students will be interested in learning Students will be motivated in our classes Students will be learning skills in our classes that they will use for ever Students will be better prepared for the real world when they leave our classes

17. In Closing Our students have changed more in the recent years than in any time in history Our schools have not, and students are expected to be taught using the same methods that have been used in schools forever Should we continue to get passed by, or should we all take the necessary steps needed to become better educators, so that we can reach the students of the future

18. References 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.

19. References Cont. 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.