eLearning Software: A Changing Industry SREB Educational Technology Professional Development

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(No Transcript)
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eLearning SoftwareA Changing IndustrySREB
Educational Technology Professional Development
Learning MeetingApril 19, 2004by Kathy
HurleyVice President,Education Industry
AffairsBridget FosterDirector, California
Learning Resource Network
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Introduction

• Background
• My role with PLATO Learning
• Veteran perspective of the Education Technology
  Industry

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10 Years of Changes in eLearning
From CD-Roms to High Speed Internet Delivery

• Drivers
• E-Rate Provided funding and essential
  infrastructure for LAN/WAN delivery in for K-12
  schools. Result Almost 100 connectivity in
  every K-12 classroom.
• District State Level Management Systems
  Interest in systems that are WAN-based or
  Web-based ASP delivery systems
• Validation of Need General acceptance that
  Internet connected computers add value to K-12
  learning as technology will be intricately
  connected to future jobs

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10 Years of Changes in eLearning
Infrastructure, Infrastructure, Infrastructure

• Infrastructure Drivers
• More frequent, timely and accurate assessments
• Better reporting and data analysis
• More individualized instruction based on the
  results of the assessments and data analysis
• NCLB and D3M movements requiring the above types
  of information
• Infrastructure Impact on Private Sector
• Improvements have allowed PLATO Learning to
  deliver the largest amount over the web to K-12
  institutions
• Just last quarter PLATO delivered over 8 million
  hours on web-based instruction

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10 Years of Changes in eLearning

• From standalone single user programs to network
  Internet based resources
• CLRN is seeing larger, more comprehensive
  resources that provide better accessibility to
  content for all students-- flexiblity
• Previously untapped content areas (K-3 reading,
  writing) information vs. instruction and
  assessment
• New technology- speech recognition, diagnostic
  (essay scoring)
• The whole package- resources address standards,
  assessment and reporting
• CLRN- state standards alignment information is
  required -- more accessible to users within
  products
• Interoperability- what you buy today might
  actually be useful tomorrow

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10 Years of Changes in eLearning

• Drivers
• Historically- funding was the driving factor
  (e-rate, EETT, state and local grants)
• Now data management has become the driving factor
• CLRN is seeing more standards aligned assessment
  resources and improved quality in assessment
  features of resources in general
• Data collection, management and analysis

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10 Years of Changes in eLearning

• Drivers
• Need comes next- need to provide individual
  services to each student in the most efficient
  manner
• In California new legislation requires a certain
  level of accessibility--although still far from
  true universal access
• Old solutions die slow death (i.e. textbook
  technology, face to face instruction) i.e. cost
  efficiency and comfort level
• Media type its the content AND the form of
  delivery that influence learning

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10 Years of Changes in eLearning

• Drivers
• Home environment use of technology
• CLRN users are focusing less on teacher tech
  skill requirements and little on student tech
  skill requirements as purchasing factors. If they
  buy it, the assumption is that users will learn
  or know how to use it.
• In general, CLRN is seeing the idea of user
  friendliness becoming more consistent
• The WOW factor becomes less noticeable as home
  use of technology increases
• Comfort level digital media

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10 Years of Changes in eLearning

• Infrastructure needs first established by
  business office for data processing and
  communication
• Once infrastructure is in place, learning
  applications added
• LAN purchased for student learning were often
  standalone, now long term planning for all needs
  of the agency standard procedure
• District wide use still driven to a great extent
  by business use of technology (data collection,
  records management, communication with parents,
  students, and other agencies)
• Adapting business use to education instead of
  developing new applications specifically for
  education- this is finally changing!
• Classroom use of technology is still more
  creative and student centered

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States, Schools, Colleges eLearning
States Education Agencies

• Request for Proposals
• Idaho Student Information Management System
• Wyoming Standards and Body of Evidence Tracking
  System
• Virginia Online Tutorial Program
• Mississippi Student Progress Monitoring System
• Broader Acceptance of Various Models
• Bricks Mortar co-existing with virtual learning
• SEAs need for consistency across districts in
  order to compare apples to apples eLearning
  solutions provide management systems to provide
  consistency

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States, Schools, Colleges eLearning
K-12 School Districts Individual Schools

• Drivers pushing K-12 response to eLearning
• No Child Left Behind Requirements AYP, Title I
  Funding, SBR requirements, etc.
• IDEA IEPs and individualized student
  instruction, even for mainstreamed children
• District School Leaders Acceptance of eLearning
• Increased RFP activity at the district and school
  level
• Henrico County SD Web-based e-Learning Platform
  Software RFP
• Napa Valley USD Learning Management Solution RFP
• Laramie County SD Standards Tracking Software and
  Support RFP
• Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School RFP for
  Curriculum Management Software System Support
  Services
• Leverage technology investments to meet district,
  state and national goals

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States, Schools, Colleges eLearning
Colleges eLearning

• Colleges
• Many traditional colleges have fully embraced
  distance learning, online collaboration and
  web-based delivered curriculum products
• Drivers include added revenue via virtual
  classrooms and better academic collaboration with
  diverse populations
• Colleges of Education
• Many are working with private sector companies to
  combine distance learning and cohort groups that
  meet intermittently to establish relationships
• Many colleges are collaborating on RFPs, grants
  and other contracts with private sector companies
  to help deliver needed eLearning services, like
  professional development and training. (NOVA
  example)

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States, Schools, Colleges eLearning

• State agencies
• Serving all students needs in a cost effective
  manner
• If eLearning can deliver equal quality in a
  manageable fashion, then it is considered
• bricks and mortar vs. online learning
• influenced by home and business use --education
  agencies tend to be bureaucratic machines that
  require massive efforts to change
• Comfort level
• Requires revision of existing policy
• which may be over 100 years old
• Educators need to play more of a role in policy
  development

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States, Schools, Colleges eLearning

• K-12 districts and schools
• NCLB and IDEA- new respect for data
• Consortiums, RFPs, collaboration with industry to
  develop effective solutionsschools dont expect
  to be able to buy off the shelf
• More holistic and systemic approach to technology
  planning- infrastructure development
• Vendors concentrate more on helping schools meet
  their needs by customizing product
• you only have a solution if I have a problem and
  if I cant identify the problem, then I cant use
  the solution
• Needs assessment is crucial, but few schools and
  districts can do this effectively- industry can
  help
• At CLRN, the data is only useful to users if
  they know how to access it effectively

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States, Schools, Colleges eLearning

• Higher education
• Distance learning can be profitable
• IHE can provide direction for new development
  through RFP process
• Partnerships with districts
• In California, virtual education plays a big role
  in teacher education
• CLRN users most requested addition---review of
  distance learning resources

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SEAs Influence on eLearning
Communications Relationship Building

• Important for agencies to develop quality
  relationships with private sector people
• High Level Relationships
• Work to create public/private partnerships
• Will help create realistic RFP budgets
• To sum up
• Communication, Communication, Communication

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SEAs Influence on eLearning

• Communication is the key
• Help industry to understand needs of education
• Include in information distribution regarding
  grants, funding, and policy
• CLRN has found that in general vendors are more
  interested in developing long term relationships
  with schools than making one time sales
• Celebrate success with everyone- create a
  community of learning
• Invite industry representatives to view student
  projects
• Participate in pilot and research projects
  whenever appropriatesuggest research projects
  when possible
• Many industry representatives have backgrounds in
  education, cultivate their expertise!
• Human factor- we are creatures of habit and we
  are incredibly heard bound!

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eLearning SBR
The Challenges of Scientifically Based Research

• Timing
• Resources
• School Participation/Commitment
• Fidelity of Implementation
• Outcomes Test Instruments
• Research Models
• Credible Results

This information was provided by the Software
Information Industry Association and will be
released in a Spring 2004 T.H.E. Journal Article
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eLearning, SBR and PLATO Learning

• Increasing Metadata Studies
• Increasing Quasi-scientific studies
• Conducting Rare Pharmaceutical studies
• Little short-term impact, focuses on long-term
  results
• Alternate Research Models
• Valid Information vs. Ancedotal Evidence
• Solid non-marketing research data
• Hard core results rather than marketing fluff

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eLearning SBR

• Requires collaboration with schools and districts
• State and local education agencies need to
  understand the basics of research to be able to
  interpret the results
• An expert opinion is still an opinion ask more
  than one
• Research documenting effectiveness is good, but
  so is research guiding development
• The concept of buyer beware still applies
• be aware of what information research can and
  cannot provide
• Technology is only one factor
• CLRN provides information about research
  conducted by and/or utilized by publishers in
  development of resource if provided by
  publisherfew have

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States, Schools, Colleges eLearning Working
Together
General Answers

• Collaboration through Public/Private Partnerships
• Emphasis on consortia for RFP developments
• Multi-year Funding
• Buyers need funding for solutions to be developed
  over time
• Focus on Outcomes
• More sophisticated tests
• Standards
• eLearning companies need to create modular
  solutions that interface
• Outcome guarantees
• eLearning guarantees tied to school requirements
• Matching State, Federal Foundation Funding
• Mechanism to drive investment in new technologies
• Commitment to Teacher Technology Training
• More tech training for incoming new teachers

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States, Schools, Colleges eLearning Working
Together
Idaho A Case Study

• Grant co-funded by the Albertson Foundation the
  State of Idaho
• PLATO Learning worked with Idaho Department of
  Education on cost-saving measures
• Statewide roll-out vs. district roll-outs
• State owns the system PLATO pushes data to
  them to maintain, state maintains hardware,
  maintenance, hosting, etc. through the State IT
  Budget
• Idaho positioned to drive compliance
• Allows them to create SIF agents meaning now
  that all vendors wanting to do business in Idaho
  must be able to demonstrate they are SIF
  compliant
• Idaho drives data for the entire state
• Child in the system one time. If they child
  moves from district to district, s/he is
  automatically updated in the system, both at the
  state and district level. Creates a ripple
  effect
• PLATO Learning Benefits
• Statewide, 10-yr project to effectively evaluate
  a large scope project over time. And, were
  partners with the state as it is both our
  interests to see this succeed not a simple off
  the shelf model to
• hand to the state and then cut and run.

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States, Schools, Colleges eLearning Working
Together

• Collaborate with industry and IHEs
• research, RFPs, grants
• Long term planning and multi-year funding
• Know what you need and what you already have
• Develop standards that are measurable and then
  develop accurate measures
• Provide industry with information (partnerships
  in communication)
• web sites are not always easy to navigate
• Rememberif I said it once, I said it a hundred
  times there is no such thing as over
  communicating
• CLRN often hears that publisher representatives
  who are parents know more about what is going on
  in education then those that are not
• Be creative with fundingmix and match whenever
  possible to get more for your money
• Create a plan and stick to itno one can opt
  outleadership is crucial
• Computerized attendance

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Real learning.
Real results.
www.plato.com