TEN LESSONS LEARNED FROM TEN YEARS OF RESEARCH
ON K-12 ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING
Dr. Susan Lowes
Lesson by lesson references
Lesson 1: Young field, exploratory research
[This is not an exhaustive list but examples]
Broad surveys
Leanna M. Archambault and Kent J. Crippen, “K-12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online
Across the United States,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education 41, no. 4 (2009): 363-391.
Kathryn Kennedy and Leanna Archambault, “The Current State of Field Experiences in K-12 Online
Learning Programs in the U.S.” Paper presented at the 2011 Society for Information Technology &
Teacher Education (SITE) conference.
Kerry Rice, Lisa Dawley, Crystal Gasell, and Chris Florez, Going Virtual! Unique Needs and Challenges
of K-12 Online Teachers. Boise, ID: Boise State University, 2008.
iNACOL Research Briefs.
Program evaluations
Robert Kozma, Andew Zucker, et al., The Online Course Experience: Evaluation of the Virtual High
School’s Third Year of Implementation, 1999-2000. Maynard, MA: Virtual High School, 2000.
M.D. Robyler, John Freeman, Martha Donaldson, and Melina Maddox, “A Comparison of Outcomes of
Virtual School Courses Offered in Synchronous and Asynchronous Formats.” The Internet and Higher
Education 10 (2007): 261-268.
Rockman et al, ED PACE Final Report (Evaluation of the West Virginia Dept. of Education Virtual School
Spanish Program). San Francisco, CA: Rockman et al, 2007.
Kara Smith, Sheralyn Dash, Lauren Chapman, and Joseph Pedulla, Year Three Comprehensive Report for
the e-Learning for Educators Project. Boston, MA: Boston College Center for the Study of Testing,
Evaluation, and Educational Policy, 2008.
Edited collections
Cathy Cavanaugh and Robert Blomeyer, eds., What Works in K-12 Online Learning? Washington, DC: The
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 2007.
Richard E. Ferdig and Cathy Cavanaugh, eds. Lessons Learned from Virtual Schools: Experiences and
Recommendations from the Field. Vienna, VA: International Association for K-12 Online Learning,
Experimental or quasi-experimental studies
Laura M. O’Dwyer, Rebecca Carey, and Glenn Kleiman, “A Study of the Effectiveness of the Louisiana
Algebra I Online Course,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education 39, no. 3 (Spring 2007).
Meryem Yilmaz-Soylu and Bukey Akkoyunlu, "The Effect of Learning Styles on Achievement in Different
Learning Environments," The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology (2002): 43-50.
On the standards
Richard E. Ferdig, Cathy Cavanaugh, Meredith DiPietro, Erik Black, and Kara Dawson, "Virtual Schooling
Standards and Best Practices in Teacher Education," Journal of Technology and Teacher Education 17,
no. 4 (2009).
Lesson 1, slide 2
Leanna M. Archambault and Kent J. Crippen, “K-12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online
Across the United States,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education 41, no. 4 (2009): 363-391.
Meredith DiPietro, “Virtual School Pedagogy: The Instructional Practices of K-12 Virtual School
Teachers,” Journal of Educational Computing Research 42, no. 3 (2010): 327-354.
Sarah Haavind, “An Interpretative Model of Key Heuristics That Promote Collaborative Dialogue Among
Online Learners,” Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks 11, no. 3 (2007).
Kathryn Kennedy and Cathy Cavanaugh, “Development and Support of Online Teachers: The Roles of
Mentors in Virtual Schools,” Journal of Technology in the Classroom 3, no. 2 (2010).
Feng Liu and Cathy Cavanaugh, “Online Core Course Success Factors in Virtual School: Factors
Influencing Student Academic Achievement,” International Journal of E-Learning, in press.
Susan Lowes, “Developing a Framework for Looking at Group Work in Asynchronous Online Courses,”
paper presented at the Virtual School Symposium of the International Association for K-12 Online
Learning, 2009.
Susan Lowes, Peiyi Lin, and Yan Wang, “Studying the Effectiveness of the Discussion Forum in Online
Professional Development Courses,” Journal of Interactive Online Learning 6, no. 3 (Winter 2007).
Laura M. O’Dwyer, Rebecca Carey, and Glenn Kleiman, “A Study of the Effectiveness of the Louisiana
Algebra I Online Course,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education 39, no. 3 (Spring 2007).
Kevin Oliver, Shaun Kellogg, Tricia Townsend, and Kevin Brady, “Needs of Elementary and Middle School
Teachers Developing Online Courses for a Virtual School,” Distance Education 31, no. 1 (2010): 55-75.
Kevin Oliver, Shaun Kellogg, and Ruchi Patel, “An Investigation into Reported Differences Between
Online Math Instruction and Other Subject Areas in a Virtual School,” Journal of Computers in
Mathematics and Science Teaching 29, no. 4 (2010): 417-453.
Kevin Oliver, Shaun Kellogg, and Ruchi Patel, “An Investigation into Reported Differences Between
Online Foreign Language Instruction and Other Subject Areas in a Virtual School,” The Computer Assisted
Language Instruction Consortium (CALICO) Journal, in press.
Rockman et al, ED PACE Final Report (Evaluation of the West Virginia Dept. of Education Virtual School
Spanish Program). San Francisco, CA: Rockman et al, 2007.
Lesson 2: Early focus was on comparing online with face-to-face
Meta-analyses
Robert M. Bernard, Phillip Abrami, et al., “How Does Distance Education Compare with Classroom
Instructions? A Meta-Analysis of the Empirical Literature,” Review of Educational Research 74, no. 3
(2004): 379-439.
Cathy Cavanaugh, Kathy Jo Gillan et al., The Effects of Distance Education on K–12 Student Outcomes: A
Meta-Analysis. Naperville, IL: North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, 2004.
U.S. Department of Education, Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-
Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies. Washington, DC, 2009.
Lesson 4: Online teachers have certain characteristics …
Leanna M. Archambault and Kent J. Crippen, “K-12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online
Across the United States,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education 41, no. 4 (2009): 363-391.
Meredith DiPietro, “Virtual School Pedagogy: The Instructional Practices of K-12 Virtual School
Teachers,” Journal of Educational Computing Research 42, no. 3 (2010): 327-354.
Meredith DiPietro, Richard Ferdig, Erik Black, and Megan Preston, “Best Practices in Teaching K-12
Online: Lessons Learned from Michigan Virtual School Teachers,” Journal of Interactive Online Learning
7, no. 1 (Spring 2008): 10-35.
Thomas R. Guskey and Kwang Suk Yoon, "What Works in Professional Development?” Phi Delta Kappan,
90, no. 7 (March 2009): 495-500.
Kathryn Kennedy and Cathy Cavanaugh, “Qualities Virtual School Teachers Perceive as Desirable in
Prospective Virtual School Teacher Applicants,” paper presented at the Virtual School Symposium of the
International Association for K-12 Online Learning, 2009.
Lesson 5: … but online teachers are also similar in some ways to face-to-face teachers
Leanna M. Archambault and Kent J. Crippen, “K-12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online
Across the United States,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education 41, no. 4 (2009): 363-391.
Leanna M. Archambault and Kent J. Crippen, “K-12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online
Across the United States,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education 41, no. 4 (2009): 363-391.
Richard E. Ferdig, Continuous Quality Improvement Through Professional Development for Online K-12
Instructors. Lansing, MI: Michigan Virtual University, 2010.
Sarah Haavind, “An Interpretative Model of Key Heuristics That Promote Collaborative Dialogue Among
Online Learners,” Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks 11, no. 3 (2007).
Susan Lowes, “Beyond the Counts: Teacher Beliefs and Teaching Styles in Asynchronous Online
Classrooms,” paper presented at the Virtual School Symposium of the International Association for K-12
Online Learning (iNACOL), 2010.
Susan Lowes, “The Teacher as Migrant: How Teaching Online Can Change Classroom Practice,” Distance
Learning (US Distance Learning Association publication), June 2010.
Susan Lowes, “Beyond the Counts: Teacher Beliefs and Teaching Styles in Asynchronous Online
Classrooms,” paper presented at the Virtual School Symposium of the International Association for K-12
Online Learning (iNACOL), 2010.
Susan Lowes, Online Teaching and Classroom Change: The Impact of Virtual High School on Its Teachers
and Their Schools. Napierville, IL: Learning Point Associates, 2005. Available at
http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/
Kevin Oliver, Shaun Kellogg, Tricia Townsend, and Kevin Brady, “Needs of Elementary and Middle School
Teachers Developing Online Courses for a Virtual School,” Distance Education 31, no. 1 (2010): 55-75.
Kerry Rice, Lisa Dawley, Crystal Gasell, and Chris Florez, Going Virtual! Unique Needs and Challenges
of K-12 Online Teachers. Boise, ID: Boise State University, 2008.
Lesson 6: Online teachers need tailored training
Leanna M. Archambault and Kent J. Crippen, “K-12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online
Across the United States,” Journal of Research on Technology in Education 41, no. 4 (2009): 363-391.
Lily Ki Lo Compton, Niki Davis, and Julie Mackey, “Field Experience in Virtual Schools—To Be There
Virtually,” Journal of Technology and Teacher Education 17, no. 4 (2009): 459-477.
Meredith DiPietro, Richard Ferdig, Erik Black, and Megan Preston, “Best Practices in Teaching K-12
Online: Lessons Learned from Michigan Virtual School Teachers,” Journal of Interactive Online Learning
7, no. 1 (Spring 2008): 10-35.
Richard E. Ferdig, Continuous Quality Improvement Through Professional Development for Online K-12
Instructors. Lansing, MI: Michigan Virtual University, 2010.
Thomas R. Guskey and Kwang Suk Yoon, "What Works in Professional Development?” Phi Delta Kappan,
90, no. 7 (March 2009): 495-500.
Kathryn Kennedy and Cathy Cavanaugh, “Modeling Gone Virtual: What Teachers See Is What Students
Get.” In I. Gibson et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education
International Conference. Chesapeake, VA: AACE, 2009 .
Kathryn Kennedy and Cathy Cavanaugh, “Development and Support of Online Teachers: The Roles of
Mentors in Virtual Schools,” Journal of Technology in the Classroom 3, no. 2 (2010).
Susan Lowes, “Trends in Professional Development for K-12 Virtual Schools.” In Cathy Cavanaugh and
Robert Blomeyer, eds., What Works in K-12 Online Learning? Washington, DC: The International Society
for Technology in Education (ISTE), 2007.
Kevin Oliver, Shaun Kellogg, Tricia Townsend, and Kevin Brady, “Needs of Elementary and Middle School
Teachers Developing Online Courses for a Virtual School,” Distance Education 31, no. 1 (2010): 55-75.
Kevin Oliver, Shaun Kellogg, and Ruchi Patel, “An Investigation into Reported Differences Between
Online Math Instruction and Other Subject Areas in a Virtual School,” Journal of Computers in
Mathematics and Science Teaching 29, no. 4 (2010): 417-453.
Kevin Oliver, Shaun Kellogg, and Ruchi Patel, “An Investigation into Reported Differences Between
Online Foreign Language Instruction and Other Subject Areas in a Virtual School,” The Computer Assisted
Language Instruction Consortium (CALICO) Journal, in press.
Kerry Rice, Lisa Dawley, Crystal Gasell, and Chris Florez, Going Virtual! Unique Needs and Challenges
of K-12 Online Teachers. Boise, ID: Boise State University, 2008.
Kerry Rice and Lisa Dawley. 2009. “The Status of Professional Development for K-12 Online Teachers:
Insights and Implications.” Journal of Technology and Teacher Education 17, no. 4: 523-546.
Rockman et al, ED PACE Final Report (Evaluation of the West Virginia Dept. of Education Virtual School
Spanish Program). San Francisco, CA: Rockman et al, 2007.
Lesson 7: Successful online students have these personal characteristics… and certain background
characteristics
I.E. Allen and J. Seaman, Online Nation: Five Years of Growth in Online Learning. Needham, MA: Sloan-C
Consortium, 2007.
Leanna Archambault, Daryl Diamond et al., An Exploration of At-Risk Learners and Online Education.
Vienna, VA: iNACOL Research Brief, 2010.
Michael K. Barbour, “Secondary Students Perceptions of Web-Based Learning,” Quarterly Review of
Distance Education 4, no. 9 (2008): 357-372.
Richard E. Ferdig, Meredith DiPietro, and Elena Papanastasiou, Teaching and Learning in Collaborative
Virtual High Schools. Napierville, IL: Learning Point Associates, 2005.
Richard E. Ferdig, Understanding the Role and Applicability of K-12 Online Learning to Support Student
Dropout Recovery Efforts. Lansing, MI: Michigan Virtual University, 2010.
Susan Lowes, Evaluations on the International Baccalaureate Online Learning Programs, 2005-2011,
unpub. mss.
M.D. Roblyer and Marclyn Porter, “Voices of Virtual Teachers: A Qualitative Study of Why Students
Succeed in Online Courses.” Paper presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Educational
Research Association.
M.D. Robyler, Lloyd Davis, Steven Mills, Jon Marshall, and Liz Pape. “Toward Practical Procedures for
Predicting and Promoting Success in Virtual School Students,” The American Journal of Distance
Education (2008), 22.
Cornelia Weiner, “Key Ingredients to Online Learning: Adolescent Students Study in Cyberspace—The
Nature of the Study,” International Journal on E-Learning (July-September 2003).
Meryem Yilmaz-Soylu and Bukey Akkoyunlu, "The Effect of Learning Styles on Achievement in Different
Learning Environments," The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology (2002): 43-50.
Lesson 8: Successful online students are in environments conducive to learning
Leanna Archambault, Daryl Diamond et al., An Exploration of At-Risk Learners and Online Education.
Vienna, VA: iNACOL Research Brief, 2010.
Michael Barbour, “What are they doing and how are they doing it? Rural student experiences in virtual
schooling. In C. Bonk et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate,
Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2008 (pp. 2496-2503). Chesapeake, VA: Association for
the Advancement of Computing in Education, 2008.
Thomas R. Guskey and Kwang Suk Yoon, "What Works in Professional Development?” Phi Delta Kappan,
90, no. 7 (March 2009): 495-500.
Susan Lowes, Evaluations on the International Baccalaureate Online Learning Programs, 2005-2011,
unpub. mss.
Jeanne Repetto, Cathy Cavanaugh, Nicola Wayer, and Feng Liu, “Virtual High Schools: Improving
Outcomes for Students with Disabilities,” Quarterly Review of Distance Education 11, no. 2 (2010): 91-
104.
M.D. Roblyer and Marclyn Porter, “Voices of Virtual Teachers: A Qualitative Study of Why Students
Succeed in Online Courses.” Paper presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Educational
Research Association.
William Thomas, Do Online Courses Work for Middle Grades and High School Students? Online Students
Have Their Say. Atlanta, GA: SREB, 2008.
Cornelia Weiner, “Key Ingredients to Online Learning: Adolescent Students Study in Cyberspace—The
Nature of the Study,” International Journal on E-Learning (July-September 2003).
Andrew Zucker, “A Study of Student Interaction and Collaboration in the Virtual High School.”
Napierville, IL: Learning Point Associates, 2005.
Lesson 9: Successful online students are also…
Leanna Archambault, Daryl Diamond et al., An Exploration of At-Risk Learners and Online Education.
Vienna, VA: iNACOL Research Brief, 2010.
Cathy Cavanaugh, Kathy Jo Gillan et al., “Effectiveness of Interactive Online Algebra Learning Tools,”
Journal of Educational Computing Research 38, no. 1 (2008): 67-95.
Patrick Dickson, Toward a Deeper Understanding of Student Performance in Virtual High School Courses:
Using Quantitative Analysis and Data Visualization to Inform Decision Making. Napierville, IL: Learning
Point Associates, 2005.
Susan Lowes, Evaluations on the International Baccalaureate Online Learning Programs, 2005-2011,
unpub. mss.
Kevin Oliver, Jason Osborne, and Kevin Brady, “What Are Secondary Students' Expectations for Teachers
in Virtual School Environments?” Distance Education 30, no. 1 (2009): 23-45.
M.D. Robyler, Lloyd Davis, Steven Mills, Jon Marshall, and Liz Pape. “Toward Practical Procedures for
Predicting and Promoting Success in Virtual School Students,” The American Journal of Distance
Education (2008), 22.