K12 Online and Blended Learning: Current Research and Challenges into Implementation and Teacher Education.
Abstract: Blended learning is a growing trend in K12 education (Gemin, Pape, Shaw & Watson, 2015; Watson, Murin, Vashaw, Gemin, & Rapp, 2012), however, research into online, and in particular, blended learning at the P12 level is emerging (Morgan, 2015; Swan, Coulombe-Quach, Huang, Godek, Becker & Zhou, 2015). In particular, little research explores the challenges to creating a blended learning situation in the middle school environment (Swan, Coulombe-Quach, Huang, Godek, Becker & Zhou, 2015). As such, virtual educators must work together to enhance the current body of research in this emerging field. This panel aims to discuss the current research in the area of both high school and middle school level online and blended learning, as well as recommendations for future research in the field. Additionally, this panel will address the challenges, unique to P12 virtual learning, in regards to the implementation of both online and blended designs.
Presider: Pankaj Khazanchi, Liberty University/Cobb County School District