Promotion of online education in young learners FUTURE VISION OF EDUCATION 2017

The NEA (National Education Association) is an educational organization that provides support to over 2,000,000 members today ( Halcomb, 2013, retrieved from  The National Education Association is an educational organization that has contributed greatly to the equality of the American public education system, creation of the Department of Education, and higher professional standards for educators.  In 1857, it was created under the name of the National Teachers Association. The National Teachers Association was the first federal education organization (Halcomb, 2006, p. 8). VOICE OF THE NEA: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME Miss Blanche Lamont and Montana Log School The young women who staffed the new schools often had to choose between marriage and teaching, since many states had laws barring married teachers. Eventually marriage became acceptable; but pregnancy was not. A teacher had to leave her job as soon as her condition showed --a practice that continued until the 1970s, when NEA won the fight to overrule mandatory leave for expectant teachers (Halcomb, 2013, retrieved from

 In 2000, the members of the NEA decided to spotlight three important areas in education; student achievement, teacher quality, and school system capacity to support student success (Cardinal D, 2002, p. 40).  NEA is America’s oldest and largest professional employee organization committed to the cause of public education (Cardinal, 2002, retreived from  Affiliates in every state  Membership is available to anyone who works for a publick school district, a college, or university, or any other institution devoted to education (Cardinal, 2002, retrieved from The NEA Today

 Educational Technology Trends  Online learning is projected to increase for elementary students  State-led supplemental programs are now addressing grades k-5 (Watson, 2008, p. 40).  88% of all states are now including more opportunities for grades K-8 to register for online educational courses (Watson, 2008, p. 40).  Educational Policy Trends  Educational Policy will need to include separate policies for online education as it is growing and including new avenues of learners.  The United States Department of Education makes several points in regards to managing and regulating distance education.  Need to develop requirements specific to distance education and increase the oversight of schools (Tighe, 2013, p. 36).  The growth of distance education has created the need for judicial change in order to adhere to already placed regulations (Tighe, 2013, p. 37) ENCOURAGING ONLINE EDUCATION FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

 Educational economic trends suggest that more states will wane the funding and investments for elementary and secondary schools.  The NAEYC reports that the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities admits to “37 states will reduce their investments in elementary and secondary schools” (NAEYC, 2012, p. 1)  Two trend analysts and writers, Phil Oliff and Nicholas Johnson, for the Center for Budget and Policy Department reports that “education cuts are costing jobs (primarily in education) … $180b in 2011 and $120b in 2012” (Oliff and Johnson, 2010, p.1). ENCOURAGING ONLINE EDUCATION FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

 Who knows the future?  Futuring is a prediction of what the future will be like using different systematic techniques or methods.  The field of Education benefits from futuring exercises in three ways: 1.Sustain a relevant educational system that prepares students for the 21 st Century. 2.Provide a creative and unique curriculum to education that utilizes technology that will be available in practice to real-world situations. 3.High student achievement and success  Researchers use methods that help predict future scenarios and trends in education. 1.Scanning: websites, magazines, newspapers (“Methods” n.d.) 2.Trend Analysis: “The examination of a trend to identify its nature, causes, speed of development, and potential impacts” (“Methods” n.d.). 3.Polling: a collection of data collected from people (“Methods” n.d.). FUTURING AND EDUCATION

FUTURING RESEARCH METHODS Futuring Methods These three methods of futuring are used in order to create scenarios used in order to predict trends in the education. Polling Trend Analysis Scanning

The NEA needs to successfully continue to drive our educational system in order to keep preparing our educators, schools, and students for their future in education. Five ways that the NEA will prepare for these are as follows: 1.Begin collaborating with different educational organizations that promote and already use virtual schooling. 2.Promote professional development for families in communities (low- income) that help give knowledge and hands-on experience. 3.Lobby for educational policy reformation to make available the use of internet-devices to all families. 4.Continue to explore and examine future challenges that effect successful growth in online education for young learners. 5.Acquire feedback from parents, schools, students, and educators. PREPARING FOR CHANGE

These are important beginning steps that promote a positive, interactive relationship with the stakeholders involved, as well as supporting the future of online education for young learners. 1.NEA needs to first address the local and federal government to incorporate a fixed budget that will allow all families access to internet and internet devices. 2.NEA has a responsibility to continue to promote training that teaches students, parents, and educators how to use technology devices that support online education STEPS TO ENSURE CHANGE: A CALL TO ACTION

Becta. (2008). Analysis of emerging trends affectingthe use of technology in education. Retrieved from _1/courses/EDU /Documents/Analysis%20of%20Emerging%20Trends% 20Research%20Report.pdf _1/courses/EDU /Documents/Analysis%20of%20Emerging%20Trends% 20Research%20Report.pdf Cardinal, Denise “National Education Association.” Encyclopedia of Education Retrieved Oct. 29, 2013 from Encyclopedia.com Halcomb, S. (Jan). History of the NEA. Retrieved from Moorcraft, R. (2007, April/May). The art of the clairvoyant. Retrieved from _1/courses/EDU /Documents/The%20art%20of%20the%20clairvoyant. pdf Suppes, P. (1968). Computer Technology and the Future of Education. Phi Delta Kappan. Retrieved from Stalling, D. (2002). A brief history of the United States department of education: Informally published manuscript, Center for Child and Family policy Duke University, Duke University, Durham, NC, Retrieved from Tighe, K. (2013). FY 2014 Management Challenges. Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education website: Watson,J. Germin, B., Ryan,J. & Evergreen Education, G. (2008). Keeping pace with K-12 Online Learning: A review of state-level policy and practice, Evergreen Education Group. World Future Society. (n.d.). Methods. Futuring. Retrieved from REFERENCES