1. CMS: Online Learning in K-12 Schools Melissa Dutterer Secondary Mathematics

2. 2 What is a CMS (Course Management System)? “Internet-based software that manages student enrollment, tracks student performance, and creates and distributes course content” (Rabinowitz & Ullman, 2004, p.1). Extension of classroom Widely adopted by colleges and universities but becoming increasingly popular in K-12 classrooms.

3. Common CMS Systems Rcampus (www.rcampus.com)www.rcampus.com Moodle (www.moodle.com)www.moodle.com eCollege (www.ecollege.com)www.ecollege.com WebCT (www.webct.com)www.webct.com Blackboard (www.blackboard.com)www.blackboard.com 3

4. Example: Rcampus FREE access to course management, e- portfolios, rubrics, and tutors Set up student teams for collaborative assignments or study groups Upload documents, assignments, activities, hyperlinks, assessments, and other supplemental resources for students Develop and build electronic portfolios to demonstrate student growth and learning 4

5. Advantages of a CMS Student centered learning environment that motivates students to participate Supports meaningful and authentic student learning Extends classroom to fill instructional and learning gaps Actively engages students outside of the classroom in both individual and collaborative activities/assignments Accommodates all learners and diversifies instruction 5

6. More Advantages of a CMS Many CMS systems allow teachers to set up FREE accounts Allows teacher to disseminate valuable supplemental information Provides classroom messaging options Ability for teachers to create online assessments in a variety of question formats Students can access previous coursework, assessments, notes saved, etc. online 6

7. Closing Instructional Gaps Personalizes and individualizes instruction to accommodate the needs, interests, and learning styles of all learners Provides enrichment and/or remediation opportunities for students Makes abstract concepts more concrete through the use of virtual manipulatives, online calculators and graphing tools, etc. (Cavanaugh & Clark, 2007). 7

8. Let’s address some concerns CMS is a supplemental tool, not a replacement for traditional classrooms Extensive initial time investment however once general framework has been set the updating of materials and maintenance of the CMS requires little time Privacy/Security: –Password Protected –Access granted only to students in the class 8

9. References 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. Rabinowitz, M., & Ullman, C. (2001, October 4). Course Management Systems and the Reinvention of Instruction -- THE Journal. THE Journal: Technological Horizons in Education -- THE Journal. Retrieved May 30, 2010, from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2004/10/01/Course-Management- Systems-and-the-Reinvention-of-Instruction.aspx?p=1 9