Below is an email I intended to send to a colleague but ended up sending it to another. I have to start somewhere, somehow, so here.
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I am now reading a lot about K12 online schools abroad. Then also had a prior meeting with Sol and a person from QC OpenHS seeking assistance.
In my readings I have come across this study/document: http://www.inacol.org/
It includes data about the Phils (see p 55 and 56 of document)
The document also states this:
The report concludes with the country Profiles, which contain online and blended learning profiles
of all fifty countries in order alphabetically, by continent. It should be noted that the information
provided in each of the surveys is from one researcher’s point of view; some of the researchers
conducted interviews with both policymakers and practitioners, while others relied solely on the
published research about the field within their country.
In the country profiles, there is a summary which is accurate in some way but it doesn't capture DE existing practices at the Basic Ed level (perhaps bec online/blended versions started year 2011).
Obviously, I would like to do a paper which will do the following (and maybe reel in Sol and Angelyn=OHSP online version, if I can):
A) present the framework and overview of existing DepEd DE programs for secondary level students
B) provide an updated profile of DepEd programs in the Philippines for secondary level students
C) assess how these programs measure up to existing policies and practices abroad
D) recommend a reframing of existing programs
E) discuss current directions and future possibilities
F) identify action areas for future partnerships with UPOU
Basically, the paper seeks to answer:
What is the state of DepEd DE programs for secondary level students in the Philippines?
What areas of work can be addressed through future partnerships with UPOU?
My questions for you are:
1) What do you think of the above aims for this paper? Is Item C 'appropriate' and ethical? We have no local standards kase for DE in K12.
2) I want a mini study initially for the above. May I use (if permitted) the same questionnaire the original researchers used to gather data?
3) I am planning for a wider study, let's say I move on to do multiple case studies of selected OpenHS programs and homeschool programs using online learning
and get deeper into evaluation of program development plans, instructional content and delivery, student outcomes, partnerships etc for my future theses.
In your opinion, would this count as theses enough if I get into multiple case studies as a means to surface
challenges and issues in answer to questions such as these:
- To what extent have current DE programs achieved overall aims and goals?
- What are the current gaps in policies and practices?
- What are the challenges and issues which need to be addressed?
- What recommendations can be drawn from this study for future action/direction?
- What other models of K12 DE programs can be explored for local students?
In other words, for my theses, I'd like a kinda similar study done by this INACOL group--but with focus on the Philippines.
Once I get feedback from you, I shall bring this up with my theses adviser.
Thanks!
SOL's EMAIL RESPONSE over HERE:
ReplyDeleteHi Teach,
Thanks for including me in your circuit :-) Am happy to hear that you are taking this seriously as your Dissertation topic, I think you are in the best position to contribute to the development of an OHSS and online K to 12 since you already have (1) experience in teaching at the K to 12 level, (2) experience in running a K-6 school (albeit a small school), and (3) have been teaching online for the past five years. In other words, you are coming from a place of strength and you will be contributing a great deal to the needs of your school, K to 12, and of course the Faculty of Ed.
As you already know, I am better off as a thinker rather than a doer, so let me think about this. The data made available by the iNACOL research is invaluable in showing us the breadth of the international experiments on ODeL at the K to 12 level. Maybe there are a lot of good things in there for you to mine and analyse. However I feel that it shows only a small part of the ODeL equation, in the sense that it takes ODeL to be a machine for which you bring in a certain amount of inputs and process it through a certain amount of time and the come up with a certain amount of output. I am now looking for a more thoughtful means of apprehending education, in particular ODeL, as a combination of actors and conditions which, with the proper handling, would produce a synergy beneficial for the school system, the student, the community, the environment, and the rest of society.
On this note, I am thinking that the study may not have to be a comparison of our system to the rest of the world, but rather how our current educational system, through ODeL, may evolve into one which can provide for quality K to 12 education for all.
First up would be to formulate a framework for looking at education, in particular, ODeL at the K to 12 level. What is the usual framework for education? <> How does the use of ODeL modify this framework?
The DepEd is now working towards Education for All (as part of the Millenium Development Goals). You might find that most of our current policy stems from the need to answer to the EFA goals set by the UN/UNESCO. You may also find that many of the target students for OHSS come from the Drop-Out Reduction Program, of which it is a part, which is not particularly wise considering the requirements of online learning and the characteristics of drop outs (I have a paper of Dr Nava of CoE on factors for dropping out). There is also the pressure of decreasing student attendance in residential schools. How many students are we looking at and what is the best means of accommodating them?
At any rate, an exposition of where K to 12 is now and what we must do to get to EFA might be appropriate. However, as I am quite aware of your small-school/homeschool bent, this may not resonate with your personal goals. What may be a good intersection between your goals and the Philippine EFA goals is identifying readiness factors for ODeL in K to 12: students, parents, teachers, school system, and community. Given that the ODeL for OHSS is still in its infancy, this is a good time for you to do this research, taking into consideration the experiences of the schools who are already into ODeL.
In the larger scheme of things, a good question could be: What is the strategy and policy for attaining an environment that can promote sustainable learning through ODeL in a K to 12 setting?
So this is what I think about you paper. Let me know how it goes :-)
See ya,
Sol