Candidates for 2010 iNACOL Board of Directors
Michael K. Barbour
Assistant Professor, Instructional Technology
Wayne State University
Candidate's Statement and Summary of Qualifications
I first became involved with K-12 online learning as a teacher in a small rural school in Bonavista, Newfoundland, Canada. Since 1999, I have been a teacher, course developer, administrator, evaluator and researcher with district-based, state-wide/province-wide, private, and charter K-12 online learning programs in Canada and the United States.
I joined iNACOL in 2007, and I have been an active member of the research committee ever since. Over the last two and a half years, I participated in several of the issue briefs the committee has published, and for the last year I served as the research committee’s co-chair. In 2008, I co-authored iNACOL’s first State of the Nation: K-12 Online Learning in Canada report, and this year I authored a follow-up study that was funded by Connections Academy. My involvement in organizations focus on K-12 online learning extends beyond iNACOL. In the past eight months I was responsible for the creation of a Virtual Schooling special interest group in the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE), and am currently serving as the SIG’s chair. Finally, I have maintained the blog Virtual High School Meandering for the past four and a half years.
As an Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology at Wayne State University, my time is primarily divided between research and teaching. For the past decade, my research interests have focused on improving the design and delivery of online learning opportunities to ensure they are accessible to a full range of students. Within this broad framework I have explored a variety of topics, including the differences in retention and student achievement based upon delivery model and urban-rural distinctions, and the factors accounting for these differences; components of online learning that K-12 students find helpful and challenging; characteristics of effectively designed and delivered K-12 online courses; whether new technologies, particularly those that allow for interaction, in K-12 online learning affect how students learn; and what students do in their schools when scheduled for online learning environment and where they turn to when they need content-based assistance.
In terms of teaching, since joining the faculty at Wayne State I re-designed one of the courses to provide a focus on preparing in-service teachers to provide school-based teachers with an understanding of K-12 online learning and some of the tools necessary to support local students who are taking online courses at their schools. I also wrote and received approval for a university-wide Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching to provide educators with the skills necessary to design and teach online courses.
I mention these research and teaching items because I see many opportunities for iNACOL, as an organization, to play an even greater role in these areas. With the growth of K-12 online learning in general, and the requirement in some states that students need to have some form of online learning in order to graduate, places many demands on the K-12 system. Schools need teachers that are able to teach in an online environment. Schools also need teachers who can support students who are taking advantage of online learning opportunities. Universities need to adapt initial certification and in-service training programs so that teachers are equipped with these new skills. iNACOL has the opportunity to provide a vision for teacher education, as they struggle to adapt to these new demands. iNACOL also has a role to provide greater direction to the research community in the form of potential research agendas, to ensure that the practice of K-12 online learning is based upon reliable and valid data. I believe that my background, experiences, and position provide me with the skills necessary to contribute to iNACOL’s efforts in these, and other, areas – particularly with iNACOL’s recent international focus.
For more information, please visit my homepage at http://www.michaelbarbour.com
Biographic Summary
Michael Barbour is an Assistant Professor in Instructional Technology at Wayne State University. He has been involved with virtual schools in Canada and the United States for the past decade as a researcher, teacher, course designer and administrator. Michael's research focuses on rural K-12 students learning in online environments.
Kemi Jona
Associate Professor
Northwestern University
Candidate's Statement and Summary of Qualifications
My career focus over the last 20 years has been to promote transformative change in education through the principled development of new learning technologies. I believe that innovative online learning environments can improve the quality of education available to learners of all ages, whether in regular classrooms or virtual schools. We currently have a critical window of opportunity to create real change in learning and teaching and drive educational reform. iNACOL is well positioned to lead this effort through its broad membership and dedicated leadership.
I have been involved in online learning since 1989. My role has been in developing new and innovative learning technologies and high quality, cognitively-informed, online course designs and learning architectures. I have served in leadership or advisory capacities for corporate e-learning, K-12, and higher education online learning organizations. My research currently focuses on STEM education through the creation of cyberlearning tools including remote online lab technology.
My affiliation with iNACOL goes back several years. I chair iNACOL’s Online Science Committee and was co-author (with John Adsit) of the Goals, Guidelines, and Standards whitepaper. I have led an online science preconference at VSS for 3 years in a row. At VSS 2008, I was honored with iNACOL’s Innovator’s Award for these efforts.
If given the opportunity to serve on the Board, I hope to contribute to iNACOL’s leadership and outreach on policy and funding initiatives as well as continuing my advocacy on behalf of the online science community. I look forward to collaborating with other Board members and with Susan & Allison to continue to grow iNACOL’s leadership position in the community and to serve the needs of our membership.
Biographic Summary
Dr. Jona is Research Associate Professor of Learning Sciences and Computer Science at Northwestern University and directs the Office of STEM Education Partnerships. He is a widely recognized thought leader in cyberlearning research and development, learning technology, online science, and virtual labs. Jona is currently leading the development of The iLab Network, remote online labs for pre-college audiences. He holds a Computer Science Ph.D. from Northwestern and a BS with Honors in Computer Science and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Tom Vander Ark
CEO
City Prep Academies
Candidate's Statement and Summary of Qualifications
There are more than 500 million young people that lack access to quality secondary education. Expanded primary education is nearing the UNDP goal of 90%. An enterprising young adult with a computer and adequate preparation can earn a college degree from anywhere in the world. The pressing gap for emerging economies and urban America is secondary education that connects young people to college and careers.
Engaging personalized content and formats that blend online learning and onsite support have the opportunity to close this gap by delivering high quality low cost education and, for the first time, demonstrating significant learning, staffing and facilities productivity gains.
As the leading advocate for online learning, iNACOL has the opportunity to speed the adoption of next generation models by shaping the vision of the future of learning, promoting best practices, and pushing for updated policies.
As a school superintendent, my team created the first K-12 virtual school in 1995. Our secondary schools were among the first to adopt 1:1 computing. As Executive Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, I had the opportunity to wrestle with the limitations of current system at scale. As President of the X Prize Foundation, I had the opportunity to create incentives for entrepreneurs to create breakthroughs for public benefit. These experiences compelled me to focus on educational innovation as an investor, entrepreneur and advocate for online learning.
We won’t reform or spend our way to educational excellence and equity. Innovation will be key to achieving the goals we’ve set for ourselves in the US and to promoting prosperity worldwide. iNACOL has the opportunity to shape the new learning landscape and I’m proud to support that effort.
Biographic Summary
Tom Vander Ark is CEO of City Prep Academies, a network of charter schools that blend the best of online and onsite learning. He is a partner in Revolution Learning, an education venture fund, and a partner in Vander Ark/Ratcliff, an education public affairs firm.
Julie Young
President and Chief Executive Officer
Florida Virtual School
Candidate's Statement and Summary of Qualifications
As the Florida Virtual School President & Chief Executive Officer, I have a long lasting commitment to online learning and student success. In 1997, FLVS was launched with a mission that we continue to live by today, which exemplifies 21st century skills, innovative instructional practices, student engagement, flexibility and equity. With increasing enrollments, FLVS continues to grow and set high standards in online learning.
In addition to my commitment to FLVS, I believe it is important to partake in additional ambassadorship opportunities within the online learning arena. As a Board member of iNacol since 2003, I enjoy embracing and tackling distance learning successes and challenges with top leaders in distance education. Personally and professionally, I take great pride in my role and truly believe that distance learning wouldn’t excel without associations like iNACOL.
Having the opportunity to serve as a Board member for another term would be an honor. I appreciate every opportunity to be a successful advocate.
Biographic Summary
Ms. Young began her career as a classroom teacher, and has since served as an administrator and leading e-Learning expert and advocate. Today, as the president and chief executive officer of Florida Virtual School, she directs the work of more than 1000 faculty and administrators, courseware developers, web design specialists and technology support personnel. She is a frequent national conference speaker, and has played an important role in charting the course of virtual K-12 education.