Ed.—This guest post is the first in a series looking at back-to-school topics. For others in this series, follow the Back to School 2013 tag.
As the father of two boys and the spouse of a teacher, I always get a feeling of excitement and opportunity during the back-to-school season. It also brings nostalgia about my own school experience. It is something of a cliché, but it is often hard to resist comparing today’s educational opportunities to what it was like “when I was in school.”
Clichéd or not, education is obviously changing, and students today experience a very different environment inside and outside the classroom. Technology plays a big role in these changes, whether you’re talking about video and digital content that can be delivered across multiple platforms and devices; interactive and intelligent tutoring and testing; or the online simulation and gaming that are available to today’s students.
Understanding this reality, the State of Ohio is committed to leveraging technology to improve the educational outcomes of students, and to equipping teachers and schools with the tools they need to meet classroom needs.
ilearnOhio is a great example. A comprehensive e-learning platform, ilearn is designed to provide teachers, students, and parents with access to high-quality, standard aligned educational content, training and professional development. ilearnOhio is designed
to break down barriers to learning by using the power of technology.
The platform was developed in response to legislation calling for the establishment of a distance learning clearinghouse; it is administered by the Ohio Resource Center in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University, under the direction of the Ohio Board of Regents.
IlearnOhio includes a searchable repository of standards-aligned educational content, a digital content marketplace, and a learning management system that is available at no cost to Ohio school districts.
Using ilearnOhio, students can search for online courses, apply for a digital AP tuition waiver or register for an Advanced Placement course. Teachers can create and customize instructional units, online courses and curricular supplements; and build and deliver class-based assessments. Teachers can also gain access to a variety of professional development resources as well as web-based training, support and consulting services.
School and district administrators can manage access to the platform, purchase content, develop and deliver courses at the local level, and track system-wide usage. The e-commerce marketplace makes quality digital coursework and educational materials available to the homeschool population and other parents seeking high-quality, standard aligned content.
I truly believe this innovative platform has the power to transform education in Ohio by increasing access to high-quality content, giving teachers and districts the tools they need to manage their classrooms and improve their careers, and bringing flexibility and innovation to the delivery of educational content, training and testing.
I am excited to be able to play a role in the development and growth of such a powerful tool for Ohio education.
