Description

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Online learning should—and must—be part of the educational portfolio.

Online instruction has become an easy target to blame for learning loss during the pandemic. But in fact, it is a rich resource that can strengthen current classroom teaching, and also prepare schools to weather future school closings. In Online By Choice, Stephanie Moore and Michael Barbour argue persuasively that online learning is a precious source of resilience and flexibility for schools now and going forward—an important feature of a robust ecosystem along with face-to-face and blended instruction—and that failing to incorporate online is strategically impoverished.

Choosing online instruction is very different from rushing to remote learning in an emergency manner, however, and doing it well involves a myriad of decisions. These authors provide essential guidance and tools for teachers and school leaders as they select, design, and implement online education solutions, including the “handshakes” needed to align instructional needs with school or district-level infrastructure and supports.

About the Author

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Stephanie L. Moore is an assistant professor in organization, information, and learning sciences at the University of New Mexico.

Michael K. Barbour is a professor of instructional design at Touro University.

Praise For…

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The book we need in education right now! Online By Choice is a roadmap for incorporating online learning into an engaging, consistent, and flexible educational system for all learners.

— Colleen K. O'Neil, EdD, P–12 education leader and teacher

Moore and Barbour have expertly constructed a how-to (and why-to) book that is packed with practical, research-based guidance for designing flexible online learning solutions. Both newbies and seasoned pros will find tangible ideas and resources to help them understand community needs, design with intentionality, and support student success.
— Joseph R. Freidhoff, PhD, vice president, Michigan Virtual

Online By Choice gives educators on the frontlines and at the policy table all the tools they need to transcend fruitless fretting over emergency remote instruction and create the resilient, responsive learning ecosystems their students and communities deserve.

— Mickey Revenaugh, education innovator and cofounder of Connections Academy

Online by Choice is a must-read from two well-known authors in the K–12 online education space. Prompted by the expanded use of online learning environments during the pandemic, Moore and Barbour describe how the ‘not so perfect’ experiences of untrained and unprepared teachers and students has led to further development of the online medium as part of a new and emergent educational ecosystem.

— Dr. Randy LaBonte, CEO, CANeLearn, researcher, Vancouver Island University

During COVID-19 lockdowns, most students, families, and teachers experienced some form of remote learning. Some found it not to their liking, but many discovered that they loved the flexibility of learning free of time and space constraints. Post-pandemic, many schools, districts, and national governments are creating online and hybrid schools for the first time. Online by Choice demonstrates the why, what, and how of online learning, whether you’re a parent, teacher, or school or national leader.

— John Watson, founder, Digital Learning Collaborative

Online by Choice is the go-to guide for educationalists looking to expand into online provision or rethink their current online offering. Underpinned throughout

by research and case studies, Moore and Barbour guide you through the process of determining what excellent online offerings entail in your context. They then outline the practical steps required for you to convert your online design into an online educational ecosystem. A compulsory read for all involved in online schooling.

— Heather Rhodes, principal, Harrow School Online, trustee, Svitlo School