Online learning has become a prominent and inseparable component of higher education in recent years. Questions related to course structure, levels of interaction, presence, and participation within online courses persist and invite further inquiry for determining factors that encourage effective teaching and learning in online environments. The Handbook of Research on Strategic Management of Interaction, Presence, and Participation in Online Courses explores models of course development and delivery techniques to improve instruction, learning, and student satisfaction in online courses. Covering topics such as rates of participation, student engagement and retention, and social development, this handbook serves as a resource for educators in online learning environments, as well as for course designers and developers of online courses and researchers whose agenda includes examining interaction, presence, and participation in online courses.

The role of technology in the learning process can offer significant contributions to help meet the increasing needs of students. In the field of language acquisition, new possibilities for instructional methods have emerged from the integration of such innovations. The Handbook of Research on Foreign Language Education in the Digital Age presents a comprehensive examination of emerging technological tools being utilized within second language learning environments. Highlighting theoretical frameworks, multidisciplinary perspectives, and technical trends, this book is a crucial reference source for professionals, curriculum designers, researchers, and upper-level students interested in the benefits of technology-assisted language acquisition.

The world of middle level education is rapidly evolving. Increasingly, online learning platforms are complementing or replacing traditional classroom settings. As students exchange classroom interaction for online collaboration, pencils for keyboards, face-to-face conversations for chat room texts, and traditional lessons for digital modules, it becomes apparent that teachers, schools, and administrators must identify ways to keep pace. We must identify ways to meet the needs of middle level learners within this digital context. In this volume, researchers and teachers share a variety of resources centered on the growing world of virtual education and its implications for the middle level learner, educator, and classroom.

From the family that brought you the Lena in the Spotlight series and the popular For Girls Like You magazine comes Amber's Song, book three in the Daniels Sisters series. This realistic fiction story of family, friendship, and the challenges that so many young girls face each day growing up will appeal to girls 8-12 looking to express their talents and individuality alongside their faith. In this fun, relatable, and inspiring story, Amber and her sisters Ashton and Ansley head to Christian summer camp at Camp Caracara. With high hopes, the twins meet their cabinmates Gio-an old friend from back home in Texas-and Maxine, a new friend with some challenges to overcome. Amber will have to work hard to practice kindness and patience as she handles teasing from her own sisters and her old and new friends while navigating camp. Amber's Song: Features diverse characters Is an engaging read for girls ages 8-12 Is an addition to the Faithgirlz brand Is a perfect birthday gift from parents and grandparents to tween girls, and is great for Spring Break and summer vacation reading Is written by girls for girls If you enjoy?Amber's Song,?check out books one and two in the Daniels Sisters series of middle grade fiction: Ansley's Big Bake Off Ashton's Dancing Dreams

The integration of technology in classrooms is rapidly emerging as a way to provide more educational opportunities for students. As virtual learning environments become more popular, evaluating the impact of this technology on student success is vital. Exploring the Effectiveness of Online Education in K-12 Environments combines empirical evidence and best practices in current K-12 distance learning and virtual schools. Emphasizing current research and opportunities, this book is an all-inclusive reference source for administrators, teachers, researchers, teacher educators, and policymakers interested in the development and implementation of blended and electronic learning in primary and secondary education.

Currently, society is becoming increasingly involved in self-directed learning for both intellectual and professional development. As such, it is imperative that both researchers and educational professionals update themselves on the current research on self-directed learning and how it has created a new culture of independence. Emerging Self-Directed Learning Strategies in the Digital Age is a key resource for the latest research on the role of self-directed learning and how it is impacting society, educational professionals, and researchers in their day-to-day work. Featuring broad coverage among a variety of relevant views and themes, such as project based learning (PBL), student goal setting, and self-efficacy theory, this book is ideally designed for educational professionals working in the fields of teacher pedagogy, theory, instructional technology, and adult education, as well as academics and upper-level students looking for innovative research on one-to-one programs and learning analytics.

Rapid advancements in technology are creating new opportunities for educators to enhance their classroom techniques with digital learning resources. Once used solely outside of the classroom, smartphones, tablets, and e-readers are becoming common in many school settings. Advancing Higher Education with Mobile Learning Technologies: Cases, Trends, and Inquiry-Based Methods examines the implementation and success of mobile digital learning tools. With the inclusion of data on specific learning environments enhanced by ubiquitous educational technologies, this publication emphasises the benefits of exploration and discovery in and out of the classroom. This book is an essential reference source for academicians, professionals, education researchers, school administrators, faculty, technology staff, and upper-level students interested in understanding the future of higher education.

This book chronicles a 10-year introduction of blended learning into the delivery at a leading technological university, with a longstanding tradition of technology-enabled teaching and learning, and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Hence, both teachers and students were familiar with the idea of online courses. Despite this, the longitudinal experiment did not proceed as expected. Though few technical problems, it required behavioural changes from teachers and learners, thus unearthing a host of socio-technical issues, challenges, and conundrums. With the undercurrent of design ideals such as "tech for good", any industrial sector must examine whether digital platforms are credible substitutes or at best complementary. In this era of Industry 4.0, higher education, like any other industry, should not be about the creative destruction of what we value in universities, but their digital transformation. The book concludes with an agenda for large, repeatable Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) to validate digital platforms that could fulfil the aspirations of the key stakeholder groups - students, faculty, and regulators as well as delving into the role of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as surrogates for "fees-free" higher education and whether the design of such a HiEd 4.0 platform is even a credible proposition. Specifically, the book examines the data-driven evidence within a design-based research methodology to present outcomes of two alternative instructional designs evaluated - traditional lecturing and blended learning. Based on the research findings and statistical analysis, it concludes that the inexorable shift to online delivery of education must be guided by informed educational management and innovation.

This book spells out a home school teacher's writing plan from Grades 3 through 12. It includes fifteen steps to produce outstanding writers. The pacing guide allows teachers to begin at any grade and complete the process by the time their students take the college writing exams in high school. Some lesson plans are included and others are recommended. If this book is used with the CreateBetterWriters.com curriculum, the teacher will have a powerful, step-by-step program for writing instruction that can be used for all students simultaneously. Ten years of powerful curriculum for all your students for about $100.

This book focuses on online pedagogy and the challenges and opportunities incumbent in the transformation of a face-to-face college course. It is intended as a resource and support for new online teachers - a source of ideas and strategies from a variety of disciplinary perspectives as well as pedagogical perspectives - and for those experienced in the online environment. The book meets the needs of faculty new to online teaching by providing them a wide variety of perspectives on the online transition - e.g. pedagogical, multidisciplinary, class size and level - by faculty with varying degrees of previous experience who have recently made the transition from face-to-face to online. Their advice and recollections offer a fresh, contemporary perspective on the subject. For administrators and faculty experienced with online instruction, the collection works as a resource for ideas intended to sustain the vibrancy and efficacy of the online environment. Taking Your Course Online includes the experiences of a cohort of faculty that responded to a University - wide call for faculty interested in developing online courses for summer session. This group participated in a series of workshops that addressed various aspects of developing online courses and online pedagogy. All of the authors taught their new online course over a subsequent 10-week summer session, and many of them have done so subsequently as well. Their experiences have great currency in the ever-changing world of online teaching. Because the collection represents the work of teachers exposed to best practices and many discussions concerning rigor, assessment, and accountability, it provides support for the viability of online teaching/learning in an environment frequently plagued by doubts about its effectiveness. Practitioners using this book will learn how to turn their face-to-face course into an online course successfully, understand best practices for transitioning courses/online teaching, minimize errors and avoid pitfalls in the transition process, and maximize learning. Faculty development professionals can use this book as a resource to teach faculty from a wide range of disciplines how to transition from the actual to the virtual classroom. Administrators such as deans and program chairs will gain useful insights into ways to think about taking entire programs online, as well as how to guide faculty in their development of pedagogical skills pertinent to online learning.

As classrooms fill with a generation of learners seeking to interact with their course materials in an increasingly experiential way, the demand for instructional technology as a supplement to, or replacement for, traditional in-class instruction has soared. Models for Improving and Optimizing Online and Blended Learning in Higher Education examines the benefits and costs associated with the utilization of technology-mediated instructional environments. Recognizing that instructional technology could offer alternative means of communication for understanding, this collection of scholarly chapters seeks to forward the discussion on technology tool optimization for academicians, researchers, librarians, students, practitioners, professionals, engineers, and managers.

Do you want to transform your relationship with your child, engage their curiosity, and make your home the best place for them to learn? In this warm, accessible book, experienced parenting coach Eloise Rickman tells you everything you really need to know about parenting and educating your child at home. Whether you're planning to make a permanent move to homeschooling or you're temporarily balancing it alongside paid work, Extraordinary Parenting shows that you don't need a huge house, endless free time, or a host of expensive resources to unlock your child's potential. Instead, it will teach you to: Deepen your connection with your child to create an attachment that promotes learning. Build strong, adaptable family rhythms to provide your child with security and stimulation every day. Create a calm, simplified home environment that will encourage deep play and independence. Discover enjoyable ways of learning together and using traditional teaching materials in a creative way. Take care of your own needs as a parent, in order to become the parent your child needs. Based on years of hands-on work with parents, this book will reassure you that, whilst extraordinary times call for extraordinary parenting, you can be sure that you are up to the challenge.

Techniques for Fostering Collaboration in Online Learning Communities: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives provides a focused assessment of the peculiarities of online collaborative learning processes by looking at the strategies, methods, and techniques used to support and enhance debate and exchange among peers. Offering an extensive discussion of the design, management, monitoring, and evaluation of learning processes, this work reviews issues from both a theoretical and practical viewpoint and includes methodological contributions as well as perspectives on real experiences.

Distance learning is becoming increasingly prevalent in educational settings around the world as it provides more flexibility and access to classes for students and educators alike. While online classrooms are proving to be popular, there is a significant gap in the personalization and humanization of these courses. The Handbook of Research on Humanizing the Distance Learning Experience features empirical research on promoting the personalization of online learning courses through presence, emotionality, and interactivity within digital classrooms. Highlighting best practices and evaluating student perceptions on distance learning, this handbook will appeal to researchers, educators, course designers, professionals, and administrators.