Freely Educate

Sponsor: On Demand Learning for Today's iGeneration

Today's students, known as the "iGeneration", are the first to crave and benefit from education "on demand" - or the option to choose where, when and how they want to learn.

To put it in context, the "iGeneration" has never known life without the Internet, being mobile, using avatars, IMing or choosing and watching content whether they are at home, in the car, at a football game or shopping at the mall. To reach them in their high-tech, high-touch world, many parents and educators are looking at how to rewire schools to match how the iGeneration learns.

Taking classes online is one way to give middle and high school students (and their school districts) new options to learn using preferred tools in a familiar environment, and even experience enhanced, one-on-one relationships with educators.  Whether they're in need of more assistance, looking for wider range of classes or simply prefer to learn in a medium that they have grown up with, online learning can be a great way to fit your child's needs. 

Students are increasingly able to take online classes in partnership with their local school districts.  Schools facing budget cuts and a reduction in teachers are turning to online classes to supplement their curriculum, from offering classes for which they have no teachers, Advanced Placement® classes for students who excel, and credit recovery options for students who struggle.  In fact, today there are 1 million children learning online, either part time, full time or between school terms. Additionally, more than 20 percent of schools and educational institutions around the country offer online classes today, and that number should grow by another 30 percent within a couple of years, according to industry research. (Simba Information).

Online Learning Student Survey

A recent survey found that compared to traditional learning environments, online learning is proving to be an effective way in teaching today's "iGeneration" who live in a world of customized and instant feedback.  Here are highlights from the survey:

• 72% of online students spend three or more hours on homework per week vs. 56% of students in traditional schooling.

• 54% of online students get more challenges when they are doing well in school vs. 49% of students in traditional schooling.

• 58% of online students get more help when they fall behind vs. 40% of students in traditional schooling.

• Online students have more interest in attending a four year college after graduation than students in traditional schooling. 78% vs. 67%

View a Demonstration Video

We have provided a demonstration where you can view the tools and technologies online students use to engage with their teachers and classmates. Experience how students engage with their teachers and classmates online, in a recorded session where students from around the country come together outside of class to discuss the results of the "iGeneration" survey with their teacher and hear their insights.  Also, to experience the robust curriculum offered by online learning, click here.  Once there, select the green button that says "view multi-media demo."  When the demo loads, select media-rich curriculum to experience how online learning is effectively teaching today's iGeneration.

Online Learning Successes

Chicago Public Schools Online learning is well suited for various learning styles and helps those who've fallen behind.  More than 1,000 Chicago Public School (CPS) students who were at risk of not graduating from high school have received their diplomas this month with the rest of the CPS Class of 2010 after earning the credits needed to graduate through an innovative virtual learning program at 75 schools across CPS. Military Family Karl, a child of a military family, moved numerous times throughout his high school years, but wanted a consistent education experience. With online learning, Karl had the chance to excel at his studies and even graduated early with a 4.0 grade average. Karl embraced the independence and self-mastery that online learning fostered.   The Star Athlete Isadora, a star tennis player, was struggling with the best way to juggle her demanding tournament schedule with a good education. Her parents enrolled her in online learning as a supplement to her local high school, so she was able to get in her two to three hours a day of tennis training - and stay ahead academically.

Check Out Onlineschoolsolutions.com

KC Distance Learning (KCDL) offers online learning options to fit all types of students and learning situations.

From the home-schooled family, the student brushing up on skills to compete at the next level or the child facing challenges in traditional schools such as bullying, KCDL provides academic solutions to fit your child's needs.  We welcome you to look through the website at KCDL, and then click on your state to find the online school serving your area.

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All posts on FreelyEducate.com contain free educational finds unless clearly marked with "sponsor" in the title. Sponsored posts are screened for their quality and value before being presented to FreelyEducate.com readers.    Thanks for supporting the site by visiting our sponsor! ~ Lori Seaborg, freelyeducate@gmail.com

Free 6' U.S. Presidential Timeline Poster (in the mail) & a Lot More @ C-SPAN Classroom

( This one is a good one!)

Here is what the site creators say about C-SPAN Classroom:

C-SPAN Classroom is a free membership service for social studies teachers. Our mission is to enhance the teaching of social studies through C-SPAN’s primary source programming and websites.

Membership [free, homeschoolers welcome] gives educators access to their own library to store C-SPAN Classroom videos and video clips, supplementary materials such as lesson plans and handouts, and special offers like our American Presidents Timeline poster.

How to Access C-SPAN Classroom:  Go to C-SPAN Classroom to browse and complete a free membership form. 

About that free American Presidents Timeline poster:   "The 6ft long poster details the lives and public service careers of every president, plus key historical events, Supreme Court cases, and technology milestones throughout 280 years of Presidential history." 

How to Get the Free Poster:  Go to the Special Offers page to order the poster, but you'll have to register with the C-SPAN Classroom site to receive it (free, no catches). The poster will be delivered to your mailing address for free.

p.s. I'm not sure of their quantity in stock, but imagine that this may be a Limited Time Offer.

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Sponsor Offer: In Home Private Tutoring

Offer: Free Information About Online College Degrees

There is a new movement in upper education...it's the move from brick-and-mortar colleges and universities to online degree programs.  The quality is high, the classes are convenient, and you can earn your degree while earning a buck at your job.  Nice!

Are you interested in learning more? ITT Technical Institute offers degrees both online and at over 100 locations.  They have free information for you to request!

ITT Technical Institute writes: 

Our curriculum offerings, leading primarily to associate's and bachelor's degrees, are designed to help students begin to prepare for career opportunities in various fields, including:

• Computer and Electronics Engineering Technology
• Criminal Justice
• Business Administration
• Computer Drafting and Design
• Computer Network Systems
• Web Development
• Multimedia
• Software Applications and Programming
• Technical Project Management
• Information Systems Security

(note: when we post these "offer" posts,  you're helping FreelyEducate.com out if you accept them - It's kind of like leaving a tip for us - so if you do this one-- thanks a bunch! )

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Free DVDs (in your mail!) from John Stossel of ABC News

You recognize this face, right?

He says, "Give me a break!" quite a lot and works with ABC News.

Give up?  His name is John Stossel.  He has created several DVDs on educational topics (voting, Katrina, farm subsidies, and private roads are just a few of the subjects on the 2010 DVD). The DVDs are called Stossel in the Classroom and you can get them for .... FREE! ... by filling out a form at the Stossel in the Classroom site (email, name, address, and school or homeschool information are required in the form).

The direct link to the DVDs to order is here.

And a direct link to the Teacher Guides is here.

An example of what will be on the DVDs is here, in a video on gas prices.

Oh, good news for homeschoolers!  When I asked if homeschoolers can order the free DVDs, too, Kathleen at Stossel in the Classroom said, "Yes, we have many homeschoolers on our list. Thanks for the plug,  Kathleen."  

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PSPrint's Educational Partnership Program & Free Sample Kit

Educators like us can spend a lot on printing costs.  Knowing how much I spend in my tiny (home) school, and guessing how much you might spend in your bigger (public? private? home?) school, I thought you’d like to know an online printing service that is offering a discount to educators. 

 PSPrint is a leading online printing company that can handle any printing job such as business cards, custom stickers, custom postcards, custom greeting cards, posters, brochure printing and more.   PsPrint will deliver the premium-quality printing your school needs with lightning-fast turnaround and very competitive prices.

They created PSPrint Education, a program for us educators.   Through PSPrint’s Educational Partnership Program, you get to save 15% on everything your school prints.  Yes, this includes calendars customized with your school’s logo, event tickets, recruitment brochures, event flyers, posters, newsletters and more.  Can you think of more things you’d like printed?  I sure can!

I haven’t had the opportunity to use PSPrint’s  services yet, but wanted to tell you about their Educational Partnership Program in case you’d like to take advantage of the educator’s discount of 15% off all printing services. 

Also, since all of us who visit FreelyEducate.com love freebies, you’ll like knowing that you may receive a sample of PSPrint’s quality, for free.  Order PSPrint's free Sample Kit, which "contains a variety of printed samples, a paper sample guide, and other helpful information to get you started." 

Let me know what you think  if you take advantage of these offers!