Edgenuity Research Proposal
Edgenuity Research Proposal
Laura H. French
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
D. Definition of Terms 4
A. Theoretical framework 7
III. Procedures
A. Research design 14
B. Sample 15
C. Instrumentation 15
D. Data Analysis 17
References 18
Appendices 22
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 3
I. Introduction
A. Purpose
The purpose of the study is to determine best practices for the instructor in a blended
classroom, specifically the instructor in a traditional classroom in which students are working on
a full credit online and the local instructor serves more as a facilitator than a full instructor. In
this flex blended learning setting, the instructor does not deliver the content, but instead is meant
guide students as they work on an entirely online course. The purpose of the study is to discover
the most effective tools facilitators can use to support students to promote motivation and
progress toward course learning and completion. This study seeks to identify strategies that are
applicable to this setting, and to identify how often these strategies are employed, and how
B. Justification
working independently, yet most high school students still require some level of support in their
progress and learning. Many students earning online credit on campus are doing so because of
previous failures and are often behind in credits needed for graduation. Because many students
have previously struggled, they may lack the motivation and skills required to work effectively
without oversight. A supervising teacher needs tools at his or her disposal to promote motivation
and learning in this setting. There is a gap in the literature and in teacher training concerning
effective strategies in a flex model in which the on campus instructor is not expected to present
any instructional material, but rather to serve as a facilitator. This model of learning is relatively
new, so many administrators and teachers may not have had any training prior to
implementation, or time to do so on their own. A great deal of the literature on blended learning
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 4
focuses on models in which the on campus instructor provides the majority of the instruction and
instructional materials online, but the flex model of blended learning of the type employed by
1. What are the most effective qualities and practices of instructors of blended
defined as full completion of the course with a passing grade and passing score on
the End of Course test, in a blended classroom using the flex model in which
students are earning online Language Arts credit through the Edgenuity online
learning program?
1. Specific classroom practices and teacher qualities can promote student success in
2. Specific classroom practices and teacher qualities can promote student success in
D. Definition of terms
1. Blended learning--a formal education program which takes place at least in part through
online learning, with some element of student control. The course takes place at least in part in a
traditional school setting (“Blended Learning Definitions”, 2019). The “blend” in blended
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 5
learning is a combination of online learning and face-to-face instruction and interaction with a
2. Online modality--80% or more of instruction is provided through online delivery (Garner &
Oke)
3. Flex model of blended learning — a course or subject in which online learning is the
backbone of student learning, even if it directs students to offline activities at times. Students
move on an individually customized, fluid schedule among learning modalities. The teacher of
record is on-site, and students learn mostly on the brick-and-mortar campus, except for any
homework assignments. The teacher of record or other adults provide face-to-face support on a
flexible and adaptive as-needed basis through activities such as small-group instruction, group
projects, and individual tutoring. Some implementations have substantial face-to-face support,
4. Edgenuity-Arizona based company that provides a variety of online course and test
preparation material; the Georgia version is aligned to Georgia Standards of Excellence and
many school districts in the state of Georgia use this online platform for students to complete
5. End of Course test-assessment given by the state of Georgia at the completion of specific
required high school courses, in which they are tested on course standards as defined by the
Georgia Standards of Excellence; this assessment accounts for 20% of a student’s course grade.
completion of the course within the time allotted by the school, a passing grade of at least 70%,
and a passing grade of at least 70% on the End of Course test for that course.
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 6
environment. I will compile a list of the most frequently recommended blended learning
methods, which will be incorporated into a survey for high school teachers and facilitators of
Edgenuity programs in the state of Georgia. Then, I will use data provided by the Georgia
Department of Education to discover which high schools in Georgia have the highest End of
Course test scores in 9th grade Literature and Composition and American Literature. End of
Test scores will be used because it demonstrates learning of course material. The top performing
schools will be chosen rather than a random sampling because a higher performing school is
more likely to have a higher degree of best practices in place. Although the Georgia Department
of Education data does not specify what number or percentage of students at each school took an
Edgenuity course before taking the EOC, an overall picture of quality can be gained from this
data. Using email, I will contact the English department head at each of the top thirty schools,
asking if they use Edgenuity for credit repair, and if so, to either complete the link to the survey
or forward the link to the facilitator(s) of the Edgenuity courses. The surveys will consist of two
components: a survey of frequency of use of listed methods and a survey of perceived efficacy of
those methods. The data will be analyzed to determine which practices are most frequently
employed in higher performing high schools, and which methods instructors perceive as most
effective.
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 7
A. Theoretical framework
Constructivism is a learning theory which underpins this research into best practices in
blended learning environments. The theory of Constructivism posits that “learning is an active
process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon their current and past
knowledge” (Culatta, 2019). Putting this theory into practice means “encouraging students to
use active techniques . . . to create knowledge” (thirteen). Thirteen further elaborates the idea
thusly: “With a well-planned classroom environment, the students learn how to learn” (thirteen).
This is especially notable in a blended learning environment in which students who may not
have done so previously must work and learn independently. Students need support to learn
Lebow’s literature review entitled “Constructivist Values for Instructional Systems Design: Five
Principles Toward a New Mindset.” They include “helping learners develop skills, attitudes, and
beliefs that support self-regulation of the learning process”, “support self-regulated learning by
promoting skills and attitudes that enable the learner to assume increasing responsibility for the
intentional learning processes” (Lebow, 1993) (Tam, 2000). All of these processes speak to the
Social constructivism also plays a role in blended learning instructional design. Social
constructivists “describe and explain teaching and learning as complex interactive social
phenomena between teachers and students” (Picciano, 2017). This theory supports seeking best
practices for teachers using blended models because “the teacher provides a social environment
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 8
in which the learner can assemble or construct with others the knowledge necessary to solve the
problem” (Picciano, 2017). In the case of a flex model using online modality, the facilitator does
not have control over the course material, but does have control over the local environment and
is physically present with a student to help them make meaning of their coursework.
informs teacher practice in the blended learning classroom because of its focus on matching the
specific method of instruction to the learning goal. Four elements in Gagne’s nine instructional
events can relate to blended learning in particular: describe the goal (expectancy), provide
guidance for learning (semantic encoding), provide feedback (reinforcement), and assess
performance (retrieval)” (Picciano, 2017) (Culatta, 2019). Best practices in blended learning
Edgenuity is a privately held company, founded in 1998, that provides online courses and
test preparation materials. It is the focus of this study of blended learning practices. The
Georgia edition is aligned to Georgia Standards of Excellence and course credits are accepted for
graduation from Georgia high schools. The company provides guidance in best practices for the
implementation of their product. The document “The Role of the Teacher in a Blended Learning
Classroom” provides rationales, case studies, and implementation advice for success in using
frames, setting unique goals and expectations for each student, and continuously monitoring
student progress (Edgenuity, 2019). Additionally, the role of the facilitator entails a significant
relationship element: “Student focus and student-centered work are essential to reach students
than data driven”, “work[ing] with students to build trust and honesty”, “identify[ing] student
strengths and competencies”, and “empowering students to advocate for themselves” (Edgenuity,
2019). For schools and teachers who have not implemented blended learning or this specific
program of blended learning, the company lays out a framework for best practices in using their
product.
Environment” which is meant to guide facilitators of its blended learning programs. They advise
that “the first step in a strong academic integrity policy is setting appropriate expectations for
students in writing. Both parents and students should sign an online learning honor code, and
consequences for violating the code should be serious” (Edgenuity, 2018). This reflects a view
that a key component of success in a flex model of blended learning takes place before the
course even begins. Before the course starts, students and parents should be made aware of clear
expectations concerning course structure and requirements. Edgenuity believes that “Setting
clear expectations for students and their learning promotes the integrity of the program and the
quality of student learning” (Edgenuity, 2018) but it is clear from the literature that this is a good
implementing blended learning in a course. However, the research and advice shared is most
relevant to a model of blended learning in which the instructor provides the instruction and
chooses the learning activities, which is not the focus of this study. However, much can still be
relevant to a flex setting. The authors point out the engagement elements of blended learning, as
developed by Jeffrey, Milne, Suddaby, and Higgins, as “at the start of the course, during the
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 10
be aware of these elements, taking particular notice when a student becomes disengaged, as
“Early intervention will keep students engaged and prevent them from falling too far behind.
The authors offer advice for dealing with disengagement, including “Using data, setting learning
goals, and frequently checking for understanding” (Edgenuity, 2019). A relevant quality of flex
blended learning facilitators should include organization and routine. The authors share that
“Because blended learning relies on a synchronized combination of both online content delivery
and teacher-led instruction, it is essential for teachers to have clear classroom strategies and
guidelines, to avoid confusing students (Jeffrey et al., 2012). The transition to blended learning
may be confusing to some students and clarity on the part of the teacher will enable students to
make the transition more quickly” (Edgenuity, 2019). Organization and routine can reduce
student anxiety, which will enable students to focus more on course material rather than
authors point out that “Teachers in a successful blended learning environment are not only
thinking about course design, but also about effective, immediate instructional support for
students who need it (Edgenuity 2019). In a setting in which the “instructors” are pre-taped
lectures, practice, notes, and quiz material, students need to know that someone cares about them
as people. They still need someone to guide them as they encounter struggles in their learning.
In “5 Skills for Blended Learning Teachers” Michael B. Horn and Heather Staker
delineate specific skills suited to teachers of blended learning courses. They identify “comfort
with chaos” as an ability to be comfortable facilitating learning in a situation where students are
working on different activities at the same time. A way to prevent true chaos, they share, is to
“invest in creating a strong culture up front with clear norms and expectations” (Horn & Staker,
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 11
2012). Online coursework generates a great deal of data, so being able to handle and use this
data is a key element of quality facilitating. Teachers will be able to “spend more time analyzing
and figuring out what to do about it, coupled of course with their own “data” that they collect on
students from their intuition and observation” (Horn & Staker, 2012). Horn and Staker identify
targeted learning opportunities and specialization as two more key elements of blended learning
success. Teachers should be able to focus one-on-one with a student to provide specific support,
and the emphasis on specialization means that in a blended learning environment, a student
should have access to personalized help from a facilitator skilled in that subject area (2012). It
might seem obvious, but the authors identify technological skills as a key component of effective
teaching. Although “teachers won’t actually need as much as people think in the way of
technology skills to teach in a blended learning environment,” they will still need to be able to
“communicate via a variety of mediums, explore, identify, and use a variety of online tools to
meet student needs, and be able to do basic troubleshooting” (Horn & Staker, 2012). Teachers
need a certain level of comfort with technology to have confidence in working with students
In “Who Are Great Blended Learning Teachers?” also by Heather Staker, positive
teacher qualities are narrowed down from the general to those more specific to teachers in
blended learning environments. She distills research on these qualities into three broad
observations. One of these, which echoes her article “How to Create Higher Performing Happier
collaboration, goal setting, and encouraging independence. The second observation was that
“mindset competencies” are a critical, sometimes the most important, type of competency for
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 12
blended teachers” (Staker, 2018). Staker cites several reports of research indicating that mindset
competencies, “include the core values or beliefs that guide an individual’s thinking, behaviors,
and actions, and that align with goals of educational change and mission” Additionally,
success in teaching in a blended learning environment (2018). The last observation is that, even
though high quality blended learning teachers share many characteristics of teachers in
traditional settings, “Blended teaching requires some competencies that are wildly different from
traditional teaching” (Staker, 2018). A blended learning instructor must be able to “understand
and manage the face-to-face and online components of lesson planning and organization”,
“create a daily and weekly schedule for an online or blended course or subject, customizing it for
[the specific] model”, and “Counsel students prior to enrollment in a fully online course to assess
categorize and classify twelve important qualities of instructors of blended learning courses. The
broad categories of qualities they specify are: mindsets, qualities, adaptive skills, and technical
skills (see Figure 1). Domain 1: Mindsets, focuses on qualities of vision and openness to change.
Domain 2: Qualities, features grit, transparency, and collaboration. Domain 3: Adaptive Skills,
Technical Skills features data practices, instructional strategies, management of blended learning
experiences, and instructional tools (Kennedy, K., Powell, A. & Rabbitt, B.). By categorizing
and specifying qualities and skills in this mode of teaching, Kennedy, Powell, and Rabbitt
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 13
provide a blueprint for teachers and administrators to better understand the role of the blended
learning instructor.
Some of the factors that contribute to student success in a blended learning environment
are teacher qualities, rather than capabilities. Although a person cannot change his or her basic
personality, a person can cultivate certain characteristics for personal and career improvement.
delineates elements of quality teaching which are applicable in any setting, but lend themselves
easily to blended learning situations. These actions are based upon research conducted by
Mallory Dwinal, David Richards, and Jennifer Wu to identify best practices in leadership outside
of education, then seek to apply those principles in education. Staker explains the results of their
research and identifies the seven “moves” of quality leadership as: teach mindsets, release
control, encourage teaming, give feedback, build relationships of trust, help students hold
themselves accountable, and hold yourself accountable (n.d.). A major focus for their research
was the Google Oxygen program (figure 4) which they configured into a model useful to an
educational setting. These qualities are applicable to teaching in any modality, although they can
Online learning can be used to earn course credits, but there is a need to demonstrate
competency, not just completion. In the Competency Works Issue Brief, “Maximizing
Competency Education and Blended Learning: Insights from Experts”, the authors point out that
“Digital content tends to be best for helping students build skills at the levels of recall and
comprehension, which is why student progress in digital content should be considered as just one
of the multiple measures to determine proficiency” (Patrick and Sturgis, 2015). They assert that
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 14
based assessments and performance tasks, is critical to ensuring students can demonstrate
mastery at high levels (Patrick and Sturgis, 2015). A true measure of success in online learning
would reflect competency in higher levels of depth of knowledge. This research speaks to the
necessity of teachers to support their students in gaining proficiency, not merely completion. A
student can complete a course in Edgenuity, but their EOC scores reflect true proficiency.
is teachers of online courses. The facilitator in a blended classroom is not the instructor of the
course a student is taking online, therefore, the ten strategies for engaging learners are not
directly applicable. However, it does shed light on the components of successful teaching and
learning in this mode, such as “social presence and belonging””clear instructions and
guidelines”, “timely feedback”, and “elaborated feedback” (Jeffrey, Milne, Suddaby, & Higgins,
2012). The focus is on the elements of engagement, which in an online learning experience, is
key for success. Because a teacher is not physically in the presence of the individual student,
engagement becomes more important and more difficult to maintain. A facilitating teacher can
look for outward signs of disengagement to recognize the signs and take measures to attempt to
III. Procedures
A. Research Design
This research employs a mixed-methods design, with surveys which will generate both
B. Sample
Purposive sampling will be used, because the sample selected, Edgenuity facilitators at
schools shown to have previous success, will be more likely to employ best practices in blended
learning. An introductory email and the survey will be sent to English department heads at the
thirty high schools in Georgia with the highest scores on End of Course Tests in 9th Grade
Literature and Composition and American Literature English Language Arts assessments
(Georgia Milestones 2017-2018 Statewide Scores, 2018). If the high school uses Edgenuity for
credit, the survey will be sent to all Edgenuity facilitators in a participating school. It is unlikely
that everyone will respond, so the surveys are being sent to thirty high schools so that even if
some do not respond, the sample size will still be large enough to draw valid conclusions.
C. Instrumentation
A survey will be compiled based upon the qualities associated with effective teaching in
blended learning environments, as identified in the literature review. The survey begins with
demographic data questions: approximate number of students earning credits using Edgenuity,
time frame for completion of courses, and number of students earning 70 or above on 9th
Literature and Composition EOC and on the American Literature End of Course Test. In the
second section, respondents will be asked to identify how often specific strategies are used in
their Edgenuity sections on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being “never or almost never” and 5 being
“always or almost always.” In the third section, respondents will then identify the effectiveness
of each of the previously listed strategies on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, with a sixth category in
which a respondent may indicate that he or she has not seen or used the strategy in question.
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 16
Procedural detail
learning as identified by researchers and experts in the field of instructional technology. A list of
most-recommended practices will be generated from this research. This list will be incorporated
into a survey for facilitators of Edgenuity programs in 9th and 11th grade language arts at the
thirty high schools in Georgia scoring highest on the 9th and 11th grade Language Arts End of
Course tests. The survey will consist of three sections: the first section will seek basic
information about the number of students in the program, the second will ask about the
frequency of use of each listed teaching method, and the third will ask teachers to rate the
effectiveness of each method using a Likert Scale. An introductory email will be sent to the
English department head at each school, with a link to the survey attached. The department head
will be asked to share this link with facilitators of Edgenuity courses in Language Arts at his or
her school.
Internal validity
instrument to ten local instructors who will not be part of the sample for research. The data will
be analyzed for outliers or confusing wording in the statements, and edited accordingly. Threats
to validity include the Hawthorne effect, because respondents may overstate how often they use
particular strategies in class, providing answers they think the researcher would like to see.
Another threat might be subject attitude threat, because a respondent may not like his or her
current position facilitating Edgenuity, or may have negative feelings about blended learning in
general. Alternately, an instructor might have chosen to facilitate Edgenuity coursework because
of a positive attitude and enthusiasm about blended learning. In either case, the responses might
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 17
The response sections will be scored separately. The first section will generate nominal
data concerning the approximate number and courses of students involved in the Edgenuity
program at the school in question. The second section will identify which strategies are used
most often by Edgenuity facilitators in high performing schools. This will involve quantitative
data analysis. The results will generate a ranking, from the most commonly used to the least
commonly used. The third section will identify perceptions concerning various teaching
methods. This section will involve qualitative data analysis. The results will generate a ranking
of methods, with the method with the most favorable ratings listed first through to the method
rated least effective. The results of the second and third sections will be compared. A
comparison will be made to determine if methods judged to be effective are in fact the ones used
most often. If the most often used methods are viewed as most effective, then a conclusion could
be drawn that facilitators are employing best practices. If not, an area for further study would be
Limitations
The sample size will likely not be large enough to draw broad conclusions. Further study
will be needed to verify these results. Another limitation is that high quality implementation of
Edgenuity and similar online programs are likely occurring in high schools that do not have high
overall EOC scores, making it harder to identify those successful programs. Ideally, a study
should be conducted of all high schools in Georgia using Edgenuity for course credit to get a
bigger, more generalizable picture of what practices are most in use and which are most
effective, but that type of major study is not feasible at this time.
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 18
References
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implementation-guide-to-ensure-academic-integrity.pdf
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FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 21
Appendix 1
Figure 1
Figure 2
Source: How to create higher performing happier classrooms in seven moves: a playbook for
teachers
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 23
Figure 3
Source How to create higher performing happier classrooms in seven moves: a playbook for
teachers
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 24
Figure 4
Source: How to create higher performing happier classrooms in seven moves: a playbook
for teachers
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 25
Appendix 2
Survey Questions
2. How many students on your courseload are taking 9th Grade Literature and
Composition on Edgenuity?
3. How many students on your courseload are taking American Literature and
Composition on Edgenuity.
Identify your personal frequency of use of each of the teaching methods listed based upon the
following scale:
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Occasionally
4=Frequently
5=Every day
Clear expectations for course shared with students and parents before course begins
Clear expectations for course shared with students and parents after course begins
Teaching mindsets
Identify your assessment of the effectiveness of each of the teaching methods listed based upon
1=Very ineffective
2=Mostly ineffective
3=Sometimes effective
4=Mostly effective
5=Very effective
Clear expectations for course shared with students and parents before course begins
FACILITATING LEARNING IN THE BLENDED CLASSROOM 27
Clear expectations for course shared with students and parents after course begins
Teaching mindsets