High school students in today’s world use computers to research, complete assignments and generally enhance their educational experiences. Educators in British Columbia are looking to computer technology to provide experiences and skills for their students that are practical, meaningful and deepen learning. The Province of British Columbia recently launched a virtual school for students and educators. This virtual school relies on the facts that modern students are comfortable with the use of computers and the Internet. Educators are able to enhance student learning with this opportunity.
Many advantages can be found using online courses, which include: flexibility of study time, increasing computer skills, availability of courses, and learning at you own pace. These are just a few benefits that make online courses attractive to many students.
To every advantage there is a disadvantage. Some disadvantages are social isolation, some students have low motivation to complete assignments, and instructors may not always be available when students are ready to learn.
I believe that it will be difficult for today’s educators to balance the opportunities that online courses offer and still develop social skills learned within a classroom environment. School is more than learning a subject or receiving an academic credit. Experiences within classrooms develop other valuable skills for students, such as communication, tolerance, cooperation, and collaboration.
How Do You Feel?
Virtual School in British Columbia
http://www.learnnowbc.ca/
e-newletter about online learning
http://www.achievebc.ca/newsletter/issue10_Winter2007/Stories/story1_new_virtual_school.asp#first
http://www.achievebc.ca/newsletter/issue10_Winter2007/Stories/story2_education_planner.asp#second
Pros and Cons to Online education
http://www.ecsd.net/online_courses/pros_cons.html
http://www.onlyhighschoolonline.com/learning/
Many advantages can be found using online courses, which include: flexibility of study time, increasing computer skills, availability of courses, and learning at you own pace. These are just a few benefits that make online courses attractive to many students.
To every advantage there is a disadvantage. Some disadvantages are social isolation, some students have low motivation to complete assignments, and instructors may not always be available when students are ready to learn.
I believe that it will be difficult for today’s educators to balance the opportunities that online courses offer and still develop social skills learned within a classroom environment. School is more than learning a subject or receiving an academic credit. Experiences within classrooms develop other valuable skills for students, such as communication, tolerance, cooperation, and collaboration.
How Do You Feel?
Virtual School in British Columbia
http://www.learnnowbc.ca/
e-newletter about online learning
http://www.achievebc.ca/newsletter/issue10_Winter2007/Stories/story1_new_virtual_school.asp#first
http://www.achievebc.ca/newsletter/issue10_Winter2007/Stories/story2_education_planner.asp#second
Pros and Cons to Online education
http://www.ecsd.net/online_courses/pros_cons.html
http://www.onlyhighschoolonline.com/learning/
30 comments:
I didn't like what i wrote in the first one... sorry.
I think this is a great idea for certain people to engage in a virtual highschool. My concern with it, which you addressed, is that social isolation could occur. I think that interaction with other people is an important outcome of attending highschool, so if that is taken away, the school system eliminates an important facet of student education.
Blake.
Honestly, I am not a big fan of this idea. I have known a couple of people to take online classes at the University and I have never heard anything good. You do not get to interact with other students or the teacher. It is often hard to get responses or feedback. It is also hard for some people to motivate themselves to complete work. I think the only positive part is convience. You do not need to leave your own home to complete course work.
~Lindsey
I agree with both with Blake and Lindsey on this topic. I am hesitate with the idea of a virtual classroom. The skills that are developed within the classroom environment can not be duplicated online. The intellectual discussions and debates that can occur within a class are often the most valuable lessons. Having the flexibility of study time is a pro but I do not think that it out ways the important social skills you learn within a classroom setting.
-Kathleen
Thanks!!
I agree it can promote social isolation. There is so much more to school than simply academics. However, i see the value in it for those that cannot attend a school as a result of other barriers.
Wow, really cool topic. I believe that these virtual school are an excellent outlet for students who are unable to make regular classes. I do not believe that this should be the only alternative for students who are not suited for tradional classes (as NIDEs etc are also a great choice). Perhaps virtual schools are a poor measure of social function, but then again, if a student is taking Math online, one should really only be assessing his/her math skills, especially if the student's social skills are interefering with learning new math concepts.
Hey Shawn,
I believe that we are getting very comfortable with the computer and technology and if someone needs virtual education then I don't think there is anything wrong with that. It isn't for everyone, but it is for some people. We are human beings with different needs and if someone wants to be socially isolated then allow them to be. We can't control a highschool student's freedom and atleast they want to still acheive an education. Our way we were taught and we do teach isn't the best way for everyone.
Natalie
I totally agree that this may be an outlet for some students/learners. We cannot all adjust to the "system" and expect to succeed there. However, I see public schools(even private schools) as a place to develop as a human being with responsibilities, expectations, social skills, communication & collaboration skills, feelings of empathy and sympathy, and FRIENDS! I know that public (high) school can be an awful place for some people, but I agree with Jeff that there are other roads to be taken to suit individual learners. I also think that knowledge of technology is so important today, and those that have a keen interest in computers should be able to take SOME classes online, but need to be involved socially in other ways in their lives to be truly successful!
Dayna
I too agree, learning is much more than just obtain information. I am a true believer of social interaction in education; I have had some experience with online course and there was a great deal of interaction but I will honestly say that I missed the physical presence of my classmates. Having the opportunity to obtain an education through virtual learning worked well for me, it was convenient, and simple to follow. I think it is exciting times for schools and having Virtual Schools in British Colombia is a brilliant idea.
Angela
Interesting topic! I think virtual schools would work well for some students, but as others have said, there should also be opportunity for social development. I think virtual schools, or at least virtual classes would be ideal for highly motivated or interested students who worked better outside of normal class settings. Could there be interactive components (class chat room?) so that real class discussions are simulated? If so, it might give quiet students an avenue to give input without feeling as self-conscious.I wonder what it would be like from the teacher's point of view. Classroom management would be a bit different, and deadlines would probably be key to keeping students on track. What other issues might arise from the teacher's point of view?
-Mela
I agree with both arguments around this issue. Social isolation could be a factor, although involvement with extra curricular activities is one way to address this issue. However school does teach students how to behave in a team environent which is beneficial in the future for employment.
Sarah
Online courses sound really neat. I think there are many benefits to online courses. One of the biggest one is flexibility and students can learn at their own pace. I went to a high school where it was self paced and I learned a lot about how to make my own deadlines so that I’d finish a course on time. This could be a very valuable learning tool for students. The down side to online courses is students are missing out on social interactions with their classmates.
-Rebecca
Reading all the comments continues the debate that students are individuals and an individual's education is very unique, and choices should be allowed. But once again the social skills that classrooms create are invaluable. Last practicum one student, who was socially awkward, wanted to complete English 10 through distance education only because she didn't like the only English 10 teacher at the secondary school. Getting along in classrooms is similar to getting along with bosses (most I haven't liked) and coworkers. Letting students do as they please will set them up for failure. Virtual school certainly has it's place but should not replace the classroom.
I like the idea of the online courses being flexible, but i often wonder about accountability and reliability of student work when there is no contact with a teacher. There are no interactions and class discussions (unless a blog is mandatory). I haven't taken an online class so i can't comment on it's success, so i think it is interesting and is probably benefical to those who need to work from home etc.
Leslie
I have to agree with Leslie, as the accountability with online learning becomes blurred. Added to the previous comments, what about the value of structure within the school day. I think that online learning would eliminate this factor. A major part of education, is that it provides the necessary structure for students. What happens students' ability to remain on schedule with assignments?
Interesting topic shawn!!! I agree with the others who are not in support of vitual classroom. However, I do know a few people who have cmpleted their master and PHD's in this form. In there curcumstances this option was ideal, as they are people who work during the day or are rasing children. Having the option to complete work at your own pace on your own time may be the only way that some people can achieve their goals!
Tammi
I really value the importance of collaboration with peers and bounce ideas off of each other. However, in an enviroment where students can not get that into a classroom, for example an isolated community or long stay hospital term I could see how a virtual class would be highly beneficial.
Last year I did my inquiry on technology in the english classroom. One topic that came up was online learning for highschool students. I think its a great way to reach out to those students that do not for whatever reason come to class. It allowes them to work at their own pace. However, the only down fall I see with this is what happens to those studens actually need that extra motivation...you would have to be really motivated to do an online class..wouldn't you?
As soon as I started reading this blog, poor social skills came to mind. It is pretty impossible to get a job where you have no interaction with any other person. If these students are being educated in isolation where do they learn how to build relationships, read other peoples body language, collaboration, or just enjoy others company and. There are good uses for it but the interaction is important or highschool students.
Jackie
I agree about the development of communication, tolerance, cooperation, and collaboration. I think these skills are best developed through physical interaction. I doubt that younger students would have the discipline to apply themselves to this type of learning and for that matter ,even older students.
Patti
Personally, I am not a big fan of vitual schools at all. I can understand that it may work well for a motivated student who is having some life difficulties, but I can see way to many students doing it simply so they can sleep in. I think that a large part of student learning comes from their peers. If you take their peers out of the equation, I think that each student loses out on a lot of higher order thinking.
- Clay
I think that online learning is a great option for older adult learners who have families or full time jobs where doing classes online is their only opportunity for returning to school. However, I'm not crazy about the idea for highschool students. As we've said, going to school and being in the classroom is about so much more than just learning the material and completing the assignments. Social interaction is a vital assest for every student to have and experience and that cannot be achieved online.
-Alyson
I think this is a good option if you are away for a long period of time or have a reason why you can not attend class. However I don't think that it is a very sound alternative for in class communication and I would worry about how studetns who did all of their classes online would suffer in terms of their social skills.
-tasha
I don't like the idea of a virtual school. I agree with what they wrote that school is more then just learning and taking in information to pass. There are so many experiences in class such as questions asked, social skills developed, and the hands on part of class and so much more. I wouldn't have met the most wonderful people in the Ed program if I had done it done line.
I think that this is a great idea to have as an option. I don't believe that virtual schools are for everyone but it is appropriate for some students. While I say that, I do think that they could create social isolation for students who may be the ones who need a push in the social direction. Many students are home schooled nowadays and that is beneficial for timing and conveniece for getting work done but is it beneficial for them to not have the social interaction? I do not know the answer to that but I think that whether we like it or not, virtual classrooms are going to be present well into the future.
Brianne
I think that a virtual school would be amazing for those that are already geographically isolated, but I think that the danger of emotional and pyschological isolation are greater cons to any pros that a virtual school may have.
Kimmy
I think that the opportunity for online schooling is great for those that desire and need it. Hopefully those who chose it will fill in the social role that school plays in other ways.
Jasmine
I'm not fond of this type of education at all. It is important to recognize that technology is indeed revolutionizing our world and our current understanding of teaching, but it doesn't need to take over the world. If students sit infront of a computer all day...well, they're simply missing all the good stuff. The smell of crayons, listening to a story, laughter, holding hands, friends, discovering their sexuality, eating lunch with people, excepting people, EVERYTHING!
It would be ashame to see technology replace breathing, talking, feeling, living people.
Haha....I'm so corny :-)
Post a Comment