I think that K-12 online learning must improve student outcomes to justify its use in expanding access to curricula or providing educational choices. If online learning is going to take the place of the current cookie cutter classes in schools today, then it has to be better than this current model. There has to be justification, due to the expense it requires to have access to the technology. Sure there will still be a need for online learning for those playing catch up or that need a class that is not available to them at there current school. In that aspect, online learning isn't going away. I'm talking about a complete make over. In order for schools to spend the extra money on technology, they must see the improvement in student learning. Otherwise, they will just continue to conduct business the way they always have. Why would they put the extra money toward something that is equal to what they already do to get equal results, especially in today's economy?
One of the things that I continue to think about is the governments role in education. As I study about the advantages of online learning, one of the positives is that students move at their own pace. The government will have to change their way of thinking for this to ever be implemented in schools. They expect everyone to be the same, no matter what these students "intangibles" are that they come to school with. Students have different backgrounds, socioeconomic status', IQ's, etc. The No Child Left Behind Act is an example of these people sitting in offices who do not acknowledge that students learn at different paces. I wonder if we will ever be able to allow one student to move forward while the other student stays back to master the material needed to move on. What do you think?
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