I found the first lesson this week in the Virtual School MOOC to be quite the educational experience for me. Before studying this weeks topic on Classifying K-12 Online Learning, I didn't realize there were so many different ways of defining this category. The last slide in the second video, The Defining Dimensions of Online Learning, was a true eye opener for me. I see why this can be such a controverial topic, due to the fact that most people aren't aware of all the different ways online learning can take place. Also, the only way to find out which ones truly work for students is trial and error. Most people are closed minded when it comes to anything that is "different" anyway. They tend to shy away from things they don't understand. It's human nature afterall. I beleive one of the things that poeple in public education are scared of, is that virtual online learning will take away from the funding of a district or decrease the amount of teacher needed in a school. If the school systems would get onboard and initiate this kind of classroom, like the one in Gwinnett County in Georgia, then they could keep these students within their schools. Teachers need to understand that this is not going away. They need to get the training they need to be competitive in the workforce. Instead, they just continue to down play the way of the future.
I guess I got off on a soapbox.
Looking at Clark's Seven Categories for Virtual Schools and Watson, Winograd, and Kalmon's Five Categories of Virtual School, there are amny avenues available to students today. It is important to note that there many different categories of offerings of virtual schools. Based on these charts, the method in which they implement the classes varies as well.
I look forward to woking through all of the material in this MOOC over the next 4 weeks. I know there is lots of information to be learned!
I agree that funding seems prevent public schools from embracing online learning, at least online learning that is not for "credit recovery." Schools are afraid of losing funding for enrolling students in classes outside of a (public) school building. Schools like Georgia Virtual School offer many advanced placement classes, but I feel, many school systems do not promote them for funding reasons. This is unfortunate because many of those same schools lack the resources to help their advanced learners.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that funding is an issue. But an even bigger issue seems to be fear of the unknown. If teachers or media specialists think their jobs are at stake, they are not going to be in favor. I won't lie, if I couldn't find a way to reinvent myself, I'd be skeeved to be ousted from my position in the library. Still, I argue that students will need help processing all the information out there on the web, so there would still be a need. But increased class sizes may result in a RIF.
ReplyDeleteThis all said, I do not believe that a state or other entity has a right to dictate how a district can spend funds. I also acknowledge that online learning is not going away. This must be realized. I believe that teachers and staff who embrace the change and do what they have to do to stay up-to-date will likely be the ones left at the end of the day. So resisting is futile and a little bit foolish, don't you think?