My teacher is an App

I found a newspaper article in the Sunday paper of the Wall Street Journal and i decided to summarize the most compelling details

What is happening right now regarding virtual schools from Kindergarten to 12 grade?

       Virginia has authorized 13 new virtual schools

       The state of Florida requires students to take at least one class online

       30 states allow students to all courses online

       There are 250,000 students enrolled in full-time virtual schools

       Some states are in charge of their virtual schools however some others hire corporations to provide curriculum and monitor student performance

What do critics have to say?

Some experts mention the savings for state governments if more states adopt this trend. Other experts prefer hybrid schools. An interesting example of hybrid classes is mentioned. Some California children who are either poor or belong to a minority have taken classes online and as a result their performance in standardized tests has improved substantially and their scores are comparable to those kids in richer school districts.

The positive…

Students enjoy the 3D activities, online tests and quizzes. The use of different media such as videos and games in lesson plans. Lastly, flexibility for those students who may experience different circumstances such as athletes, actors or advanced students, who may not have time to attend a regular school.

Iprep Academy is an example of a hybrid school that provides short class instruction and individual attention. According to the article, most of the learning is self-directed which could present a fabulous opportunity to move towards a learner-centered environment.

The downside…

The lack of interaction with the real world according to some critics is a very important to consider when enrolling in virtual schools. Additionally, a study done in Colorado suggests that students are not performing better in standardized tests, more importantly they are falling behind. Equally important, not all students are prepared to attend virtual schools and need and support to acquire discipline and strategies for learning. It is important to mention Drop-out rates are higher in distance education. Lastly, unions are fearful for their jobs and assure that online learning is not the answer.

Conclusion

After reading this article I conclude there are many challenges ahead. What is best for the students? How to deal with budgets and fearful faculty? How to support those students who want to enroll in distance education and how to diminish the drop-out rates?

There are many questions to be answered, nonetheless there is no time to waste virtual schools are not going anywhere. States have to work with faculty and the private sector to provide a holistic education for students in a hybrid mode or online environment.

Banchero, S., & Simon, S. (2011, november 12). My teacher is an app. The Wall Street Journal, pp. C1-C2.

A video from Iprep in Miami. The newspaper article mentioned this school several times. Take a look at the video. What do you think?