Monday, March 24, 2014

Online/Virtual/Cyber Schooling

Many high school students in my county (Fairfax County, VA) take online classes although I do not know anybody who currently teaches them.  There has been talk of some teachers eventually being hired to work exclusively online without having to set foot on actual K-12 campuses, but this is still a pipe dream.  

What motivates students to take these courses?  These classes allow students to make up educational deficits (which can be a serious problem for transfer students!), to get ahead (particularly in math), to take AP classes not otherwise offered, or to bulk up their transcripts (making them more attractive to top-notch colleges).

Where is this done?  I have known some students to do 100% of the work at home, but others will get an open period in their schedule which they will spend on a library computer to make sure they budget time during the day to do their online coursework.

How is this done?  My understanding--from students who either love or hate online classes--is that the courses involve a combination of materials, including recorded lectures, traditional worksheets or other exercises, and online tests and quizzes.  Not every course has a textbook provided to students.  Not all online classes are created equal.    

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