Randolph Decker asks the question, What is online learning? In his entry he points to an FAQ which he has developed that addresses that question (and others apparently, but since the website is down I can’t tell for sure).
Similarly, John Norton asks the question, Are There Limits to Virtual Learning? And then proceeds to give us the views of two individuals who were part of a conference that John’s group (i.e., Teacher Leaders Network) sponsored.
In both of those responses, the individuals accepted the premise that students were wired differently today because of all of the electronic media that they are faced with (and as you know the notion of digital natives is a common topic on this blog – see Students These Days for the most recent entry).
Regardless of where you fall on the digital natives debate, let’s turn the question around a bit. The reason why this gets so much press and the reason why places like Michigan have begun to require that students take an online course to graduate (see Requiring Virtual Schooling? ) is because there is an assumption that we are teaching them in a way tht they will need to/be able to learn in the future or providing them with skills that will be necessary, even essential to their future careers. But Will That “What I’m Gonna Be After Graduation” Job Even Exist When You Graduate? And even if it does exist, will it require the same skills that are required now?
If we are asking ourselves questions about virtual school, trying to predict what will serve our students the best for their future, should this be a good place to start our predictions?
Tags: virtual school , cyber school , high school , education