http://www.techlearning.com/article/16210
Resource Sharing Activity #4
Online Learning Communities
Tech & Learning: (Article)
The Blended Classroom Revolution: Virtual Technology Goes to School
Marty Weil, Contributing Editor
February 2, 2009
I believe that this article relates well to our reading on “Building a Learning Community.” The online learning community is becoming more and more popular. The blended classroom vs online seems to be in greater demand amongst students. Having the face-to-face several times benefit students who need the human contact of a class that online does not provide.
The article begins by describing how virtual schools are becoming more and more popular. An increasing number of students are beginning to take courses on line and moving towards the virtual classrooms.
Robert Blomeyer of Lisle, IL stated that online environments are now being viewed as a means to improve and expand educational opportunities in schools. He also stated that this revolution is taking place at a relatively slow pace due to work needing to be done on school technology infrastructures and more laptops being available for students’ use. Online learning is beginning to be seen not as a delivery system in competition with traditional K-12 classrooms, but seeing virtual classrooms as necessary for the improvement of education and student’s improvement.
There is a debate about whether or not the virtual schools can be successful as far as improving the quality of teaching in the public schools. Attention is now being shifted as to teachers using this technology.
Schools are now taking steps to bring the blended model into the mainstream. Chicago’s VOISE Academy, which is virtual opportunities inside a school environment, is a new performance high school is based on a model of virtual technology and face-to-face teacher instruction. Students receive online curriculum in high-tech labs. This distance learning school provides all students with choice, flexibility, and individual attention.
Many districts are applying the blended approach to meet the educational needs of a child or a group of children. “By providing courses online, we can teach students at their particular level, rather than follow a mass factory model where every student has to learn in lockstep,” says Atols. “By using a blended approach, we’re allowing each student to progress at their school level, instead of waiting for someone to catch up or be left behind as the class moves forward.”
Based on our reading, blended and online classrooms are becoming a reality. I know that students are into technology from years in the past. Students are using technology and respond to learning in this manner.
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I agree with the expert Blomeyer stating that virtual classrooms should be considered a part of school reform or educational improvement and not competing with k-12 traditional schools. The question has rightfully changed from whether to use virtual learning to when teachers will start using it. Using virtual learning will hopefully motivate students to stay engaged and spend more time on homework and increase the amount of time students read at home. Giving students access to online courses 24/7 from computers provided for home use will definitely address the individual learning levels and needs of students. They can have as much time as they need (within reasonable time limits) to complete assignments without the pressure of time constraints that exists in a classroom setting. Having access to lessons and related videos to review concepts and skills covered that were discussed in class will reinforce learning. Students can watch them over and over again until the “get it”. One of the statements in the article said that we need to "tear down the walls" of the classroom and let students go where they need to go to get the instruction is revolutionary and profound. Students from different cultures where language may be a barrier and teachers are hard to find can take a virtual class in their content. The benefits and possibilities are endless. The feedback from the schools in the article is all positive and proof that we are moving in the right direction. The blended format for k-12 and beyond is a reality in many schools and must continue until all schools are using it in one form or another. I am excited about this transformation in education and ready to take this back to my classroom ASAP. Excellent article!
ReplyDeleteYour article was very interesting. As teachers trained in the traditional classroom, one does tend to worry about whether virtual schools, online learning will one day make the need for flesh and blood teachers extinct. Students of today and tomorrow don't fit the "factory model" of education any more and to be frank, most of us don't either. I agree that we need to embrace technology as another tool for us to use and not lose sight of the research that shows efficient teaching, planning, and effective facilitation are needed in junction with the varied technological media out their for all of us to use.
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