1. Identify and briefly discuss at least 5 pros and 5 cons of having virtual schools.
Pros
o Flexible curriculum that is based on how children’s minds work.
o No Tuition Fees are involved in WAVU
o The K-8 program is self-paced and flexible within the parameters specified by state law.
o Students are invited to participate in school outings, field trips, picnics, and other social events.
o WAVA accepts dual enrollment through their “shared attendance agreement” with resident school districts
Cons
o Some funding is required for several Online Schools
o If the student does not participate in social aspect of the Online Schools, they may lack social skills.
o It may be hard to find motivation when a time frame is not enforced and attendance is relaxed.
o Expected 4 to 6 straight hours of school work- can get tiring for parent as well as younger students.
o School is less personalized when the teacher/instructor is unknown.
2. Discuss some of the key skills teachers need to have to be successful when teaching a virtual school.
o Educators must achieve the knowledge, skills, and unshakable confidence to thrive in a virtual environment.
o Educators must also feel comfortable and be skilled in technology
o Being creative to provide the most compelling, comprehensive, and effective K-12 education
3. Discuss your findings on one other key issue that you found interesting (from those listed above).
I found the curriculum of the Washington Virtual Academy in particular to be very interesting. Washington Virtual Academies use flexible curriculum that is based on research about how children’s minds really work. The curriculum was designed to let Kindergarten through eighth grade kids find a pace and learning style that works best for their individual learning. It also holds courses in six core subjects that are wrapped with rich, engaging content that is minds-on as well as hands-on.
4. Think 2-3 years from now and discuss how virtual schools and online courses might impact your teaching.
o Virtual schools and online courses are very beneficial in certain situations. I feel that in an instance when one of my students are sick or in a position where they are not able to come into class, online schools are very convenient and allow all students to engage when it’s inconvenient for them to attend regular class. However, I do not see a future in being an online instructor permanently.
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5 comments:
I agree with you about the situation when students are at home sick. I don't know how that would work with these types of programs though. But that was the only reason I would use virtual schools as well.
I thought you presented some very interesting topics and ideas in your post. Great job thinking of unique pros and cons. I agree that virtual classrooms would be beneficial to keep sick or absent students up to date in the class. Especially if one of your students were going on a trip or perhaps had a medical issue that prevented them from attending school for a period of time.
Nice Job!
Miss Williams, I strongly agree with you when you explained that for a teacher to be successful in a virtual classroom they need to confident in a virtual environment, be comfortable and skilled with technology, and be creative to keep the virtual classroom engaging and effective. You made many great points, good job.
I agree with your statement about not wanting to be an online instructor. Part of the reason I have chosen to go into teaching was because of having interactions with young children because they are just so much fun! I think that a career as an online teacher would not suit my personality and strengths. I would have a difficult time engaging students in an online course if I myself was not excited about the idea.
I completely agree with what you said about students lack of motivation. As I was homeschooling, I know that motivation was the most difficult thing to come by. I think it is important for parents to think critically about their role in the process. I think these types of programs have lots of potential but need to be backed up by motivated and involved parents.
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