Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Future...
I have mixed feelings about online learning. I can see great potential, but at the same time, have a lot of questions. For the most part, I see much more blended learning occurring versus straight online learning. I can see huge benefits and possibilities for blended learning to help meet learning needs for all students, but still see a need for face-to-face teacher time. There are so many students who need instant clarification and assistance on things, and an online learning situation is a lot of work and comes with high expectation for individual responsibility and adjustment. I also wonder how a strictly on-line education would be possible for students who come from families who have working parents and how it all works. Where do the kids go during the day? When is the work done? What if they can't afford computer(s) and other services/materials? Once I have those pieces, I may have a different understanding for the whole process and how it can completely fit. Until then, I will continue to feel as though online learning opportunities within a traditional school building and environment may be a reasonable direction.
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I also see one of the biggest hurdles for mass adoption of online learning being figuring out who watches the minors during the day. In some environment, the teacher might even be the only positive adult role model the student would ever encounter.
ReplyDeleteI am also a big advocate of blended learning. There are not an extremely high percentage of K-12 students who have the self-discipline and motivation to do an exclusively online program. Blended models seem to offer the best of both worlds and is likely the future of online learning.
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