An article from the National Education Association titled "Log In and Learn" describes some of the aspects, good and bad, of virtual classrooms. A virtual classroom has an instructor and students, just like a regular classroom, but is done on the internet instead of in a traditional classroom. Some of the advantages to a virtual classroom include flexibility and advanced classes. Virtual classrooms allow students to take classes during times they are out of school, like evenings and weekends. Students involved in many extra-curricular activities can attend virtual school at whatever time is convenient. Another advantage is the ability to take advanced or specialized courses. A student who wants to take a class not offered at their school can receive credit for it by taking it virtually. Virtual classes, if done correctly, can teach students valuable time management skills since a teacher is not physically present anc constantly reminding students of the work needing to be done.
There are some disadvantages, however, to the virtual classroom. The most obvious is a lack of face-to-face interaction. Students and teachers can hold online discussions or do a group project through email, but face-to-face interaction is important because in the workplace, you must be able to work well with others. Another disadvantage is a lack of hands-on experience. For example, a dissection for a science class can be done virtually, but nothing can take the place of actually performing the dissection.
I think virtual classrooms are great if a student needs a class not offered at his or her school, or if extra responsibilities call for a virtual class. I also think virtual classrooms are best for students in upper middle school or high school.
Virtual classrooms would benefit from more research and improvement. For classes in science, developments should be made to create as real an experience as possible when doing activities like dissections. Teachers can also do activities and discussion that promote a lot of interaction. Research should also be done on the effects of taking only virtual classes, like in "cyber-charters."
To read this article go to:
http://www.nea.org/neatoday/0505/onlineed.html
1 comment:
After reading the article you choose I found it to be very informative. I agree with the points you have made. My concern is the level of education where the virtual classroom should be used. This article was gear to the high school student. As we have experienced from taking this class it takes a certain level if discipline to successfully complete an online class and I may not sure even high school students would have the discipline and time management skills need to be successful. With all the outside peer pressures facing the high school students it could be easy for someone to procrastinate when they don’t have a class meeting to be prepared for. As an elementary school teacher I believe my student need the bricks and mortar classroom and a teacher to educate them in both the curriculum and the social skills they need to succeed. But I can see where a modified virtual classroom could be used by the school to provide parents with curriculum information and resources a parent could access when helping their child with their schoolwork.
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