Online Classes in High Schools

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mackenzie Whitmer on October 4, 2009 at 7:15pm

I think that online classes are a great benefit to distance learners, but I think that they still are an alternative to the real world classroom. I have took several online courses in high school and while they were efficient in timing and saved me gas money, they did little to broaden my education. I read what I had to and took the online, timed exams, but had no interaction beyond a few mandatory discussion posts. I thought it was difficult to hold a conversation with peers through posting a reply and waiting hours or days until they responded. Face to face interaction in the classroom serves as an immediate response venue, where students can interact and learn through critical thinking with their peers. Teachers try to bridge the gap and connect with their students. I think that when there is no real interaction the gap is larger to cross. When looking at specific instances such as in the article, I find online courses to be a tremendous stride in technology. My concern is that distance learners are beginning to take courses from an instructor who lives a block down the street. When distance truly occurs between the student and teacher computers bridge a gap, but the instructor must also be properly prepared for the drawbacks of teaching to those students they cannot see.

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Permalink Reply by Jody Twining on October 4, 2009 at 8:01pm

I really like the idea of virtual classrooms. I personally think this mimics real-world encounters more than most classrooms do. Distance learners are forced to develop good time-management skills, and they learn to become more responsible for their own learning. I think that, done properly, a distance education can be just as beneficial as a classroom education. I agree with Elysia, teachers already are asked to go way above and beyond their capabilities at times, and fives preps would be unbelievable! I see my CMT, who has three preps to do each day, and that is tough enough to keep straight. From a student's point of view, I was one of those victims of poor class scheduling by the system administrators, and was denied the ability to take many classes I think I would have enjoyed, instead of just being forced to take the classes I needed to graduate. I think I would have enjoyed school a lot more if I could have taken classes that interested me along with the required ones. I think distance learning can alleviate some of those concerns and allow students to have more control over their learning, which would make them feel better about their education experience as a whole.

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Permalink Reply by Jenny Ewing on October 4, 2009 at 8:28pm

Reading over the other responses to this blog I must say that I relate too and appreciate multiple angles on this matter. I too was very hesitant to online education. I am a traditionalist in that I think that the most conducive learning environment lies within a classroom and not at a personal computer. Face-to-face instruction brings a sense of humanity and a deeper meaning to the lessons at hand-or least it usually does.
I play devil's advocate here because this past summer I took my very first online course. It was a literature course, which made me nervous about not having the teacher and my peers right there to discuss meanings and interpretations in order to gain a deeper understanding of the texts. However, I must admit that it was quite possibly the best literature course I have taken in college (and that is saying a lot!). My instructor was very hands on. He was in almost daily communication with us either through email or discussion board blogging. I found myself wanting to check the discussion board every chance I got. My peers were the same way-as seen through the feedback on the board.
I think that, if done correctly, online distance learning can be extremely beneficial. For those who would have to travel or who have families and other responsibilities classroom courses simply are not an option. With the freedom on online courses one is able to make their own time and get what they want out of the course. I think that this is a worthwhile endeavor on multiple counts and I am very much a supporter of this trend-of course with the stipulation of motivated educators who are willing to try.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Lusher on October 4, 2009 at 8:48pm

I read this article with interest, as I am curious how effective online courses are. I have never taken an online course. I have always thought they were a good idea, since, like the article stated, they open up classes to students who are not offered such classes in their school or can not fit them in their traditional school periods. They also further integrate the student into a world where technology has already long been integrated.
My doubts of online learning are few and mostly are dependent on the limits of no face-to-face contact. I have wondered what sort of contact the students do get. If the class is on a live video chat, that is perfect. However, such is not always the case, and the immedicacy with which the teacher can respond to what the student does concern me. For one, young have become conditioned to be slightly miffed if our text messages are not reutrned within 3 minutes. What will happen if a teacher needs 2 hours to respond to a student's email?
However, the article has quelled that concern, as these schools have had great successes with these programs. They do result in great student achievement. They also develop a sense of autonomy for the students since I imagine some classes allow students to access the course website and complete lessons on their own time.

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Permalink Reply by brin emerson on October 4, 2009 at 8:54pm

I think everyone here brings up really good points and I must say that I tend to be a skeptic of online classes. I have had personal experience taking them and I really don't feel that they can compare to what you get from physically being in the classroom. Yes, there are many positives of the online class: more people can be reached, more subjects can be covered, and the technology that can be used is a clear advantage. I also feel that these positives should be embraced, but to a point. To completely switch over to distance education I feel would be a poor choice. Not only would this limit student-teacher and peer interaction, but it would also take away the need for as many teachers. The thing I feel is most beneficial from online education is the ability to incorporate more personalized electives for students to take. I would have loved an option to take a more obscure elective that would be catered to my preferences. As long as balance is maintained I feel that students can truly benefit from the technology that online classes provide.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher K. Camm on October 5, 2009 at 12:43am

After reviewing the article in mention and the prior responses, I have to establish that while I believe that traditional instruction is routinely valid in today’s classrooms, I believe that integration of technology that promotes effective communication, collaboration, and creativity, and does so in a free-flowing media is critical for today’s youth to learn. I have personally taken half a dozen online courses and have found each to be unique and valuable in their own right. While I do believe, there is substantial value in face-to-face communication as well as hands-on learning that online courses cannot substitute, I believe through personal experience and testimony of others, that some experiences can radically be enhanced through use of appropriate technology and instructional practices in online courses versus that of traditional. I have witnessed some very innovative teaching strategies implemented in online courses that far surpass traditional lecture or group work. My younger brother, for example, attends TRECA Digital Academy, and has done so for several years. During this time, I have witnessed a remarkable improvement in his attitude to learning and communicating. While I would say that the material and workload is at a much greater achievement level than that of the traditional classroom setting he was in before we moved, he has really striven and struggled to meet the expectations of the curriculum. I cannot say that he is completely satisfied with the system as it stands, but does enjoy the freedom to work on assignments at his own pace, in his own order, and can demonstrate with great ease creativity, knowledge, and collaboration on assignments, often with students and teachers he has never personally seen before. During the time he has been in this program, his literacy has dramatically improved, his confidence has improved, his knowledge about computers, experience with software, and ability to conduct research have been enhanced, as well as his ease in effectively communicating with others. His school utilizes many resources, such as hard back & online books, pod-casts, video resources/instruction, online chatting, web cams, routine email communication, and online teaching simulations. From observing his transition from a traditional setting to a mostly online classroom, I would say that overall it has been a great instructional platform and has assisted in his learning more than the school system we moved out of. The only true grievance I propose against his online schooling is that he does not have the informal face-to-face interaction with his peers that he would otherwise have. I do not believe that all classes should or could be taught in an online setting, but offer that the future will make online schooling more accessible, more reasonable, more globally connected, and by far more accepted in mainstream educational practices.

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Permalink Reply by Marley Silvestri on October 5, 2009 at 9:52am

I agree that in extreme circumstances, technology is such a blessing! The fact that students who were reduced to single classroom schoolhouses can now join AP classes on any available subject is amazing! I will say, however, That I am not a huge fan of using these technologies for "traditional" students. As good as technology can be, we, as humans need to prudently use it and not let it use us. As cute as a movie Wall-e is, it brings up some very good points.

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Permalink Reply by Ginny L on October 6, 2009 at 6:07pm

I agree with what you're saying in some respects. I think that distance learning can be an efficient way to teach certain courses in cases such as this one. Certainly issues with transportation such as snow days, fog delays, and other weather-related concerns of which we have already experienced at least one first-hand this semester might be greatly decreased or eliminated. And I agree that this provides a better opportunity for teachers dealing with these extreme transportation situations to focus on teaching. I also agree that distance learning, again, can be efficient in teaching certain courses. Having taken some online classes myself, though, at the college level, I wonder if many high school students are prepared for the very different nature of distance learning including the lack of face-to-face communication and increased responsibility on the students' behalves. I think there would have to be some consideration on the parts of the administration, teachers, and parents to really decide whether or not individual students would be prepared to attempt distance learning.

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Permalink Reply by Joyce Avery on October 7, 2009 at 11:21am

For the situation with the Yukon-Koyukuk school district I do believe that the "virtual classroom" teaching method is a great fit. The students were not being provided with the best education possible and teachers were undergoing much stress. However, I do not think that online or video conferences classes should become the norm. There are some experiences that students will simply not receive through the use of such technology. I took an online class one summer and while I did learn some new information, I feel that it would have been much better had there been an instructor guiding me through. Discussion boards were used but no class activities took place. For students who are hands-on learners, some information will simply pass them by if taught strictly online. Video directed teaching would most likely be much more engaging and useful since there is still an instructor leading the class, simply they are not in the actual classroom with the students. It amazes me how far along technology has come over the past several years and I am very anxious to see where it will take us in the future.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Fisher on October 7, 2009 at 2:17pm

I really liked this article because it explain the great possibilities "virtual classrooms" can provide students from different areas and situations. I have never taken an online class myself, and I have heard both positives and negatives from college students that have. From what I have heard is that many online classes are disussion board based, and much of the work and responsibility is the students. I feel this works for college students, but it may be a problem for high school students and students in lower grades. I believe the vitual classroom was a great tool for the Yukon and Baltimore schools. In the Yukon district school was a stressful environment for both teachers and students, and the virtual classroom was able to make both students and teachers more comfortable and reduced stress. In the Baltimore school district the virtual classroom was used to give students access to a wide variety of AP classes they usually would not have access to. This is a great tool for students who are planning to further their education in college.

To finish up my response I do agree with Joyce. I feel that online classes are not for all students. Students that are more hands on will have problems with the online classes because they can not interact with what they are learning. Online classes are great for students who absorb information easily and are very independent. It is great that students are given the opportunity to use these tools if they wish.

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Permalink Reply by Jordan Johnson on October 7, 2009 at 5:42pm

The internet certainly has become a powerful tool in our society. It revolutionized the business world and it's beginning to have a profound influence on our education systems. Many businesses exist solely on the internet, so it seems to be natural for classes and even some schools to follow suit. There are definitely scenarios, such as the Yukon school district, where this would be beneficial for most of the involved parties. Technology, especially the internet, should play a significant role in anyone's education these days. However, online classes present several problems.

First of all is student motivation. There's something to be said for having the teacher right in front of you when it comes to convincing you to work on something. Students may be more inclined to ignore someone they don't have to look in the eye; there's no one to give them the disapproving "teacher look." Surfing espn.com while in geometry certainly sounds like an attractive option.

Additionally, there's the influence of just being at school and the process it involves. Waking up and traveling to school everyday helps students learn how to develop good habits that will help them when they reach the "real world." When at school, they learn valuable lessons about social interaction when around their peers and the faculty. Collaborative learning can be done well online, especially with advances in internet communications (web-cams, etc.), but it's difficult to learn how to read body language or tone of voice when e-mail attachment are the only communiqué.

In the end, I tend to agree with most of the participants in the discussion. While online classes are warranted in some situations, they aren't for everyone.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Haley on October 7, 2009 at 9:12pm

I can certainly see many positive and negative aspects to the possibility of online education. On the positive side, I believe that this opens up a wide arrange of courses that schools can now offer their students that wouldn’t ordinarily be cost efficient or time efficient. Online classrooms allow for districts to expand their curriculum and add classes of a diverse nature for the students. Also districts could offer more AP classes for their students which would give them a ‘leg-up’ going into college. Online classrooms are also considerably less expensive than hiring a full time teacher who physically teaches in the classroom setting. On the negative side, the loss of the classroom identity and learning environment could cause many unforeseen issues. Online courses take out the interactions that are imperative to the learning environment. I have taken many online classes and besides just doing the required work and posting something to a discussion board, there was very little meaningful interaction. This problem has the potential to be fixed with the technological advances and integrations that are rapidly occurring. If the online environment became more interactive and allows for a ‘virtual face-to-face’ experience then I can see no reason why online classrooms should be restricted by a district.

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