Journal 8

Virtual Schooling
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser

This article discusses the rapid enrollment and interest in virtual schooling. Virtual schooling offers K-12 classes completely online. This program is for some allowing students better access to technology and for others simple making AP courses more readily available when not offered at their school. In Florida it was used to help displaced Katrina victims continue their schooling. The virtual school system is set up with a teacher communicating with their students through videoconferencing, email and a learning management system. It requires students to be more self motivated to get work done on their own, but teaches valuable technological skills to go with their course matter. The role of the teacher is much the same as it is in a standard classroom; they must have good organization and communication skills. The teacher's participation includes, "teacher-student communication without developing over dependence, assessing student work and providing timely feedback, and peer collaboration." The administrators play the role of allocating funds, maintaining the virtual schooling and the coordination of it. The article says that the most important person is the VS site facilitator. The facilitator guides the students when making choices about which class to take, they proctor exams, gives feedback to the teachers, and is a liaison between the virtual teacher and the student's school site. The article is there to introduce us to virtual school and explain ways it can help students learn.

Question?
What are some reasons for choosing virtual schooling?

Answer:
Some reasons for choosing virtual schooling are gaining access to classes no longer available at your school, when displaced and unable to physically attend school and to gain better access to technology.

Question?
What step has Michigan made to incorporate virtual learning?
In April 2006, they made it mandatory for all students to participate in online learning to graduate. They did this so they could introduce the students to virtual learning and so it would help them use it more freely in the future.