Scenario 2- Benefits of Virtual Schooling

Although virtual schooling might not sound so great to many people, it actually has lots of benefits to teachers, students and parents.

It is beneficial to teachers because teachers do not have to put up with the distractions of other students who are uninterested in learning. It gives the teachers the opportunity to have access to the students 24/7 and them having access to her/him as well. Also, teachers will have more time to focus on more important things like lesson preparation and students help and feedback, as opposed to the loads of paperwork they have to deal with in an in-class setting. Also, teachers are able to grade assignments anywhere they choose, be it their porch, bedroom, etc. The grading process is also less tedious because it involves using the computer, something lots of people enjoy doing.

There are benefits to the students as well. Students do not have to feel like they are being on display all the time. They work at their own pace and can ask the teacher as many questions as they want without being singles out. Also, the students tend to have more confidence with chatting online as opposed to sitting in a classroom surrounded by dozens of people. Through virtual schooling, students are more likely to be out spoken and give their honest opinions and responses because they do not feel the peer pressure they would otherwise feel in the classroom. Furthermore, students are taught to be responsible for their work and encouraged to be more organized. They are not being distracted constantly by those students who often have a hard time paying attention in class.

As for the parents, their minds are more at ease. They are able to see what their child is doing at all times. They don’t have to worry about the peer pressure the students are facing in public schools on a daily basis. They are also able to look over their child’s work and know exactly what they are doing. Also, the parents feel more involved in the education of their child when they see him/her constantly completing online assignments and communicating with the teacher.

As you can see, everyone can benefit from virtual schooling if they take the time to look at it with an open mind.

These three website will give you a better understanding of the benefits of virtual schooling.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/nov/24/na-virtual-schools-real-benefits/- This website discusses how teachers, parents and students all benefit from virtual schools. It gives the reader a better idea of how teachers, parents and students feel about virtual schooling.

http://virtualschools2.virtualschools.net/folders/the_benefits/- This website tells the benefits of virtual schooling and compares virtual schools to regular schools.

http://www.academicleadership.org/student_research/Virtual_Schools_An_Ethical_Option.shtml- this a journal article the discussed the benefits of virtual schools and breaks down how each group benefits from virtual schooling.

My advice for scene 1

After viewing scene 1 of the scenario, I noticed that the school has very outdated resouces. The computers are really old and do not support much of any type of software. The first step the principal took was a good one, purchacing new and more advanced computers. I would also recommend that the school gets more information on the software requirements of Elluminate to ensure that the software will be easily installed on the computers purchased. Listed below are the Minimum System Requirements of Elluminate:

All clients are required to have:

Java versions 1.5 or 1.6
20 MB free disk space
Soundcard with speakers and microphone or headset (or telephone for Telephony users)
28.8 Kbps Internet connection

In addition to the above requirements, each server requires the following:

Windows Client
Windows 2000/XP/Vista
Pentium III 1 GHz processor
256 MB RAM

Macintosh Client
Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5
G4, G5 or Intel Processor
256 MB RAM

Solaris Client
Solaris 10
UltraSPARC 500 MHz
256 MB RAM

Linux Client
Red Hat Linux (RHEL4), Novell SUSE 10
Pentium III 1 GHz processor
256 MB RAM

Futhermore, I would recommend that the school gets technology teacher or coordinator to assist with the software, hardware, and technology needs of the school and to help students who would like to take virtual classes.

Here are three websites I would recommend the school to look at.

1) http://www.elluminate.com/index.jsp- this website will provide the school with more information on the Elluminate Software so that the school know exactly what to purchase.

2) http://www.inacol.org/resources/docs/NACOL_PDforVSandOlnLrng.pdf- this is a report that examines the types of professional developments necessary to implement successful online learning initiatives.

3) http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1094- this is an article that discusses ways administrators can create effective virtual school programs.

Virtual Schooling- Part 2

I have been working at a public charter school for the past 6 years. It wasn’t until my second year of teaching that we got a telephone installed in our classrooms. That was then followed by 1-2 computers in each classroom…without DVD players and some don’t even have CD players. And now, six years later, we finally have 3 smart boards and a laptop cart in our school. Technology is being adapted into our classrooms slowly but surely.
Looking at this technology trend in my personal school over a 6 year period, I was surprised to see that Michigan was one of the schools that had been discussed in the Clark article. I would not have guessed that at all.
Reading the Clark article and 10 Myths about Virtual Schooling enlightened me on the topic of virtual schooling. I was right when I had stated that students are more willing to express themselves online as opposed to in a classroom setting. It was also interesting how they discussed how teachers work longer hours because they are using the computer constantly to communicate with the students. I can relate to this because this year I started posting homework assignments online instead of through weekly packets. I also communicate with a few parents via email. It really is a constant task making sure that all the emails are being responded to and all the student messages online are being read and responded to as well. I do however feel that even though I am reading and responding to messages more frequently, it is easier to communicate with the parents. I feel like it strengthened the relationship between the parents and me.
I guess virtual schooling does have a lot more benefits that are perceived. Students are learning in a way that is beneficial to them and teachers are teaching without the usual distractions that they usually experience in a classroom setting.

My Thoughts on Virtual Schooling

I am not very familiar with online learning however I recently viewed a case study on schools in Las Vegas and it showed some examples of online learning and virtual schooling. I thought it was very interesting. Teachers and students both enjoyed the online teaching/learning environment. It seemed very flexible and it gave the students the opportunity to work full-time jobs along with getting a high school education. The teachers also seemed so much less stresses. Since all assignments were given via email, it reduced the paper work for the teacher and the teacher was able to grade the work at his/her own convenience.

From viewing the video, it seemed as though virtual schooling was very similar to the online courses we take at Wayne State. The students are working from the convenience of their own homes and the teacher is doing so as well. It kind of eliminates peer pressure, bullying, disrespect toward the teacher and other issues that would usually arise in an in-class setting. I also feel that online classes help students become more open and show their true personalities. Students are often embarrassed, reserved or simply afraid to make a mistake in a class setting. With online schooling, students do not feel the pressure of needing to impress students around them. They also might be more likely to speak out about certain topics of discussion with other class members more freely because of the lack or peer pressure and boost of confidence the internet gives to individuals.

It seems like the students that usually would take online classes are ones who already have other commitments to work or family and have found a great way to be successful at both simultaneously.

Global Community

One activity that I particularly liked to help promote a global community was ePals. ePal is a great way to introduce students to a safe way to social network. It is great tool for students and gives them the opportunity to have their own, safe email accounts. They are also able to post blogs and collaborate with one another in a safe and productive manner. It is also great how teachers are given school homepages for students and parents to have around-the-clock access to the events that are taking place in the class. Students would benefit greatly from having access to websites that are geared toward education and other members of the global community who are working toward the same objective. With all the corruption and dangers that come with the web, having a safe community of students and educators helps reduce the problems that would otherwise arise if students were communicating in an open network.

I also like how students are able to me mentored. There are many students now who have many issues that they do not feel comfortable discussing with their parents. Through mentoring, students are able to get the same advice and help without feeling as much pressure.

The Educational Impact of the Personal Web

Of the six trends outlined in the 2009 Horizon Report, I feel that the personal web will have the biggest impact on teaching. Although the majority of social networking sites are blocked at many schools, the majority of teachers and students have accounts to some sort of social networking site. Through the use of social networking sites, teachers will be able to set up blogs, post assignments, and communicate with students easily. Students can also display artwork, pictures, respond to blogs and post videos that are related to concepts discussed in class.

I am very excited about seeing mobiles being used in schools as a teaching tool. Students are often punished for bringing mobile devices with them to school or for using them during class time. It will be really interesting to see teachers adapting to mobile devices and using them as a tool, as opposed to being a distraction.

It’s interesting to look at mobile devices as ones that can be used to capture education-related pictures, record educational videos and conduct interviews. We, as teachers, need to look outside the box and see how mobile devices can be used to promote creativity and positive interaction amongst peers. Once students realize that mobile devices are finally allowed in schools they might begin to use them more responsibly.

Millennial Generation aka Digital Natives

The articles Millennials rising: The next great generation by Howe & Strauss and Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants by Marc Prensky were very interesting and provided great insight about the generation of students we're dealing with today. Reading these articles helped me to see this new generation in a different light, in a better light.

Although these articles were very interesting and discuss the group of learners we are teaching today, I was not able to relate the articles to the group of students I am currently teaching. As I mentioned in my earlier blog, I am currently teaching at a charter school where the majority of the students come from low income, single parent homes. Yes, my students are raised watching lots of television, listening to inappropriate music and playing video games. However, due to their economic background, I feel that they are lacking the knowledge of many of the technologies that exist today. I am even finding it difficult to have the students complete homework assignments online because many of them do not have internet access at home, let alone computers.

Hence I did not find a clear relationship between the students I teach and the students mentioned in these articles, I was able to relate these articles to the generation of my younger brother and sister. I noticed that many of the characteristics discussed, especially by Howe and Strauss, were ones that are present in my younger brother and sister.

Being raised in the same household as my younger brother and sister and by the same parents, I often question how these two kids turned out so different from the rest of us in the family. I try to question my parents’ parental skill and whether they gave up on the younger ones. Questions as such always linger through my mind as I try to make sense of why my younger siblings behave in the manner they do. The rest of the kids in our family are very family-oriented, social, respectful, especially of our parents, and considerate of the feelings of others… Where did these two kids come from? When I see their behavior and their disregard for authority it really bothers me. How could these two kids be born into a family like ours? Reading these articles gave me a better understanding of “what went wrong”. They also gave me some sense of comfort. Although, initially I did not see my little brother as one who would consider going to college as an option. I now see him a little more serious about his life and the decisions he makes…sometimes. When I read the characteristics of kids in this generation, they remind me a lot of my siblings and the stages of life they have and are going through. It also helps me to see how I think of them and how they can be looked at through the eyes of others, such as Howe, Strauss and Prensky. I must admit, I did see them as self-absorbed, distrustful, rule-breakers, neglected and to some extent stupid (or at least made horrible decisions). These articles made me look at these characteristics in a different light, a more optimistic light. As many of the students in this generation, it is fair to say that, they, like all kids in their generation, are very intelligent and focused individuals. Their focuses, however, revolve more around them and less with the individuals around them. The way the Howe and Strauss defines their self-absorption, distrustfulness, rule-breaking attitudes and intelligence is really great. Once we shy away from the stereotypes of this generation and the type of world they will produce, we become more reassured that they will make things better. That they, as all kids, go through stages and eventually turn out alright.

I guess you can say that the Millennial Generation or the Digital Natives, however you want to refer to them, could actually becoming a generation of hope and change. A generation made up of smart, free-thinking individuals who are aware of what is going on in the world, who are not self-absorbed and actually think outside of the box, for a change. A generation who looks for knowledge as opposed to sitting back and getting brainwashed by the closed-minded, one-sided thoughts that are being portrayed through the media and television today.

Maybe the Millennial Generation will actually be made up of some pretty intelligent individuals.