VIRTUAL SCHOOLS & CLASSROOMS

QUESTION FOR THOUGHT: Is a progression toward virtual schools and classrooms a positive for the future of education?

VIRTUAL SCHOOLS Virtual schools are institutions that teach courses primarily though online methods, providing students with an innovative and flexible way of receiving an education.

ARE VIRTUAL SCHOOLS PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? PUBLIC “Public virtual schools are governed by public entities such as public school districts, independent, non-profit charter school boards, and state education agencies” (K12).

ACCOUNTABILITY Source: K12

ISN’T ATTENDING A VIRTUAL SCHOOL THE SAME AS BEING HOMESCHOOLED? NO

VIRTUAL SCHOOLS: SOURCE: K12

ROLE OF THE TEACHER IN A VIRTUAL SETTING: SOURCE: K12

TRUE OR FALSE: Kids who are enrolled in virtual schools tend to be awkward in social situations.

FALSE “Teachers conduct monthly outings—social and academic— for students and their families, and students are involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. School-sponsored activities and events might include teachers workshops and parent workshops; community service projects; clubs; field trips; school academic events like spelling bees, science fairs, visits to historical sites, etc.”

FUNDING VIRTUAL SCHOOLS SOURCE: K12

ADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES Allows for students to be more productive with their time Does not limit schools growth to geographic region Do not have to worry about overhead of standard schools More one on one interaction with students Emphasis on collaborative learning Software updates could potentially interfere with instruction Staying focused while in a home environment Expenses Lack of hands-on instruction

Would a virtual school be a good fit for you?

QUESTION FOR THOUGHT: Is a progression toward virtual schools and classrooms a positive for the future of education?

SOURCES "Advantages of Schools Using Virtual Classrooms." Virtual Classroom Software. VirtualClassroomsSoftware.com, 7 Aug Web. 21 Apr Dell'Antonia, KJ. "Can Virtual Schools Really Replace Classrooms?" Motherlode. The New York Times, 14 Nov Web. 21 Apr "Facts About K¹² Public Virtual Schools." K12. K12, Inc., n.d. Web. 21 Apr Layton, Lyndsey, and Emma Brown. "Virtual Schools Are Multiplying, but Some Question Their Educational Value." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 28 Nov Web. 21 Apr Queen, Jacob. "The Disadvantages of Virtual School." EHow. Demand Media, 27 Jan Web. 21 Apr

Can Virtual Schools Really Replace Classrooms? KJ Dell’Antonia The article focuses on the practice of virtual schooling and the practical nature with which it effectively educates children. While statistics show that more and more children are choosing this alternative method of learning each year, the standardized test scores for virtual schoolers is lower than that of the average public schooler. The article then describes how in order for virtual education to succeed, both the student and the parents of that student must have a desire to learn in this format. The students who chose to do virtual learning themselves succeed. Those who were forced to enroll in this school of thought, did not succeed.

Virtual schools are multiplying, but some question their educational value. Lyndsey Layton and Emma Brown The article focuses on the validity of schooling children from in front of a computer screen. While case studies are given, the authors make the argument that virtual education is destined to be a failure because the regular school system is not where it should be. By incorporating virtual lessons, schools are taking a 21 st century idea and trying to place it within a system that is still stuck in the 19 th century. As long as the schools are behind the curve, this great amount of technology will produce a struggle. Virtual education would take care of many problems, most dealing with money and the budget, but the students may not be receiving the best education in the process.