Volume 30, no.15, January 12th, 2011
The article titled "Cyber Students Taught the Value of Social Skills" discusses the ever growing population of students receiving an online school. Some of these are charter schools and some are not. Students share classrooms with other students from all over the country. One of the chief complaints or concerns with an online education is how to teach the students about social skills, a topic that often cannot be taught but rather needs to be experienced. So the newest idea is to have fieldtrips, one day a week that they can meet or other outings with students in similar geographical regions. Another idea online charter school, Commonwealth Connections Academy has come up is sending around a vehicle converted into a science classroom. It parks in a different Pennsylvania neighborhood each week. Students who participate get a change to work on science with peers (classmates) and a teacher. Other online programs use networking to join their students socially. These may include Facebook, My Space, Blogging and the Big Think (an alternative to Facebook. Although there is much concern about the socialization skills of students who participate in a full time online education, studies have shown that they are just as social as their counterparts who attend traditional schools. In fact the online students rated higher than students participating in traditional education. Also problem behaviors were rated as significantly lower in students enrolled in online schools. Another issue discussed is the lack of adult role models in an online education.
Overall, I find the whole idea of cyber schooling uncomfortable. I myself learn better in a traditional classroom environment and I think many children need that human interaction to help keep them interested and motivated. I also don't know how this change to cyber schooling is going to address those person's with special needs or behavioral issues. My true fear is the online schooling will eventually completely replace traditional education. I worry that my child or grandchildren may not have the choice of having a real teacher, a real classroom and real classmates and friends. Most of this change will be forced eventually as it's a cheaper way to educate and school budgets continue to get cut. My only hope is that it will take a very long time to happen as my career as well as my children and grandchildrens education may be at stake.
No comments:
Post a Comment