With the advent of the Internet, “virtual” has become quite prominent—virtual games, virtual tours, virtual field trips, virtual worlds, and virtual assistants. And education has not escaped the “virtual.” We now have virtual schools where students K-College can engage in online/distance learning through various technology options. My annotated bibliography is on Virtual Schools.
Clark, T. Virtual Schools: Trends and Issues. A Study of Virtual Schools in the United States. Distance Learning Resource Network at WestEd, Phoenix, AZ, 2001. Web. Retrieved October 3, 2010. http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/virtualschools.pdf
In this report, Clark gives a summary and analysis of virtual school activities and trends in U.S. in 2001. The results from the online survey of a peer group of 33 virtual schools include virtual school profiles across the range of virtual school types and a brief review of context factors with a list of recommendation for planners. The report is targeted at K-12 teacher and administrators, parents, college faculty, private/charter schools and home schoolers wanting to learn more about this educational option.
Key findings included: 1) in 2001-02 approximately 40,000 to 50,000 K-12 students were enrolled in an online course; 2) primary focus was on providing supplemental high school curriculum; 3) common tuition reported was $300 per semester and public schools operating virtual schools received state funding based on enrollments; 4) fourteen states had virtual schools officially recognized by governor, legislature or state education agency as statewide virtual school; and 5) participation was highest by students in rural and small schools. In addition, a list of all virtual Schools at that time which offered courses designed for “educational organizations that offer K-12 courses through Internet- or web-based methods” are listed by various categories and a list of “leading service providers” is also included. The author includes references cited to give reader further resources and study on virtual education.
Some major implications for educators and decision-makers looking at virtual schools are to identify sustainable funding needs and sources early on, consider several pre-screening methods to determine if online learning may be appropriate for student, and consider all technology options that focus on learning. I think future efforts to survey schools should identify demographic factors of students taking courses and the equitable access to technology for K-12 students at schools and at home that may limit access to virtual schooling. Finally, I would also like to see a copy of the survey Clark gave.
“Online Learning Options.” TeacherTube Video. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=112727&title=Online_Learning_Options
Today 45 of 50 states and the District of Columbia have state virtual schools, online learning or both. This means many for-profit companies and nonprofit school-based providers are providing curriculum, edelivery platforms, macromedia/development tools, and varied technology-based resources to school districts for online teaching and learning. I found a staff development workshop presented to North Ridgeville City School District on February 5, 2009 entitled "Online Based Learning: Options and Strategies." A list of five external service providers is presented. The program components of each are listed along with the pros and cons of the program. The pro/con factors included degree to which program meets ODE standards, if money is diverted from district, inclusion of Ohio certified teachers, additional work required from teaching staff, other local area school districts who used program, and cost per student. I found the list informative and helpful if I were trying to decide which program to use in a school district. I especially liked their recommendation of the program to select and the rationale for that selection.
Additional Resource
Dawley, Lisa. “Research Roundup: Online Learning.” Explore Online Learning. Edutopia-What Works in Education. Web. 29 June 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
http://www.edutopia.org/stw-online-learning-research-roundup
Clark, T. Virtual Schools: Trends and Issues. A Study of Virtual Schools in the United States. Distance Learning Resource Network at WestEd, Phoenix, AZ, 2001. Web. Retrieved October 3, 2010. http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/virtualschools.pdf
In this report, Clark gives a summary and analysis of virtual school activities and trends in U.S. in 2001. The results from the online survey of a peer group of 33 virtual schools include virtual school profiles across the range of virtual school types and a brief review of context factors with a list of recommendation for planners. The report is targeted at K-12 teacher and administrators, parents, college faculty, private/charter schools and home schoolers wanting to learn more about this educational option.
Key findings included: 1) in 2001-02 approximately 40,000 to 50,000 K-12 students were enrolled in an online course; 2) primary focus was on providing supplemental high school curriculum; 3) common tuition reported was $300 per semester and public schools operating virtual schools received state funding based on enrollments; 4) fourteen states had virtual schools officially recognized by governor, legislature or state education agency as statewide virtual school; and 5) participation was highest by students in rural and small schools. In addition, a list of all virtual Schools at that time which offered courses designed for “educational organizations that offer K-12 courses through Internet- or web-based methods” are listed by various categories and a list of “leading service providers” is also included. The author includes references cited to give reader further resources and study on virtual education.
Some major implications for educators and decision-makers looking at virtual schools are to identify sustainable funding needs and sources early on, consider several pre-screening methods to determine if online learning may be appropriate for student, and consider all technology options that focus on learning. I think future efforts to survey schools should identify demographic factors of students taking courses and the equitable access to technology for K-12 students at schools and at home that may limit access to virtual schooling. Finally, I would also like to see a copy of the survey Clark gave.
“Online Learning Options.” TeacherTube Video. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=112727&title=Online_Learning_Options
Today 45 of 50 states and the District of Columbia have state virtual schools, online learning or both. This means many for-profit companies and nonprofit school-based providers are providing curriculum, edelivery platforms, macromedia/development tools, and varied technology-based resources to school districts for online teaching and learning. I found a staff development workshop presented to North Ridgeville City School District on February 5, 2009 entitled "Online Based Learning: Options and Strategies." A list of five external service providers is presented. The program components of each are listed along with the pros and cons of the program. The pro/con factors included degree to which program meets ODE standards, if money is diverted from district, inclusion of Ohio certified teachers, additional work required from teaching staff, other local area school districts who used program, and cost per student. I found the list informative and helpful if I were trying to decide which program to use in a school district. I especially liked their recommendation of the program to select and the rationale for that selection.
Additional Resource
Dawley, Lisa. “Research Roundup: Online Learning.” Explore Online Learning. Edutopia-What Works in Education. Web. 29 June 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
http://www.edutopia.org/stw-online-learning-research-roundup
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