Virtual Schooling
The idea of virtual schooling is to help students get access to classes they might not have in their current school systems. A part of virtual schooling is online learning, with online learning students have better access to the curriculum and can learn at their own pace. The virtual experience can range from self pacing to being teacher lead. I am interested in this topic because I have a student who left traditional schooling for virtual schooling. I think this could potentially hurt special education, a part of special education is having more specialized learning, to help students who need modifications and accommodations. How will virtual school be able to reach all kids who need those modifications? How can virtual schooling cater to all kids? I am skeptical of virtual schooling, I think it will hurt young peoples' social skills. We cannot learn to be social if we do not interact with people one on one. Students want a chance at moving quickly through their courses or need to move at a slower pace would benefit from this but I think overall it would hurt students who potentially need modifications to their learning.
Mobile Devices
Students now are living in a world full of technology, it seems almost rare to come across a student who does not have a cell phone. Teachers are now trying to take hold of mobile devices and use them as a part of everyday learning. This is also changing the way teachers teacher their lessons, now teachers are trying to ensure the technology is being used for classroom activities and not for social media or texting. Right now I am in a High School and I see mobile devices as a distraction more than a tool for learning. I think teachers will need to make a shift to be more aware of technology and learn new ways to teach if they want to use technology in the classroom. On this debate I am in between, I think it is exciting if teachers can find affective ways to use mobile devices. However so far I have seen it being a problem in classrooms. I also think it would help students to get away from their mobile devices for a while, we cannot be plugged in all the time. We need to make sure students are still interacting with each other.
Hey Anna!
ReplyDeleteVirtual schooling is a new topic for me. I do agree with what you said though. It may be helpful for certain students, but in regards to socializing it can be very harmful. Students need peer interaction and need to learn how to work with other people. That is a part of life that especially students in special education need experience in.
Also, as you mentioned, using mobile devices in the classroom can take away from that peer interaction time that is so essential. A break from technology is healthy and school is a good place for that break. Our students need to start thinking completely for themselves instead of depending on their devices to think for them.
Another concern I have with using mobile devices in the classroom is with those few students who don't have smartphones. How will they feel if the class is required to participate in an activity that requires a smartphone?
Celeste,
DeleteYou bring up a good point, not all students will have access to a mobile device, especially not a smartphone. I think today we just assume all people will have a mobile device when in reality they may not. We just need to be conscious of this when thinking about using mobile devices in the classroom and make sure all our students have access to a device of some kind if we choose to use them in the classroom.
Hey Anna,
ReplyDeleteVirtual schooling reminds me a lot of online classes, like this class. I think it can work really well for students who are very independent and have good time management skills. I am not always one of those students, so these types of classes are more challenging for me. I also agree that it can hinder social aspects of learning, especially not for a lot of our students. Learning needs to be social and engaging, not just in front of a screen.
Amy,
DeleteI agree, not all students will be fit for virtual learning. I have a hard time with this class and it can get pushed off because of other classes. It can be hard to get online to do a class when I have the real world around me. It is so important for students to unplug and be a part of the real world.
Anna,
ReplyDeleteI like your stance on devices in the classroom. I personally love the idea of incorporating them in the classroom. I think a lot of students only want to use them so badly simply because they're told they're not allowed to. "you want what you can't have". I do realize this is hard to effectively achieve, and the cell phones can still be a distraction even if they're incorporated.
Thanks for sharing!
Alison
Alison,
DeleteA lot of students do have the thought of "I want want I can't have" when it comes to mobile devices and I agree telling students they can use those devices may make them less desirable. I just think the teacher will have to put some thought into incorporating mobile devices into learning. It will take a lot of effort on the teachers end to ensure all students are on topic all the time with their devices. I see some of my students now on Facebook in class on their laptops, yet the teacher does not notice.
With online learning, reasons are important. Sometimes, districts can't afford to offer a wide range of courses, so taking one online can benefit a student. Same for homebound students. Where we start getting into trouble is when we look at it as a financial solution or a 'get 'em through' solution (i.e., low grade remedial tutorials for credit recovery so students can graduate).
ReplyDelete