Virtual Schools provide a free alternative to public education. But is it real worth everything that it really costs.
Virtual Learning is not free in the United States. It is produced at direct cost to the taxpayer, and often at the highest cost per district in the state. Corporation like K12 are for profit businesses that make profit from the same coffers that fund struggling public schools across the U.S.
The real issue to virtual education rests in the lack of real virtualness. K12s program requires parent learning coaches, a teacher to track progress, and UPS shipments of classroom materials. Virtual school children suffer from the same lack of socialization that other home school children are confronted with. K12's program is little more than a digital home school option which sends data to a teacher for verification and provides the student with a qualified tutor through email. Assessments of the program have yet to show progress in a majority of the virtual academies and although the two thirds of its students suffer from poverty the K12 system does not appear to be designed to help these children. (Layton and Brown, 2011)
The framework advertised above does have merits for students who need individual attention weather they are under preforming in a public school setting or are academically gifted enough that they need to move forward at a pace that public school cannot provide. Self paced education or standards based RISC education, like that recently developed for Maine schools (Parkhurst 2010), is likely to become a powerful alternative to the common grade assessed schools as American education shifts through the 21st century trying to find its footing and a singular model. Virtual schools will attempt to corner the home school market and create a privatized niche to replace failing public school systems.
Resources
Layton, L and Brown, E. Virtual schools are multiplying, but some question their educational value. The Washington Post. Retrieved from. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virtual-schools-are-multiplying-but-some-question-their-educational-value/2011/11/22/gIQANUzkzN_story.html
Parkhurst, E. RISC in Maine Schools Retrieved from http://www.reinventingschools.org/2010/03/02/risc-in-maine-schools/
Great post! I too am trying to figure out where the funding comes from for the so-called free classes at VLACS. And VHS sounds like a huge corporation mass marketing canned courses to schools. If we could get to a truly virtual program, which automatically adjusted instruction and difficulty level based on performance, differentiating instruction, then it would be a great product.
ReplyDeleteUntil someone finds out how to give a computer all the capacities and skill of a human teacher online learning can't take the place of the classroom with a devoted, dedicated and passionate educator. The danger that we face at this point is for corporations to start creating new factory schools to design their new perfect employees.
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ReplyDeleteGreat post. I agree, I have a very hard time figuring out how these classes are "free" to public school students. We're taking a virtual class, and it certainly isn't free. I think the opportunity is wonderful for kids who haven't been successful in traditional Brick and Mortar schools or for those who have talents they need to pursue during the traditional school day. That being said, I can't imagine the "average" kid having the ability to prioritize and complete work without an adult encouraging him/her at all times. Teachers do more than teach content, kids need more in life than just academics; isn't that what public education is all about?
Amen sister! I do not feel that virtual schools can ever take the place of a traditional classroom setting. There are so many different experiences and skills that are taught in schools than people realize - socialization and coping to name a few. Students cannot just sit behind a screen and learn how to mingle or function in the real world. You are right "kids need more in life than just academics" and this is learned largely in school on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post showing the darker side to virtual learning. It is interesting how they can provide free classes to districts when they need to cover costs for administration along with the instructors. I do know a friend of mine taught for one online program and she was not paid for the student who dropped out of the class even if it was in the last week. School is so much more than online learning with the teacher, it is so much socialization, cooperation and so many other life lessons that are not measured through grades.
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