Each of these scenarios I have had some type of experience with- overbearing parents- we arranged for an online class during the day instead of when they other students had Chemistry- he went to another class to take the online version.
I think that most schools are equipped to handle students who are coming back and are behind. There are interventions plans in place to help students that struggle anyway. It is the impact on the teacher evaluation that is most concerning. Each district can set the proficiency level and who and how they choose which will count for the 25% achievement rate.
All of these changes are helpful and doable in the real world. They make things happen. I have an instance in my own personal education, I have a course that is at Wayne I need to graduate that is only offered face to face in Detroit. I live in Shelby. The nearest place to take the same course is Western which is 1 1/2 hours- which is better than the 3 hours to Detroit. I have asked for every possible alternative- Can the professor Skype me in or have my friend video it and then send it to me. I would drive for tests. The answer was no. I can understand it on some levels but it is the one class I need before my dissertation and then I am done. So I am going to have to drive. So I think that there are always obstacles that we will still have to navigate and problems that even though the technology exists we will have to stick to our traditional guns. That is life.
I think that once school districts catch on to the alternative and flexibility of virtual schools as a resource that they can run it will help navigate a lot of problems that they are unable to fix now except in more costly measures.
I agree with you that our schools are well equipped to handle students who are behind, but are we equipped to handle those who needs to be challenged?
ReplyDeleteI am happy to hear that the teachers in your previous school handled online classes very well which proves that online classes are double and can replace F2 F classes.
I think there is no significant difference between face to face learning or online learning according to many online instructors.
I agree with overbearing parents. They seem to contradict themselves. One day, they want them to be challenged, the next they want to give excuses for their child. Currently, at my school, we do not offer online classes. My understanding from the revised school code video is that grade 5 and up should be given the option. I am unclear whether this is a suggestion or a rule. We have so many behavior problems and we have no discipline policy, so there is no way to change these habits. For online classes, students and parents will have to take ownership, which will be difficult. I find that parents don't "want to be bothered" during the school day. I have heard way too much foul language and screaming by parents, there seems not to be boundaries. And what about the hardware and internet connection? Who is reposible for that? What if a students doesn't have a connection that month because they didn't pay the cable bill?
ReplyDeleteKaren, you have some excellent questions! I no idea about paying for connection. I know that in my old district if there was a students who showed a need, there was a wifi type card they could get. I thought that was interesting. We really need to keep responsibility for daily living skills to parents- but can't on some levels. That is frustrating- for any educational programming to work- parents have to be apart of the process.
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