Distance learning is not a new way to learn. It has been around for many years. The recession, women working, families living intergenerational, transportation, safety in schools, and technology have brought distance learning to the portrait of what is looks like today.
In the article "At the tipping point k-12 on line learning." there is projection that by the year "2019 about 50 percent of high school courses will be delivered on line." There are even on line schools which are being formed in many states, Ohio has one.
How do we judge a good on line program. The quality is challenging. Some do not believe that a student can learn as much from on line course work as they do in the classroom environment. Well as a long time student I have been in many classroom environments and there is not always quality.
A rubric for determining online instruction quality can be found at http://www.csuchico.edu/celt/roi/history.shtml. This reviews a baseline program, effective, and exemplary.
All classes should not be taught on line or taken on line. As technology progresses we all are being enhanced with our learning. There are many learning styles and teaching styles. It is just finding the right fit.
Cites: Education Research Complete, At the Tipping Point: K-12 O line learning, Booth, Susan, 2009
Rubric for Online Instruction, http://www.scuchico.edu/celt/roi/history.shtml.
I agree that the quality of distance learning is a major concern to students and instructors. How to solve this issue can be complicating and there can be many variables. With different learning styles and different teaching styles, some classes are better left to the classroom.
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