As a class, we brainstormed pros and cons about Online Learning during "Snow Days." Here are some of the findings:
Should schools use virtual classrooms to prevent missed school days due to weather?
Things to consider...
- Access to computer/internet?
- multi-unit family with one computer, who can use it for school work?
- Transfer/access to material?
- Teachers lesson plans at school?
- Students learning materials at school?
- Just because school is cancelled doesn’t mean the work day is cancelled… who will monitor the students who need care? Can the day care access the materials?
- Power source/low wifi accessibility/snow disconnects connection?
- Plan B: students are assigned work to do on their own
- Parent portal
- Facebook Page
Teaching synchronously online gives the opportunity to make connections with other teachers (district, state, national, global).
Online Classrooms
What is online teaching?
- A lot of different objectives (ex: Connections Academy)
- Learning coach at home
- Not homeschooling but schooling at home!
- Online school, school provides everything - textbooks, science kits, etc.
- Hard to overcome virtual barrier
Do studies show if online learning works better for certain learning styles?
- pregnancies
- sick
- learning disabilities
- social disabilities
- age
How do you teach certain classes online? (Music, gym, art?)
- Meet once a week at a school to do science experiments, physical education, band/choir, art, etc.
Financially, how does this work for families?
- Free through Charter Schools
Overall, Online Classrooms are created for self-motivated individuals, in my opinion. Many techniques for online classrooms are successful but personally, I do not think I could do my whole education online. I enjoy the interaction with my peers and teachers. The virtual lessons could be useful for flipped classrooms or advanced classes that are not offered onsite. In the end, YOUR education is what YOU make out of it.