How ironic. The same week that I begin a look at virtual schooling I run into two students who have taken or are taking high school classes online, and their opinions represent two opposite ends of the spectrum. Additionally, both conversations regarding virtual school were unsolicited. They just happened. I'm not too big on fate, but that had to mean something.
In the first instance, I was talking one of my soccer players I coached this past year and in previous seasons. He had talked about missing school last year because of an extended illness and having to sign up for virtual school so he wouldn't get behind in credits. His synoptic view of the experience? That he prefers the traditional classroom because there is a teacher there in person explaining concepts/ideas directly. Now, he did acknowledge that he could see why some people held virtual school in high regard, but he said for him it didn't match his learning style or personal level of motivation. He said he did better when a teacher helped to guide him. This is understandable, I can see how some students might need an ever-present motivator for learning. Some of my own students are those who have to be regularly encouraged to stay focused on learning activities.
Then, not three hours later, I went into a local business where one of my previous students works. While he was in my class earlier this year, he went to an online class so he could participate in a work study program. Without me even asking him, he proceeded to talk to me about how he was doing in his virtual school class. He said for him it has been great to have the flexibility of being able to work when his schedule allows and to work ahead if he wants to, which he mostly has. Further, he said his teacher was very responsive and understanding and felt like his learning in the class so far was quite worthwhile. At the moment, he said, he was in the process of reading a novel and noted he was a slow reader. This was slowing him down a bit, he said, but added that he was glad for being able to get ahead previously, because he could now work at his own pace without getting behind in the work.
This made me realize that virtual schooling does in fact fit many students because it helps the student tailor the learning to their needs and styles. By it's very nature, it seems to be more flexible than traditional classrooms.
Going a bit further with this information I found a blog at Distance-Educator.com entitled "Knowing how to learn at a distance" (available at http://www.distance-educator.com/blog/saba/?p=4 ).
The blogger, who goes by Saba, writes about what distance learners might need to do: "The distance learner, perhaps more than any other learner, needs to rely on his/her own ability to learn. In the absence of an immediate support group of peers, tutors and instructors the distance learner has to know how s/he learns, and be able to manage her ability to learn."
Saba refers to "metacognition," which is a word thrown around quite a bit in schools these days, but basically means thinking about one's thinking. At least, that's the definition I've been given in at least three workshops/prof. development sessions.
As it relates to virtual schooling, however, this does make sense. In order for one to be their most successful at online learning, where the onus for learning is more firmly planted on the student, one needs to understand how they learn and what methods they might employ so that they can take charge of their learning experience. That is, if virtual schooling is to offer one more flexibility in pacing and depth of learning, but the teacher is not physically present to provide regular prodding, the student needs to be able to know what to do in order to gain knowledge and understanding from the curriculum, as well as when to seek out further assistance.
Just as EQ (or emotional quotient) was brought about to describe possessing a high (or low) emotional awareness, metacognition is kind of a new IQ, (maybe MQ?) whereby a student is aware of how he/she learns and applies this information effectively. For individuals this could include the knowledge of whether virtual schooling is a good personal fit, or not.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I agree that virtual schooling fits many students helping students tailor the learning to their needs/styles. I also agree that, like you said, by its very nature, it seems to be more flexible than traditional classrooms. In reading your post, I started to think about how different online courses can be. Even in our program, some courses involve a significant amount of ongoing instructor/student communication whereas others have more of an 'independent study' feel. That was interesting hearing about those two students' views on their virtual school courses.
I remember reviewing a checklist on UF's Educational Technology website before I decided to enroll in their online master's program. Many of the characteristics you mentioned in your post were built into the questions. Clearly, some people are better suited for online learning than others. I suspect, most students won't really know if online learning works for them until they try it. Your young students now know, though trial and error, which format works for them.
Great post!
Post a Comment