MyNotes – Students and teachers experiment with virtual high schools

• CNN.com – Technology – Students and teachers experiment with virtual high schools – August 9, 2000
  • Students and teachers experiment with virtual high schools
  • August 9, 2000
    Web posted at: 10:44 a.m. EDT
  • Daniel Keegan
  • Kentucky Virtual High School, the nation’s second statewide, accredited online high school. With classes that began in January, Kentucky follows Florida, whose statewide virtual high school opened its World Wide Web doors in 1997.
  • Plans are under way for virtual high schools in Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Utah and West Virginia.
  • A statewide virtual high school is typically state- approved and accredited to provide classes via the Internet for any student, regardless of where they live or what district they’re enrolled in. As the Internet becomes further ingrained into modern culture, some educators see virtual high schools as a way to equalize school districts.
  • Regardless of geographic or economic differences, students can get the same quality education.
  • Teachers wanted to adjust the purchased curriculum to suit their styles, but could only work within the confines of the contract. And at times, it was hard to log on to the class.com Web site.
  • Different states take different approaches to the virtual school concept. Kentucky offers classes only to public high school students. In Florida, virtual learning is open to anyone, including home-schooled students and private-school students.
    In Kentucky, classes cost $300, a fee that is usually picked up by the district. In Florida, all classes are free.
  • Once enrolled, students get a sign-in name and password. If students need extra material for their class such as CD-ROMs or science kits, those are mailed to them.
    For classes created by Kentucky educators — as opposed to those bought from class.com — students logging in are greeted with an interactive syllabus that explains the lesson. Colorful, cartoon-like icons designate the types of assignments posted and offer information on how to enter a threaded discussion.
  • In threaded discussions, students comment on assignments and can respond to other students’ messages.
  • discussions were even more useful than talking face to face in a classroom, because the exchange seemed more personal and the comments better thought out.
  • “It’s not like in class where the teacher says, “Let’s discuss the book,’ and it doesn’t go well because no one is ready,” Roberts said. “You had time to prepare and think. And the teacher can guide the discussion and prepare comments for feedback.”
  • Students in both the Kentucky and Florida programs are required to participate in online discussions.
  • The flexible nature of virtual schools allows students to take the class at their own pace.
  • online classes are not a breeze
  • The difficulty, she said, lies in the need to stay in constant contact. And yet there is no one there to force you to log on and do assignments. “You have to be self-motivated,” she said.
  • The assignments can be harder, too, simply because they must be done in an unfamiliar way — through online research. The classes don’t revolve around textbooks.
  • students are learning how to use technology as they work.
  • virtual high schools serve as a way to pool an entire state’s educational resources so students in every region have the same opportunities
  • Virtual schools provide great opportunities but should be used in addition to traditional classrooms, she said.
  • Educators at virtual high schools agreed.
  • We see it as a way to expand curriculum and give students more choices. We have a motto. We recognize that this is not for every student but being in a classroom with four walls and listening to a teacher lecture is not for every student either.”

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