Last week, I attended a conference on innovative educational leadership sponsored by the K20 Center at OU. A big focus at the conference was how technology is changing the way students will receive their education. In fact, the move is for students to be in control of their learning.
For the last 2 years, Barnsdall has been offering virtual course delivery as an option for our Jr/Sr high school students. The program we use is available to students 24/7, and offers a variety of courses we cannot offer do to our small size. The content is very robust and many of the students are doing very well in their courses. But online, virtual classes are not for all students. They need the traditional classroom with teacher-led instruction.
I read an article recently that called my generation the "bifocal generation", refering to where the baby boomers are in the technology world. After I got over the insult (LOL), I realized, as a school administrator, I need to be on board for this change and lead it in my district. I am excited about the possibilities of how things will change for students enrolled in Barnsdall Schools.
So what do you think about using a virtual delivery system for courses? I would like to know.
It is a great way to get away from the classroom and have the teacher be one on one with you. It is different and in some ways it is harder and the only problem is when you dont understand something you cant have the teacher right there and help you through it. In the classroom you can ask questions and the teacher will explain it better. That is the only problem I have with the virtual delivery system. In most ways I think it is great because I can take classes online that I can not learn in the classroom and I learn a whole new variety of subjects through the virtual delivery system that are not taught in Barnsdall.
ReplyDeletei think the virtual delivery system for courses is a great new way of how we learn and get our education i have had the opportunity to take a E2020 class on taking notes and educational preparations and i have found it very useful in my everyday classes now. it has helped me in simple things as just staying organized and taking high quality notes and also to be more active in asking questions if i dont understand something the teacher has gone over. i feel i can focus more on an online class more than one in a classroom it helps block out the distractions better than a classroom would. i hope if people havent gotten a chance to try an online that they get that opportunity to try it.
ReplyDeleteI think the class is a very big help. It helped me to learn how to take good quality notes and helped me learn how to study all my study guides effectively. I really think this class should go on because I learn better when i am alone. The course is useful on how to make study guides and use calendars, and how to become prepared and get your homework done. This class helps you to not be a procrastinator. I am glad i got to have this class this year and it has helped me become a better student.
ReplyDeletevirtual learning is a good thing unless you have to be in a classroom well I heard about this class and thought of it as an oppurtunity to get out of my regular classes and do something else and have a little fun and not listen to boring lecture after lecture from an instructor and virtual learning was an oppurtunity i flew through my first class in less than a month and i kept on going and there is a lot of classes to choose from and if your not in a virtual classroom your missing out on some time to not listen to a teacher during school and we also need to have online classes because they let you work at your own pace and get it over with
ReplyDeletethe virtual courses is a great opportunity for students to get the education without having to go to classes. Some students get bullied so much that they choose to drop out, this gives them a chance to stay in school and not deal with the bullies, also a few students become parents before they are finished with high school, this gives them gives them an easier way to finish high school with a diploma while raising a child
ReplyDelete~Marissa Dunaway
I believe the most challenging aspect of the virtual delivery system is for the students to take responsibility for their own learning. The students are required to watch a lecture and then do the assigned work. Isaiah is correct in that you can't ask the teacher questions if you do not understand (although you can pause and replay the lecture and you can't pause your teacher) but that doesn't mean your question should be left unasked or unanswered. Students in the virtual classrooms have to seek answers for themselves outside of the "classroom". This is the first step in taking repsonsibility for their own learning.
ReplyDeleteI think the virtual classroom is great! At my school, we currently have over 200 junior and senior students enrolled in E2020. Many of these students would not have been able to graduate on time without E2020. I have seen kids with major behavior problems and kids who can't make it in the traditional classroom be successful in E2020.
ReplyDelete