What do you think of online classes for K-12? Florida is pushing for it.

I ran across this interesting article that reports of the efforts in Florida to move a portion of K-12 classes into online formats. There was even a well-attended rally in support of online education for K-12 students.

Supporters are suggesting that many, but not all, K-12 students do better in an online class. They are saying that many are more comfortable contributing to discussions online and they are finding that class participation is improved in many circumstances.

What do you think?

Gov, Lawmakers Push For Virtual School Expansion : NorthEscambia.com

 

I think it's a wonderful idea IF, and this is a big IF, the courses are designed well. We have virtual classes in Virginia through Virtual Virginia, and some of them are horribly designed. If the courses are put together well, they're a great opportunity for students to expand their knowledge base. It's also great for kids who are lumped together with peers who are academically behind. It gives that one kid an "out" so he or she can get the education he or she deserves.

-Matt

 

While we were in Seattle, my daughter did her 9th grade online with Insight School. It is a public charter school, and the learning experience was great.
We moved to Texas, and online schools are not yet popular here. She is now continuing with PennFoster, and is missing her old school.

 

I'm for it if mom or dad is home. I'm against both parents being gone and a 14 year old getting to be "homeschooled" by himself.

If supervision is required, I suspect parents will resist. Too many single parents and 2-income families for this to catch on for a whole curriculum. I can see it being very popular for 1-2 classes. Additionally, schools will have to seriously step up on the security, cheating will be a serious problem. It's one thing to be enrolled in a DL course, but if you and 7 of your closest friends are too, I think it almost encourages cheating.

This option does exisit in several states, my friend in Washington is a "homeschool by public online school" parent. (maybe this is what MSGANTI speaks of) Her son gets $$$ to be "homeschooled" through their system. I've never investigated it because the Home School Legal Defense Association (of which our family is a 16-year memeber) will not represent you if you are in any type of public school relationship....and I'd rather have council than a few hundred bucks.

 

This is a very good point. With so many households where both parents must work to survive, it would be very bad to leave students home alone all day.

 

I think its about time and further why not hire teachers overseas we could snag top teachers in China for a third what one would cost here and that is with a very generous pay and benefits package, think about it replace most teachers with foreign labor. Use the internet to set-up the classes. You could reduce teacher demands in a school to special education, lab sciences and support slashing budgets. You could still have the child go to school and back, or not or use schools as a learning hub with most classes at home. I would at least consider it for High School to start. I live here in Florida and say go and take this to its full potential and with the savings the state could say NO to No Child Left Behind and refuse the Federal funding liberating our system. Education is not a matter for the Federal Government I don't see it listed under its powers so get them out.

 

As the father of two, I do not see that as a great idea. Home schooling is 1000 percent different than distant education. For "school age" kids home schooling requires SOMEONE THERE to teach and guide them. The whole idea of DE for school age kids is crazy IMHO.

Children need the supervised SOCIAL interaction of other children in school. Facebook is NOT a social network, it's a webpage, A social network are your friends, sports, school plays and so on.... There would never have been a Charlie Brown Christmas play if ole Charlie went to school via computer now would there have been- no!

However, if a child has an extra ordinary situation that shows DE would be beneficial; for example extreme distances, bullying, medical issues, then it has its place.