While the country is trending towards an increase in online learning, there are still ups and downs in the process. Districts are still in the learning process of online education. Many districts are equipped with the tools and the desire to put together a successful program but don't have the know-how or background to handle successful implementation...yet. As time continues to pass and more and more districts put together successful new online programs, districts will develop blueprints for success. These blueprints are necessary and trial and error is the current way of the school district.
Scenarios develop and come about constantly. My district is no different. We have had to offer AP courses online in the past because of a lack of enough interest to dedicate a teacher to the class. Districts will never want to turn students away or fail to offer classes due to staffing or course filling issues. As my principal and superintendent now put it, public schools are all about public relations. Its become a customer service industry and to deny students the opportunity to take a class for these reasons could lead to district jumping. Not only this, but students deserve the right to challenge themselves and/or develop skills that they feel are relevant. Students also need the opportunity to succeed. While Mr Siko might have been a great chemistry teacher for some students, not everyone gets what they need from a certain teacher. Very few of us can truly be highly effective teachers. Some students do not respond to me and those students deserve a chance to succeed elsewhere and if my school doesn't offer that opportunity, they need to go somewhere.
There is also the scenario on the opposite side. Many educators understand the new standards for evaluation and how our effectiveness is dependent upon student success. Transfers are not differentiated in evaluation, ironically, because we are expected to differentiate our instruction to allow everyone success. Not every online course is successful, because not every online program is effective and backed by research. Every school needs to develop a good program for these students, not just for the students' sake, but for the teachers' sake and the district's sake as well. Successful online programs coupled with successful traditional programs will bring good PR and bring students and the dollars that accompany them.
Ultimately, 21F and its requirements basically just makes demands on things that smart and successful districts would do anyway, offer what other districts may not.
de Haan, I agree that students deserve to go where they can get the most out of thier education however if schools do not make sure they are marketable for this generation parents will take their children to the most prepared school. You made a good point about the money that follows each child and if schools are not able to fullfill the requirement of at least one online class or the 4 days in school and 1 day online for upper class students, most will go where they can find what they want. It has become more of a customer service environment and teachers may want to brush up on those skills as well.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, our superintendent just recently mentioned how it doesn't even matter if kids take advantage of these opportunities, as long as we as a school/district can say we offer these things, then that will bring kids in.
DeleteYou're definitely right that it's all a learning process and it will be as districts continue to adjust, get the funding, and the teachers become educated not only with the process, but with the technology and how to facilitate virtual courses. Districts also have to allow more options for children, especially with college admissions being more competitive and the more challenging classes needing on a student's transcript. If one district can't offer it, a child will look to an online class or elsewhere if they really want to be competitive for the future.
ReplyDeleteSchools do need to make sure their online programs are successful and that's why they need to develop them correctly since there have been some virtual courses and schools that haven't quite panned out (again, it's a process). Student, educator, and parent feedback need to be taken into account.
You hit the nail on the head with your "blueprints for success" comment. The trial-and-error phase is as frustrating as it gets. I kind of feel the same towards the Common Core State Standards implementation. A lot of districts are not totally on board with these standards and the test that will follow (next spring). I feel as if most districts are resorting to a trial-and-error approach to implementing both the CCSS and digitalizing their curricula. Being at a crossroads in education doesn't even begin to describe it...
ReplyDeleteYep, and now he resources are catching up, so the training will be the key to success. Someone has to be the guinea pig for the rest of the state.
DeleteI agree that it is all a learning process and teachers as well as administrators have to learn how and what technology is appropriate for their school. It is so much red tape involved by the time they get it all figured out it will be time for another change.
ReplyDeleteI do agree, we need to educate the educators and central office about online learning. There needs to be a clear blueprint on what, where, and when before money is spent. Unfortunately we do not see this in districts. Instead we see and hear no money till the next new thing, then the district drop money into something with no direction.
ReplyDeleteHi de hann. You hit the nail on the head, good PR. I know the politically correct answer to anything school related is "it is good for the kids". The reality is that in this day and age, PR is what it is all about. You could be the best district in the world but if you don't have the PR to push that information effectivley to the public then you will be buried by charter schools that have figured out how important PR is.
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