The eLearners News Blog : Virtual High Schools

Schwarzenegger: "Textbooks are outdated"

AndriaL — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:03:00 GMT

Schwarzenegger: "Textbooks are outdated"

California spent $350 million on textbooks in 2008 — 1.4% of the entire state budget. Astonishing, right? It makes you wonder how. I'd imagine that most textbooks are hardcover, and hardcover textbooks are good for probably 5-10 years. Just how many new textbooks are being printed each year?

According to California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the answer is way too many. In his words, textbooks are "outdated," and he will be expanding online learning throughout California schools, counting on ed-tech to lessen the strain.

While I wouldn't say textbooks are worthless, teaching using the Internet and CD-ROMs certainly has its perks. Materials are produced much more cheaply, and lessons can be updated more easily and more often, delivering more timely course materials.

What do you guys think?

Link to the original article:
http://www.printweek.com/RSS/News/911931/Textbooks-wont-back-says-Schwarzenegger/

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From PC World: Virtual Schools Rapidly Building Foothold in Online Education

AndriaL — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:05:00 GMT

From PC World Magazine:
Virtual Schools Rapidly Building Online Education Foothold

Just in case you require further convincing that online learning is perceived as credible and viable, check this out: This summer, Florida is making it mandatory for each school district to offer "virtual school" for all students K-8, as well as online courses for those in high school. How cool is that?

While we have watched e-learning become more commonplace at the college level, its integration at the lower level is encouraging and definitely exciting. The state is still fine tuning the delivery methods it'll employ to bring online learning to FL students, but because research from the Sloan Consortium says online students need to possess good self-direction, this will probably influence the state's course of action.

While the state acknowledges that it could be simple to view the endeavor as a way to outsource education, supporters say "it's a mistake to be afraid of changes that will benefit learning." Elisabeth Walden of Florida's Jackson County School District gushes, "This is going to transform the way education is delivered in schools." We couldn't agree more.

Here's a link to the article from PC World: http://www.pcworld.com/article/160737/virtual_schools.html

-Andria

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More of Today's Kids in Online K-12 Schools: Texas Virtual Academy at Southwest

helenh — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Karen Ayres Smith of Dallas Morning News wrote a terrific article in today's paper about a Texas fourth grader who attends the Texas Virtual Academy at Southwest, an online public school that serves students in the Dallas/Forth Worth region.

Writes Smith, "Victoria is one of about 550 students who have enrolled in the virtual academy as part of the state's electronic course program.

Many students want the chance to work at an advanced or slower pace. Some are home-schooled. Others suffer from medical problems that make school attendance difficult.

'I've been in the public school classroom to know that one size really doesn't fit all,"' said Feyi Obamehinti, Victoria's teacher who has taught in Irving and Dallas. "Students here are looked at individually, not across a grade level.'"

I think the "one size does NOT fits all" is an important sentiment, one that holds especially true for anyone of (what we'll gently call) the older set. As adults, we tend to be rather stubborn and mostly dead-set in the way(s) in which we learn. When there is a need or desire to increase our knowledge base or skill set, it tends to come from a need to fill an immediate gap in knowledge, usually professional (i.e. job-related). We don't seek out information purely for the plain fun of it (although it can be a bonus.)

That being said, I think the convenience and flexibility of online education gives working mom and dads, like you and me, at least SOME control in the learning process, which is very empowering.

So what are you waiting for? Start searching for online degree programs that fit your schedule and your life!

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Free Online High School Courses in Connecticut

helenh — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:04:00 GMT

[As if today's teens weren't already fantastically more tech-savvy than the rest of us fuddy-duddies ...]

According to a January 2nd story in eSchool News, Connecticut students can now enroll in free online high school classes through a recently launched pilot program called the Connecticut Virtual Learning Center.

"The courses are aimed at students at risk of falling behind as well as those who are interested in electives not offered at their own schools. Each Connecticut high school will decide whether to give students credit for taking the courses.

The pilot program offers courses in basic subjects, taught by state-certified teachers, for students who need credits to graduate. It also offers other electives, such as Mandarin Chinese and “Shakespeare in Film,” through a partnership with an out-of-state virtual-schooling provider.

The idea is to allow students who have fallen behind to catch up online rather than in summer school and also to provide interesting electives that are not widely available."

The article also notes that "students can participate only if their local school district is enrolled in the program. Private school and home-schooled students cannot yet take courses."

Also of interest is the fact that "with the launch of its Virtual Learning Center, Connecticut becomes the 31st state to offer such a state-led program. Although many of the state’s students have been taking online classes through the Virtual High School for some time, this is Connecticut’s first effort to develop an online educational program funded entirely by the state and staffed by its own teachers."

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Be an Athletic Supporter ... But Don't Buy Fake High School Diplomas from Degree Mills

helenh — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 20:03:00 GMT

Tsk, tsk. The stupid athlete stereotype is hurtful to athletes, intercollegiate athletics, and higher education in general. So, unfortunately, youngsters with hoop dreams and questionable academic abilities who purchase fake high school diplomas don't do anything to dispel the notion of the "dumb jock."

Currently, many are simultaenously applauding (as well as cringing) at the NCAA's recent investigation into fraud in academic standards at some "non-traditional" high schools. According to the NCAA website: "As of June 1, 15 high schools have been invalidated and are no longer approved to meet NCAA initial-eligibility requirements. These high schools either did not respond or did not provide complete data to NCAA inquiries for more information.

The initial list of 15 high schools is not conclusive and NCAA staff are still conducting comprehensive reviews and if necessary, onsite visits to several high schools ...

The list of schools who have been invalidated include:

American Academy (Miami, Florida)
Celestial Prep (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Einstein Charter School (Morrisville, Pennsylvania)
Goliath Academy (Miami Lakes, Florida)
Hawaii Electronic School (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Martinez Adult Education (Martinez, California)
North Atlantic Regional High (Lewiston, Maine)
Paradise Christian Academy (Paradise, California)
Philadelphia Christian Academy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Ranch Academy (Canton, Texas)
Rich Township HS Phoenix Camp (Park Forest, Illinois)
Sagemount School (Miami, Florida)
Tazewell City Career and Tech Center (Tazewell, Virginia)
University High School (Miami, Florida)
Virginia Beach Central Academy (Virginia Beach, Virginia)"

Three of these "schools" have the additionally dubious distinction of being web-based online high schools. (Sigh.) Hopefully, these recent events will not besmirch the merits of legitimate, accredited online college-prep high schools like Florida Virtual School and University of Miami Online High School (actually, last year's U.S. Open Junior Championship winner was a UMOHS student), to name a few, who are delivering innovative, flexible education to a variety of learners with different needs - be they remedial, gifted, or athletic.

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The eLearners News Blog : Virtual High Schools

Schwarzenegger: "Textbooks are outdated"

Schwarzenegger: "Textbooks are outdated"

From PC World: Virtual Schools Rapidly Building Foothold in Online Education

From PC World Magazine:Virtual Schools Rapidly Building Online Education Foothold

More of Today's Kids in Online K-12 Schools: Texas Virtual Academy at Southwest

Free Online High School Courses in Connecticut

Be an Athletic Supporter ... But Don't Buy Fake High School Diplomas from Degree Mills

From PC World Magazine:
Virtual Schools Rapidly Building Online Education Foothold