Online Learning and Cyber Schools

M. Susan ScrenciJune 11, 2003

Online Schools

Adult Degrees Education, Business, Technology

The Virtual High School Courses not available at high

school AP Courses

Antidote to School Closings

IllnessDiseaseNatural

Disasters

Crisis Management Tool

SARS American School: Japan VITLE: Hong Kong

“The virtual-classroom brought us to a new horizon of school education. It made us aware that learning can go on effectively and efficiently outside the classroom.”

Jonathan Lai, Vice Principal

Secondary School, Hong Kong

Online Charter Schools

Publicly Funded/ Privately Managed

Structure & Supervision

Support for Parents

Teacher Contacts for Individualized Instruction

Pros/Cons of Online Learning

Pros Access to peers and

experts Unlimited resources Convenient Problem solving Inquiry based learning Simulations Virtual trips Publish work Easy access for

disabled

Cons Insufficient server

power Lack of peer interaction Limited opportunities

for character development

Difficulty synchronizing teacher/ student schedules

Non-verbal communication cues

Maturity issues for elementary students

Limited access to internet

Innovations in Online Learning!

Web QuestBernie Dodge,

Developer

“an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internet, optionally supplemented with videoconferencing.”

Building Blocks forWeb Quests

∎ An introduction that sets the stage and provides some background information.

∎ A task that is doable and interesting.

∎ A set of information sources needed to complete the task.

∎ A description of the process the learners should go through in accomplishing the task.

∎ Some guidance on how to organize the information acquired.

∎ A conclusion that brings closure to the quest, reminds the learners about what they've learned, and perhaps encourages them to extend the experience into other domains.

Higher Order Thinking Skills

Classifying Inferring Comparing Deducing Analyzing Application

Literacy Junction

“ Literacy Junction is an interactive website for middle school students and their teachers. It was created to capitalize on adolescents’ increased time on the web and the need to find out who they really are, while connecting young adult literature to young adult audiences.”

Hiller & Spires Creators

Impact Zone

Engages:

Students/ Teachers

Featured Novel

Site’s Cyber Characters

Steps to Engage WWW For LearningSolomon & Schrum

First, recognize that the Web provides ways to address standards and acquire information that students need, and it expands their opportunities to learn.

Second, recognize that many free, high- quality resources are available online.

Third, to reach true classroom integration, invest in professional development.

Fourth, link Web-based activities with standards-based curricula and topics needed for tests.

Fifth, prepare future educators to integrate technology as easily as previous generations used textbooks and chalkboards.

Sixth, involve parents and community members in understanding the value of using Web-based activities for student learning.