Week 3 Response

Each response needs to be 150 words

Response 1 Marcus

A Summary of Research on the Effectiveness of K-12 Online Learning was an excellent article, Susan Patrick and Allison Powell head the nail on the head. First, some things that surprised me, I was born and raised in the sunshine state, so I was surprised to see Florida as one of the states that have taken an invested interest in online education. I also was surprised to see that once students make it to college online and traditional students all faired the same. What is the difference between college and high school that some kids don’t do well in the classroom or online? Student support services contribute to increasing course completion rates (Harlow & Baenen 2003). I’m convinced that it’s all psychological; by the time kids are in college, they are more independent and ready to cut the old ball and chain from their parents. Students take their work more series than they did in high school lets be honest student loans are not free. That always a motivator to succeed because who wants to take out more student loans.

 I also would like to add that having high school students take at least one online class before they graduate is a good thing. It will help students become more familiar with online courses and how they work and are structured. Online courses blended with traditional classes might be the way to go. How I would implement some of the things from this study would be just that. But I might not be willing to select any students; I might take a different approach and select kids ready to do half in the classroom and half virtual. I think schools will eventually go to something similar to this because it is cost-effective, less money for maintenance, food, fuel, and supplies mean money can be redirected for educational technology and improve how students learn. Giving teachers incentives based on how well students do in an online setting might be fools gold; some teachers might, I would hope not, but they could skew numbers for money to make it look like students are doing well, but in reality, they are not. I suggest everybody gets the same pay online or traditional, hold all teachers to the same standard and pay them all the same period.

References

Harlow, K., & Baenen, N. (2003). NovaNet student outcomes. Eye on evaluation, E& R Report No. 02.15 www.wcpss.net/evaluation-research/reports/2002/0215_novanet.pdf

Response 2 Whitney

This article was very easy to read and analyze the presented information. I found it interesting that the study reported both blended and entirely online settings, ranked the same in effectiveness of instruction. Also, the article indicates that the implementation of videos and online assessment tools did not seem to have an impact on student learning. This fact was particularly interesting, as I feel as educators the first tier of implementing technology into the classroom, is often bringing in videos relevant to the content, to engage the learners. This study indicates that the use of that technology, is not the effective technology to increase student outcomes. Online assessment tools, are often the technologies that schools spend a huge amount of moment on, but those are not seemingly the most impactful. I loved the concept that the article highlighted, of the most student success coming from when students have control of the technology. When I was in elementary through high school, the teaching style was mostly lecture based. In today's classroom, we talk more about a shift to educators being facilitators of learning, and allowing students to drive the instruction and become innovators. This is a HUGE point that I think the article could have dug even deeper into! Students that are in the drivers seat of the technology, have increased learning outcomes, as well as have higher technology skills to take with them into further education and the work force! I appreciated that the article took the time to debunk the #1 comment that I hear in terms of anti-virtual schooling, which is the socialization aspect. This article did a nice job in commenting that students in online school programs did not suffer any loss in their socialization, and often times, because they are seeking outside social groups, can be more socially capable than their brick and mortar peers.

Taking this article and carrying it into my professional practice, I would use the findings to continue to advocate for school choice. The reason I have chosen to phrase my advocacy around choice, is due to be firm belief that there is not a one-sized fits all answer to education. I can say with absolution, that I would not have made a good online learner as a elementary student, and I know many students that have tried online education, and it was not for them. I have also seen students find so much success in a virtual environment after floundering in a brick and mortar setting. The choice should be there for families to make about their students' education, and I think this article would be great backing to show that side!