How much easier are we going to make it for our teenagers? Technology has evolved to the point of where our children do not have to leave the house to obtain a high school diploma. Are we going to let children withdraw themselves from society? Teenagers today spend more time in front of the computer and video games. It is not as it was twenty or thirty years ago when children played make believe and the majority of their days were spent outside. For working parents how can they ensure that their son or daughter is doing the work and not sleeping? I am sure with any school there are mechanisms that are put in place to measure milestones. It is so much easier for people to hide behind a compute than it is to talk to someone face to face. In addition, people are likelier to be more insensitive online than they would be face-to-face. You are more likely to keep you manors than you are online. Below are some reasons why we should keep brick and mortar schools.
· None of the fun aspects of a traditional high school: For example, you won't have a prom, a graduation ceremony, etc.
· Classes can be difficult without a teacher: Many students find math to be a difficult subject especially when there is no one there to guide your studies.
· Self-discipline: Your only motivation is yourself so if you're the type of student that needs a firm kick in the rear to get started, online high school may not be for you.
· Isolation: You may have anti-social feelings because you are cut off from your peers.
· Accreditation: If your online high school is not properly accredited, the units you have earned could be worthless in terms of getting a job and transferring to a college.
· Price: Consider that you will need to purchase supplies (books, computer, Internet connection charge, tuition, etc.)
Just how far will technology take our children out of the classrooms? Several online schools have K-12. However, you are still missing what I believe the most important thing about school and that is social interaction. Mortar schools do not just teach academics but they teach kids and young adults to interact and communicate with each other. I just do not believe that schooling online will provide valuable teaching. Higher Education budgets are being cut every year, the feeling is that the government wants the online K-12 so that they can cut Higher Education completely and use the money elsewhere. I guess out children can experience prom via virtual tutors or as avatars.
Reference
(2003-2010) http://education-portal.com/Articles about High School Diplomas (General)
3 comments:
I couldn't agree more. One of the ideas behind improving technology is to improve the quality of life. The invention of the light bulb allowed us to essentially extend our day without the safety hazards of burning candles or oil lamps. It didn't mean we could all move underground because we no longer needed the sun.
There are definite advantages to utilizing online technologies for educational purposes. Those advantages should be used to supplement and enhance education, not replace it.
I would have to agree with many of the aspects pointed out here. My daughter is currently attending school online, and while she is not in high school yet. She is experiencing many of the issues that are brought to light here.
She has been having trouble staying dedicated to her work, I work from home so I am here with her during the day to keep her on task. Though what usually ends up happening is she rushes through the work and does not take the time to really learn it.
Also, she has been missing the social aspect of going to a regular school. We let her go online to a huge issue with bullying, but I do think she has her days were she would rather endure the bullying then sit alone with no friends and social connections any longer.
While I agree that children who attend online school can be missing out on some opportunities to build social development skills, I don't agree that social interaction is the most important thing. I think it's most important to find a method that works for each individual child.
A friend of mine has a son who is a sophomore in High School and he is attending an online school. He has some health issues and some minor learning disabilities. Prior to starting high school, he attended a brick and mortar school and was the victim of bullies because he was always the smallest and he had trouble keeping up with the rest of the class on assignments due to his learning disabilities, yet he is too advanced for Special Ed.
The online school he attends requires that he attend web classes so that he can interact by web cam with the teacher and other students several days of the week. While his mom does have to stay on him to make sure that he is getting his work done, it is no different from when he went to a brick and mortar school, and he is doing better now than he has ever done in school before. In addition, his self-confidence is growing every time something sinks in and he gets a good grade. As he goes through life, it will be more important that they found a method of teaching him where he is actually learning rather than going through the motions, than it will be that he didn’t go to prom.
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