Virtual Schools

Jennifer Pinkney
Chapter 7 Virtual Schools: The American Experience with International Implications. Trends and Issues in Distance Education: International Perspectives By Lya Visser Updated 2012

 

Definition: A Virtual school is any K-12 online learning program offered by an educational organization in which students can earn credit towards graduation or toward promotion to the next grade. 

• This article addresses the growing trend in online educational opportunities for secondary and primary grade students. This article was written to help educators figure out the best strategies for helping their students by using online learning. This article has also specifically provided standards to help assess quality in virtual teaching. This Article also reviews important considerations for planning, building, and evaluating an online learning program. 
• This article was written by the editor of Trends and Issues in Distance Education: International Perspectives. She has also been an adjunct professor of various universities including Nova Southeastern University and George Washington University. She was also the Director of Research for Instructional Technology and Distance Education Program. This journal is quite up to date and was published in 2012. There has been a dramatic increase over the past decade in the number of virtual schools.  
• I do not believe that Virtual Schools would ever be a substitute for student teacher interaction. One on one instruction is very important in education and therefore online learning should be an addition to the public school system but not a replacement of. Virtual schools should be used as a tool for education. There are some states concerned that virtual schools are more about making money than being committed to providing excellent education. 

http://www.maine.nea.org/home/1310.htm  

•  With these virtual instruction labs in the high school these students can take online courses from an instate university that will count towards college credit. The students interact with certified teachers and can ask questions of a certified lab instructor while they work. The lab instructor makes herself available to all students whenever they need her help, including over the weekends. This is a great way to integrate online learning in the public school setting.