Distance Learning: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Summary: 


The article I reviewed was a study done by the National Education Policy Center titled, "Online K-12 Schooling in the U.S.: Uncertain Private Ventures in Need of Public Regulation” In particular, there is very little accountability for school districts who use online school as a viable alternative to the traditional classroom, in terms of class sizes, spending per pupil, and student accountability for work. In 2011, there were over 40 state operated or approved online schools, and about 30% of high school students have taken an online class. Online schooling has now become one of the most popular forms of distance education.

The report comments mainly on the lack of real effectiveness reported by the little research that has been done on online schooling and distance education. It also brings up what it perceives as the danger of private business interest in the world of online schooling. The study concludes that total immersion in an online education environment is not effective in terms of improving test scores, but that hybrid or blended learning may have some benefit for students.

Response:


Having been a distance education student at community colleges across the State, I can whole-heartedly report that the experience of taking an online class in NO WAY compares to the experience of sitting and learning in an actual college classroom. Yes, information can be delivered online, but if we agree that learning takes place in a social community through interactions with others, than online school is a sad replacement for the real thing. I think this report should be examined closely by school districts looking to involve online education in their communities.

Source: 


Glass, G. V & Welner, K.G. (2011). Online K-12 Schooling in the U.S.: Uncertain Private Ventures
in Need of Public Regulation. Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center. Retrieved [date]
from http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/online-k-12-schooling.