ARTICLE REVIEWS

Russell, Glen. “Virtual Schools, Real Concerns: What Role Should Online Learning Play in the Future of Schooling.” Electronic School. September 2001 <http://electronic-school.com/2001/09/0901virtualschools.html> visited 10/12/02.

The author begins by comparing the changing uses of technology today with the industrial revolution. He believes that we should consider how people’s lives were affected by machines then, and learn from that for now. In summary, he purports that the adoption of new technology during the industrial revolution changed the way people related to each other. It took them out of homes with “loose hours and idle conversation” to a life where “children and their parents were less likely to spend extended periods of time together.” Today, the author supports lessons “in schools where teachers use Web sites with students.” But the author opposes home schooling “where a student is educated…using the Internet and involving minimal face-to-face contact with other students.” In particular, the author opposes “virtual classrooms being use to support homeschooling.” His three reasons: 1. Students might not receive adequate help and supervision when they need it most. 2. Virtual schooling provides different forms of socialization from that to which we have been accustomed in conventional schools. 3. This might influence our culture in undesirable ways. Using an example from an Isaac Asimov book where it is predicted that books will be largely forgotten and a great grandfather remembers the good old days when “all the kids in the whole neighborhood came, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end of the day. They learned the same things, so they could help one another on the homework…” The author suggests that virtual schooling could pull us away from this lovely scenario.

While there are definitely concerns to be had with virtual schooling, I completely disagree with the author’s reasoning. The author is saying that computer usage within a traditional school setting is appropriate, but computer usage for homeschooling is inappropriate. Should a child be plunked down in front of a computer with no adult assistance, either at home or in a school? Of course not. But the author does not think that the internet should even be used to “support” homeschooling. As a homeschooling parent, I believe that the use of the internet has the same advantages and disadvantages at home as within a school building. To address the author’s first point, a child within a group of 25 in a computer lab at school is less likely to receive the support he needs than is a child in front of a computer with a homeschooling parent. The author’s second point – the difference in socialization from the current school model - is one of the major reasons that parents choose to homeschool. The time spent in “virtual schooling” is different than time spent either in a classroom or interacting directly with a parent teacher. But does different necessarily mean bad? Most educators believe that the broader the range of experiences that a child has, the better for that child. So let’s go ahead and add some internet time to the experience list. Thirdly, the pretty picture painted in Asimov’s book is not the current reality. It is not virtual schooling that has pulled us away from this, but current “traditional” schooling. Children are separated from all other ages than their own (we don’t have one room schoolhouses anymore.) Even within that age they are in different reading groups, math groups, etc. as early as kindergarten and first grade. Even with the same neighborhood some children are likely to attend private schools. Even two neighbors of the exact same age in the same school may have different teachers who are teaching them different things and giving different homework assignments.

The author has two basic fears that are blocking him from addressing the real issues of virtual classrooms. The first seems to be the fear of homeschooling itself, with it’s perceived isolation from even parental direction and it’s different socialization. What a contradiction to his earlier remarks insinuating that the child in the pre-industrial home is better off than the child pulled away from his parents. Another prospective fear mentioned was the idea that the internet will cause society to forget books. While this is oft mentioned, reality is not supporting this at all. It goes back to the opening story of the article: those in fear of technology are the ones who tried to stop it. The author’s fear of technology is standing in the way of looking at the real issues: How can we best use technology in the ways it is most useful? I had hoped this article would address the real problems rather than letting the fear of something different simply blind the author to having an open minded discussion.

Vail, Kathleen. “Learning without walls: A New Kind of School”. American School Board Journal Special Report. September 2002. <http://www.asbj.com/specialreports/0902pdf/Sept02ASBJS1.pdf> visited 10/12/02.

This article is addressed to anyone who is considering creating online classes. It begins by listing many of the advantages and disadvantages to consider when deciding on whether or not to proceed with creating this type of classes. It suggests where to start: lots of planning is the key. It addresses finances (how to fund), teachers (finding and training), technology needs and oversight possibilities. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of evaluation in the development of a program. The sidebars list websites to visit to learn more. Also presented in side boxes are comparisons of different types of online schools and the National Education Association’s questions to consider before beginning.

This is a good basic introduction to considering these possibilities. The reader must remember that because the author is trying to cover so much, each topic is addressed only superficially. The most important point is one that the author barely glossed over: deciding WHY you would be doing this. Who would your audience be and why is this the best way to address them? Keeping this in mind will guide the rest of the decisions. I found the sidebars and boxes with further information to be the most helpful parts of the article.