Journal Review #1
This article deals with the topic of online learning as a means of suplementing or replacing tradional learning environments. It points out that "25 percent of all K-12 public schools offer some e-learning." Some benefits of online learning as Solomon points out is that it can "provide enrichment, acceleration, or credit recovery and can also address students' scheduling needs or learning styles." A much larger part of the article deals with the shortcomings and hurdles that online learning has to overcome. Solomon points out that in preliminary testing in Pennsylvania and Ohio that students involved with online learning students scored low on proficency and standarized tests. In addition finacial problems with online learning arise, schools lose funding based on average daily attendace lost due to students learning from home. As well as the public sector fighting for educational funds once earmarked for schools to fund private online schools.
I find this topic quite interesting, the thought of taking an online course for high school credit never entered my mind. But the generation attending high school now has never known a world without the internet. That being said their profiecny and comfort with the internet as a tool makes it a ideal venue to supplement and excelerate their education. However, like with all new technolgy it takes time to iron out the details. For instance, many schools disctricts are have difficulty due to teacher certification from state to state and the fact that not enough time has pasted to accumulate sufficant data to support or dispell online learning. NACOL's Tim Stroud states, "It's too early to draw reliable conclusions about online learning programs. I feel that online learning will be like any tool it will work very well for some, while other will need the structure of a tradition school environment.