Considering the advancement of education and the continuing evolvement of online learning, I think the adoption of distance technologies is inevitable. I base this on a comparison to the adoption of distance education by higher education institutions in the 70s and 80s when there were really no regulations and anybody 's sister and brother was establishing distance learning entities. However, today, the cost factor is really ruling how schools will operate 10 to 20 years from now; although I do not totally agree with totally online learning for K-6. I feel blended learning is a better approach for reasons other than necessity by state and federal policy makers – socialization, personalities, etc. However, because virtual schools are strictly
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The impact of technology has been a means to enhance or enrich the learning experience. With that said, virtual schools are just a continuation or expansion of distance learning. It is now focused on a new group of learners – K-12, whereas it began with adult learners. DE has garnered more government and political support, much needed, and the concept of standardization, to me is in line with policy maker’s economic, social, and political agenda, which is preparing learners for the global workforce. Thinking of K-12 delivery as it relates to the integration of technologies, I agree with Rice (2006) that online learning should be based on factors unrelated to delivery mode. As the focus of distance education has become a means to prepare learners for life beyond school, its capacity to offer expanded learning opportunities at all levels must be the central focus. This involves more than the mode of delivery and validates why the technology must focus on how the delivery medium is able to engage students in the learning process while also achieving learning or course objectives (Rice, 2006). The economies of scale is accomplished through standardization of policies and the use of …show more content…
430). Virtual schools like distance education institutions must institute state educational guidelines and structural requirements. The organizational schema is important for virtual schools, determining operational structure, and regulates the level or type of K-12 programs, if it is a district, or charter school, funding , if the school will operate as a consortia with other K-12 schools or independently, globally, as a for-profit or nonprofit organization. The importance of policies strengthen leadership, improve student achievement, and could encourage broadband access with adequate funding, which are just a few of the benefits of virtual schools as a legitimate option for school choice (Rice, 2006,
The impact of technology has been a means to enhance or enrich the learning experience. With that said, virtual schools are just a continuation or expansion of distance learning. It is now focused on a new group of learners – K-12, whereas it began with adult learners. DE has garnered more government and political support, much needed, and the concept of standardization, to me is in line with policy maker’s economic, social, and political agenda, which is preparing learners for the global workforce. Thinking of K-12 delivery as it relates to the integration of technologies, I agree with Rice (2006) that online learning should be based on factors unrelated to delivery mode. As the focus of distance education has become a means to prepare learners for life beyond school, its capacity to offer expanded learning opportunities at all levels must be the central focus. This involves more than the mode of delivery and validates why the technology must focus on how the delivery medium is able to engage students in the learning process while also achieving learning or course objectives (Rice, 2006). The economies of scale is accomplished through standardization of policies and the use of …show more content…
430). Virtual schools like distance education institutions must institute state educational guidelines and structural requirements. The organizational schema is important for virtual schools, determining operational structure, and regulates the level or type of K-12 programs, if it is a district, or charter school, funding , if the school will operate as a consortia with other K-12 schools or independently, globally, as a for-profit or nonprofit organization. The importance of policies strengthen leadership, improve student achievement, and could encourage broadband access with adequate funding, which are just a few of the benefits of virtual schools as a legitimate option for school choice (Rice, 2006,