Virtual School Part 2

What does it look like?
I was very surprised about what I learned when reading/researching virtual schooling.     Traditional schools have teachers and students learning in the classroom.  Virtual schools use the internet as a classroom.  Virtual schools can work in different ways.  In some situation virtual schools provide supplemental courses and instructional materials for children that are home schooled.
Cyber school is a mixture between homeschooling and public schooling.  Children work from their computer at their own pace.  K-12 on-line learning has a partnership with other schools(charter schools).  K-12 on-line learning is a virtual school for K-12 students.

How is it done?
Students basically learn from their computers.  The lessons are on-line and students may work at their own pace.  There is virtual teacher and a virtual classroom.  This is the opportunity for teachers to interact with students and receive one-on-one attention and assistance.

Where is it done?
This type of schooling is done on a computer, at home or any place with computer access.

What kind of students take it?
Students that are home schooled use virtual schools.

What courses are offered?
Any course that is offered in the traditional school setting is offered in the virtual schools.  I watched a video that gave a detailed explanation of virtual schools.  In this video the student stated that most students take a bus to school but his bus was the internet.  The lessons on-line gave him all that he needed to be a successful student.  In addition to the lessons, he had a virtual classroom and the teacher helped him to become very successful.  He also stated that he is now ready for college and very self-motivated.

Virtual schooling is not what I expected.  I am pleasantly surprised.  From what I read and watched the students seem to be very successful.  Most importantly students are able to move at their own pace in some situations, which definitely helps with student achievement.

Virtual Schooling

Virtual Schooling has always seemed to be very interesting.  When I think of virtual schooling I think of students learning outside of the typical school setting.  Students receiving assignments on-line and completing at their own pace. 

At one point I thought Virtual Schooling was designed for students with serious behavior issues. These students would complete their assignments off site, with the intentions that they would still be able to learn by completing their assignments online. 

I think that K12 on-line learning is a program designed for students that are home schooled.  I believe there are teachers available to assist you with the assignments provided.  

Virtual Schooling, Cyber Schooling and K12 on-line learning are all fairly new concepts.  My concern is socialization skills.  If students are sitting behind a computer throughout the day, how are they going to learn proper socialization skills.