Virtual Online School

Background:

The nature of Virtual School and standard of education cannot be overemphasized since we are in the 21st century ( the age of advanced technology and enhanced digital access). The articles, journals and video read and watched, reflected on type of structures, systems, demographics, nature and other thought around virtual learning/schooling. Various researches on the tools used in an online schooling systems, the learning environment itself and how this impacts overall learning outcomes. Essentially looking at Virtual schooling and its import on pedagogy especially in the United States schooling system.

It is interesting to see how Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser in their article on Virtual schooling (2007) described the reasons for the virtual schooling and the pace of its growth in the United States. I gathered from the research that VS provides a more flexible arrangements to students especially those students who do not have as much time as those in the traditional schooling system e.g. those who are sick, those who are engaged in other extracurricular activities e.g. spots, those who may be displaced or in a temporary situations where they need to continue in their studies (students who are affected by natural disasters such as weather situation), this explanation is similar to Susan Patrick video's (11:24) on “Benefitof online schooling”.

The purpose according to Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser(2070) is '' ....Help school respond to No child left behind legislation"The main trust to ensure that all children have access to education. Although, the focus is not on Adult education , virtual schooling tents to fill the gap with a clear message on an " all-inclusive growth in learning outcome" and therefore no one should be excluded in learning for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The various opportunities provided with definite instructional methodology, styles rapped around unique learning tools is provided to challenge the traditional way of doing things.

Therefore by my views, virtual schooling is contemporary teaching method where the pedagogy is transmitted from the teacher to the learning anytime, anywhere and any day. The video clips on a day in the life of an online teacher, expressed the responsibility and roles of a Virtual School teacher as a good team player, communicator, a good service representative and who interacts well to achieving learning outcome - Moore’s editorial concepts of interactions (A journal article by Lalonde, Joanne; Moore, Michael G. (1991).

With this background in mind, Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser(2070) in their article tried to define the common terminologies used for Virtual schooling or method of knowledge exchange. References to roles of each participants/actors in this type of learning environments was clearly explained and taking a look into how this ties with learners interactivity such as was referred to in the journal articles by M.Moore on the three types of learners interactions American Journal of Distance Education (1989) - editorial journal. In my views, virtual schooling places more emphasis on the learner, environment and instructor (teacher). In which case some tend to describe this actors differently as " Digital Nativity,Digital Immigrant, on Mark Prensky (2010) or additional definitions as " digital aliens or Integrators" . Depending on the type of actors in the Virtual Schooling environment, the ultimate goal is to achieve hundred percent (100%) learning outcomes. Therefore the teachers always ensure that whatever will be the easiest ways to satisfy the curiosity of the learners are being taught using web based tools as a means of transmitting the instructions or learning, ranging from Social, networking, presentation and multimedia tools.( see below)

Citation: WebCT from Pixabay

Reading through every lines of the article, I noticed the role of the instructor as being very key. The teacher is responsible to deliver based on set guidelines and instructions, I therefore see the need to build the capacity of teachers to be able to meet this demand. Teachers development in creative curriculum designs and mainstreaming the use of technological tools to all instructional designs that will meet emerging technological changes and fit the digitalized learning environments.

Teaching for me, becomes the main trust of all the articles and video's presented in module 3. The teacher becomes the equilibrium point between the learners, the parent, the school, teaching environment and all of this ties to a successful learning outcome (see my popplet on making learning Fun).  The research article ( one of the articles reflected on in this module) touched on ' the nature of teacher engagement at an online High school authored by Borup, J; Graham, CR; &Drysdale J.S (2014), published by British Journal of Educational technology, 45(5), 793-806. The research examined “teaching presence.....and identified additional roles". The research came up with various methodology of teaching and notable interventions used by teachers to enhance the culture of “teaching presence" or I call it“Culture of achieving excellence in learning"; I particularly enjoyed reading to know that the research output outlined various teaching improvements indicators that was adopted in teaching engagements to enhance greater impact on positive learning outcomes which is referred to as the six elements of teacher engagements.....

                                   "designing and organising learning activities; facilitating discourse with                                        students and partners; providing students with online one-on one                                                  instructions;nurturing a safe and caring learning environments;                                                    monitoring students to engage in learning activities ; and closely                                                    monitoring students behaviours learning" Borup, J; Graham, CR;                                                  &Drysdale J.S (2014), published by British Journal of Educational                                                technology, 45(5), 793-806.

Teachers in VS affirms the exciting nature of teaching, based on the journal research on technology in education which examines K–12 Distance Educators at Work: Who’s Teaching Online across the United States (International Society for Technology in Education). In my views, the nature of teaching in a VS/online learning environments helps connect the student personally to their teacher and there is close relationship as compared to traditional school system where the teacher pupil ratio could pose a challenge- Leanna, Archambault; Kent, Crippen; (2009). As we continue to view this emerging phase of education intervention, I am hoping that the curiosity of " our digital minds "will be satisfied someday through conscious teachers engagements, teachers professional reforms that will result into impact in learning.

Additional Resources:

1. No Child left Behind Act  of the United State Government (2001)
2. Kim, Kerr; Reflection on the MDG written by Deputy Director, Education and Learning MasterCard Foundation (2015)
3. Ira Kaufman, in "Are You a Digital Alien, Digital Immigrant, or Digital Native? (2011)