Virtual K-12 Classrooms
In the
past decade, there has been an a steady increase in the presence of virtual
K-12 classrooms. More and more teachers
are using course management software in their classrooms to supplement their
lessons. Districts are also designing
and operation their own online schools as well as cyber charter schools are
popping up and operating as their own school districts.
Though
it is quite evident that there is a steady trend in the development of more and
varied types of virtual classrooms, there hasn't been much research to support
the outcomes of a virtual classroom when compared to the performance of those
students within an traditional K-12 classroom setting. There are mixed findings about online
education and most of the studies conducted do not compare the two classroom
settings to examine the effectiveness of virtual K-12 classrooms. (Carnahan,
2012). Also, with virtual classrooms, there
are challenges in designing online classrooms as well as evaluating its
effectiveness. There is also the
concern over the amount of interaction students have with the teacher. Within an virtual K-12 classroom, student s
need to have a high level of self-efficacy to ensure achievement. Finally, not every person will have access to
this type of technology due to the equipment (Internet, Wi-Fi, computers, etc.)
and appropriate staff needed.
Virtual
K-12 classrooms do have benefits concerning student achievement. The
U.S. Department of Education (Patrick & Powell, 2009) found that:
·
"Students who took all or part of their
class online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course
through traditional face-to-face instruction.
·
Instruction combining online and face-to-face
elements had a larger advantage relative to purely face-to-face instruction
than did purely online instruction.
·
Online learning can be enhanced by giving
learners control of their interactions with media and prompting learner
reflection."
Virtual classrooms allow students to receive a somewhat customized
education that allows a greater level of flexibility than they would have in a
face-to-face classroom. Virtual K-12
classrooms can also be used to help students recover credits they failed to
receive in a traditional classroom or take advance classes they may not have
access to in their own schools. This
type of instruction also allows parents the opportunity to preview the curriculum. This is especially important for parents who
may have concerns or conflicts with their religious beliefs. To combat the stigma of isolation, more and
more socialization opportunities are being and can be implemented for students
within a course or virtual school to participate in outside of the online
environment (Carnahan, 2012) .
Carnahan
(2012) found through his study that virtual K-12 students perform at least at the
same level of those students who are enrolled in the traditional K-12
classroom. Throughout it all, this immersive
learning allows students to be engaged through simulations, provides them with immediate feedback, helps them to construct their
own learning, and practically apply the knowledge they've gained.
References
Carnahan, C. D. (2012). The Effects of Learning
in an Online Virtual Environment on K-12 Students . Indiana University of
Pennsylvania.
Patrick, S., & Powell, A. (2009). A Summary
of Research on the Effectiveness of K-12 Online Learning. Vienna:
InternatIonal Association for K-12 Online Learning.
