Journal #1- "E-Learning Comes in All Shapes and Sizes"

Coyle, S. & Jones, T. & Kirk Pickle, S (2009). E- Learning Comes in All Shapes and Sizes. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/SeptemberOctoberNo2/e_Learning_Programs_Come_in_All_Shapes_a.htm

This article was very interesting to me because it proves to us how far we have come in the technology world. We are now able to take classes on-line and virtually! We have been given the opportunity to take on-line classes at school, which is very nice because sometimes we don’t have the right schedule to take that particular class you want at school. What I found to be interesting was what they were doing at the Yukon-Koyukuk School District (YKSD), in Alaska. Teachers were having to teach 5 different grade levels which meant making five different lesson plans. They were able to set up satellite communication so that students could take their classes virtually. This allowed for the teacher to have access to way more materials. According to Coyle, “Connecting our remote students using video teleconferencing has been so successful, some courses, such as hospitality and construction, have been accredited through the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.”
In Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) they are also given the chance to do on-line courses. They believe it gives the students more opportunity. I think this is true because it gives the students a chance when they are ready that day to work on homework rather then be stuck in an uncomfortable classroom and listen to a lecture. You are able to work on more activities, projects, and group discussions on-line.

Why do you think we are starting to depend more on technology in the classroom?
I think we are depending more on technology in the classroom because it allows for way more opportunities. It seems like when we go to class and partake in lectures, very few people in the classroom are fully paying attention and grasping the concept. Where as when taking on-line classes there is more opportunity because we are not limited on time nor on creativity.

Do you think virtual learning will become world-wide?
I do, because people are already finding that there is more success rate. Students are not very limited on what they can do with virtual and on-line classes.