Virtual Classrooms

Benefits of online learning:

1. Formulating your own idea- the conceptual understanding of the information being given is not censored or colored in any way by the person teaching it. The student must strive to create their own conclusions.

2. Research skills- Since questions can not be answered simply by asking someone the question, research becomes the medium for finding answers. The student must learn to wade through the plethora of information available to determine what is legitimate and unbiased.

3. Time management skills- Pacing yourself to stay on task and adhere to an abstract schedule requires disciplined use of time.

4. Self Assessment- The student learns to question one’s own understanding of the course content and adjust their focus accordingly. This creates an awareness of the student’s own strengths and weakness and allows for learning to take a meaningful direction.

5. Quality over quantity- Students learning on their own can pace the class according to their own needs as opposed to the classroom environment where classmates understanding or lack of understanding dictate the pace of the course.

Drawbacks of online learning:

1. Autonomy- Hours in a virtual classroom often leave a student feeling lonely and disconnected from the peer-student and teacher-student component to learning.

2. Lack of validation- Validation is an important component to staying on track. Without outside validation, the student may be unaware that their conceptual understanding is not on track.

3. Inside the box thinking- Sometimes students need a fresh, objective explanation to see outside of a self imposed box of thinking in order to pass on to a higher level of thinking.

4. Monotony- Online learning is hard to differentiate. Students must devise their own creative use of content in order to appeal to Multiple Intelligences.

5. Distractions- It is easy to allow distractions to break the pace of learning. In a traditional classroom setting, the student is committed to a time and place devoted to the study of course content. In a non-traditional setting, the student has to manufacture an environment and maintain a schedule despite many opportunities to fall of task.

Although elementary school is not likely to ever take place in a virtual classroom, it is likely that many students will, at some point in the educational process, be exposed to the virtual classroom, so it is important to find ways to incorporate some of the skills necessary for success in the virtual classroom in elementary education. Things like research skills, time management, self assessment and creative thinking skills are just some of the things that I want to instill in my students.
Sometimes I wonder, by the time this generation of elementary students reach college, will earning a degree through virtual classes will be the norm? I have seen, in just the past few years, opportunies for online classes, degrees and blended format programs become more readily available and accepted. What does the future hold? It is very likely that some of the skills required to succeed in the virtual classroom will make the difference between a student finishing college or dropping out.
Sometimes I feel inadequate to the challenge of teaching children in this new technology based society, which is still somewhat an unfamiliar world to me. My experience of teaching is going to be so different from my own memories of elementary school teachers. I am sure that many of you feel the same. Other times, I feel like putting off college until later in my life and getting to experience these virtual classrooms for myself has been a blessing in disguise.
For experienced teachers out there, how has the trend toward technology in the elementary classroom changed the way you teach? Has becoming a technology driven classroom been more a challenge or has it made teaching more fun and interesting? I am interested in hearing about your experiences.