Unit 2 Foundations

Do online and blended learning environments remove barriers that prevent students from learning in a "brick and mortar" classroom.

   

An opening paragraph from Janie Ulmer's blog (another student in this course) really resonated with me. She says,

          As I prepared for my first blog entry, I could feel the anxiety that many of my students must feel as they prepare an essay or complete an assessment.  My thoughts and knowledge level are going to be on display for the world to evaluate. However, that anxiety is also invigorating.

This same anxiety can paralyze many students that are not as brave or willing to step outside of his/her own comfort zone as Janie. In my classroom I have observed many students come to life, ask a question, or express his/her opinion virtually that normally would not in a "brick and mortal" classroom. I can't help, but feel some might be a fear of being judged, of being wrong, of not being heard, or of speaking out in front of their peers.

At Lawrenceburg High School I have also witnessed online and blended instruction break down many learning barriers for our students. We have programs that range in comprehensiveness and reach from full-time programs for alternative students, supplemental programs for students in school needing credit recovery or a class not offered at our school, or even down to students in a regularly scheduled class with teachers implementing blended instruction. All of these programs over the last couple years have significantly helped our school improve its graduation rates, college readiness test scores, standardized test scores, and school grade. 

 The " iNACOL A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning" has great section about the myths of online learning. One of myths is that online learning is really just a teacher-less environment. In my mind, that is so wrong , but yet correct in a good way. Online learning allows the student to become the center of learning experience. The teacher merely becomes a facilitator or curator on the students on personalized educational journey. Students are able to get often able instantaneous feedback on work, be supported or challenged they are needed, engaged in learning, and most importantly given ownership in their own learning.

Students today are digital natives, and the transition to a cyber learning environment will be much easier for them than it will the facilitator. Teachers that design or implement courses that follow the TPAC framework , will be able to provide individualized learning that can have a much greater reach than ever before.