Online classes required?
Michigan could become the first state in the nation to require students to experience some kind of online instruction before graduating, if the state legislature approves a proposal now before it. The plan is part of a larger effort to ratchet up high school graduation requirements in the state, and its supporters say it’s a bold idea that will help prepare students for the challenges of an increasingly global economy.
wow! that’s terrific to read. i have struggled to try and get our undergraduate program to implement a system that would require all of our preservice educators to have some online learning experiences before they graduate. i think the model for graduate school is increasingly looking at online learning as a way to provide graduate classes to teachers. in michigan, all teachers must complete 18 hours of coursework towards a planned program in their first 5 years of teaching. many teachers are not teaching next to a university so the online options become even more appealing. in any regard, i thought i’d pass along an initiative coming out of michigan that i hope sees the light of day and spreads to other states. should be interesting to learn how this plan plays out.
i still can’t get the commenting on my site to show up on this front page, but i’ll keep fiddling. also, i have some neat new technologies that i’ve been playing around with that i can’t wait to share when i have some time. stay tuned!
May 17th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
I took an online class over one summer in my undergraduate career at Calvin. I’d never taken an online class before, and so the concept was quite foreign to me. Taking a class online is quite different than taking a class face-to-face. The student needs to be very self motivated to get the work completed in an online class.
I’m not sure that I agree that all high school students should be required to receive online instruction. I think that for many high school students, this wouldn’t really work. However, if aspects of online learning were incorporated into a regular class, students could experience online learning without the larger responsibility of an entire online class. For instance, perhaps a class could meet online for one session, and in person the next.
May 21st, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Actually I agree that requiring students some type of online training is great! And if Michigan is the first - Yay to us! If students get that training, it will be really helpful in college and their career. In college they have the option of taking an online class and knowing how to use the internet is key. Many people even take classes through an online school and receive their degree via it - my friend has done it! The world is becoming more and more technology driven and knowing how to use the internet is what is needed in the upcoming job market and even now. It would be especially great if a future teacher learns how to use technology and is able to show his/her students how to do it as well. Then they would learn the skills for their near future.
I also agree, though, that there should be online and also face-to-face classes. I don’t think the quote is saying that classes will only be online in the future. Its just saying that in high school, students should learn some things about using the internet so that they can be better prepared for the future.
September 24th, 2006 at 11:52 am
I definitly feel that an online class should become a requiement. My ed 205 online class has been a struggle for me so far because I have never really had much experience on a computer. I have always had access, but I never really took advantage of it. This class has forced me to use the computer far more in depth than I have before and although it has been hard, I really feel that it will really benefit me in the future.
September 24th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
I think the new requirement is certainly an interesting one; it would prove to be valuable in the future, although with technology there is always a concern with accessibility for everyone. I think online classes help students to be more responsible and give the learning experience an added dimension, which is pretty valuable. It remains to be seen if requiring this for graduation turns out to be a good or bad move, but the mere consideration of it seems to indicate that Michigan is looking to take its education seriously.
September 24th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
I think this is a great idea. The internet is so important in education today. Online classes are great ideas. It’s cool having Michigan being the first. I also hope that other states follow in this awesome idea. So far I’ve enjoyed my online instruction experiences.