Woodstock CT Café

Seven different authors contributed articles to the Café this week. As a result the Café earned a ranking of 3rd in the state for this last week from BlogNetNews. Thanks for your interesting contributions. Admin

This subject is one that I have, actually, spent quite a bit of time researching. I became interested in this subject a few years ago. Some friends of mine home-school and I was impressed to learn of some amazing learning tools that they were using (Incredible, really). I learned that many home-school parents (and organizations) have been incorporating virtual learning for some time. I believe that the incorporation of virtual learning IS the future of educating (progressively) our children.

I am not an advocate of virtual schools (no brick and mortar experience) for ALL students. Self-discipline and the ‘home environment’ may not be conducive to this type of learning in some cases. The arts and extra-curriculars are vital to the overall educational experience, in my opinion.

CT Virtual Learning Center
The State of Connecticut is pleased to announce the availability of free online course enrollment for high school students. Funded by the State as a pilot project, at no charge to you, the CT Virtual Learning Center will begin offering courses as soon as January 28, 2008. Students will be able to take these courses through your school for credit. These are dynamic, fully interactive online course curricula that have been pre-approved by the State Department of Education’s Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction and will be taught fully online by CT certified teachers.

‘Virtual schools’ do benefit many who are in situations where attendance is difficult/impossible/etc (health & disability issues, location (unsafe urban situations, etc). The incorporation of virtual learning in the public schools would provide for the oversight and supplemental instruction that is necessary for the success of most students. Combined with the social needs and overall ‘experience’ obtained in the brick and mortar environment? I believe the results would be amazing… Read the rest of this entry »

A link to this article has been added to the “Key Article” section on the right. Admin

For the past two years the high school where I work has offered two programs involving distance learning. One is for highly motivated students who want to take advantage of several courses that are not offered in a typical high school curriculum. The school district contracts with the VHS provider and enrolls students on an individual basis. Each student may utilize study periods while in school to complete course work and continue to work from home, while still enrolled in regular high school classes. The second type of virtual learning is provided by a program that was introduced by a school district in Ohio.

For the past two years I have been assigned Virtual Learning Academy Students that have been long term suspensions or expulsions for up to a year. The Virtual Learning Academy works like this: Each student is given up to (4) academic subjects that must be completed in a specific amount of time. Some students may be enrolled part way through the school year and therefore class lessons are reduced to reflect the time the student has already spent in school. My students are required to attend 3 to 5 sessions a week at a local center that has someone monitor the computer use. This can be the local library or some other venue that provides internet/computer use.

As the designated teacher, I correct each completed lesson. The student can contact me by email and I can offer assistance on any subject the student finds difficult. Has this been a success? Last summer I can attest to the fact that I had a student who was expelled in March and had to make up credits in Algebra, English, History, Health, and Science. Had this program not been made available, the student would have repeated 9th grade. By enrolling in and passing all of his Virtual Learning Academy subjects the student was able to return to regular high school this past September.

If you look at this from a financial standpoint the school system has saved a great deal of money on several fronts. Expelled students are entitled to a full-time tutor. The virtual learning academy eliminated the need for hiring someone full time. Had this student failed his freshman year he would have been on a “five year plan” thus costing the taxpayers an extra year of educational expense. This program could also be beneficial to students who drop out of regular high school. Instead of choosing to enroll in an Adult Ed. Program students could utilize the Virtual Learning Academy program to complete all high school graduation requirements.

Romeo A. Blackmar