Virtual Learning it is the future

Call it virtual, distance or online education, the question isn’t whether or not to try it, it is a question of when.

I have read a lot about technology in the classroom and how to use but what about technology that sole purpose is to teach that being for distance students.

As you read this a student is learning a language online, and a student who doesn’t really understand math is uploading their questions. All the while a teacher is multitasking via IM, and Twitter and checking Moodle for responses to the latest class inquiry.

E-learning is filling other educational needs, there are those students who dropped out of school for whatever reason and now they are reading to finish school at home. And then there are those who simply can not fit another thing in their busy lives. Distance Education and Virtual Education really are booming and it is time that there benefits are recognized.

Collaboration can take place at all times, children and adults are able to finish their education whether it is schooling or university and more importantly children can extend their knowledge. This certainly shows that unconstrained by place and time, students are learning and teachers are teaching, virtually and rigorously.

With all the benefits that do come with virtual learning it does meet its challenges if prior learning experiences include a traditional classroom, its expectations, its pacing and its teacher over sight, these virtual learners now work at a different pace, set most of their own goals and expectations. Some children may welcome this new learning and others may fall behind. However with motivation and a teacher who is nothing but a click away children and adults certainly do feel as though they can achieve.

Virtual learning allows children to be ready for the future, they communicate through a computer they learn vital communication skills which see them through the workplace.

This article shares teacher’s quotes about the benefits of online learning and also why they do it, it shows the why and the how. Most people believe that when you drop out of a traditional school, well that is it; unless you go back to a traditional school you can not finish your education or gain a university degree. This article certainly proves that this is not true, these virtual classrooms are becoming more popular and anyone can do it. There are at least 147 virtual charter schools operating in the U.S this figure shows that they are out there and they are definitely coming around, the same point can be seen through universities offering distance education courses. As our lives are getting much more busier education seems to be forgotten about, but with this virtual learning hopefully the importance of education will be brought back.

Reference http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.php?articleID=196605231&page=1 accessed 15/06/08