What『s Online Education All About? (2)

by Patricia Deubel, Ph.D.

What Is Available?The University of Western Australia (2005) says, "An online learning environment can include any or all of a number of aspects ranging from administration details relevant to the class to learning experiences mediated through interactive multimedia to a total course delivered via the Internet. An online learning environment can supplement or complement a traditional face to face learning environment, or it may provide a complete learning package that requires little face to face contact" (para. 4-5).

I view online learning more in terms of fully online or blended/hybrid courses that students can take from public, private, or for-profit entities. Courses ranging from art to math to zoology are available. Students can register for individual classes in online programs while still enrolled in traditional settings, or enroll in virtual schools to take most or all their courses online. They can take courses using computers at their homeschools where on site help is available, or only at their homes, or from any location where computers are available. Those courses might be offered by independent vendors (e.g., Apex Learning), their school district, another district within or outside of their state, or charter schools within or outside of their local district. State-supported virtual schools within or outside of their state, state technology service agencies, consortia (e.g., Virtual High School), and colleges and universities also offer online courses (Picciano & Seaman, 2007), some of which attract students globally. Courses might be totally asynchronous (i.e., everyone does not have to be online at the same time), synchronous (i.e., communications are set for a specific time when all must be present), or a combination of both.

Viewpoints and DemosYou『ve heard "A picture is worth a thousand words." Sound also captivates. George Lucas Foundation『s Edutopia, in collaboration with the Southern Regional Education Board, has captured that essence in their multimedia module called Online Learning. Get an overview, up close analysis, perspectives, and resources on how online learning is transforming secondary education. You will see students taking their online courses, hear why they take online courses, and then hear administrator perspectives on how their schools and districts benefit.

推薦閱讀：