Traditional Versus the Virtual Classroom

Donna -- Comparing online with Face to Face learning.

Summary: This video is a short clip of an online school and all the benefits of such a program. The video acknowledges the one on one interaction  between a student and a teacher and emphasises on the classroom working at the child's pace. They offer programs for all grade levels and even offer classes for the gifted and the special needs students. This program is designed for students to use at home while being supervised by either a parent or guardian.

Assessment: The key speaker in this video is Barbara Dryen who is the CEO of Connections Academy, this video was posted by the school itself on youtube. There is also a link to the actual website, www.connectionsacademy.com, of the school program itself which offers much more valuable information of the program.

Reflection: I think this video pointed out some great factors that online school has to offer, some I may have never even considered.  I think it is important that a student feels confident in what it is they are learning and how well they understand it. The fact that the school allows that option may encourage parents and students to join this program. I also thought it was very cool that the teacher and student could do a live video chat during a lesson. I think that makes the whole experience more personal and can also become a factor of encouragement.





Summary: We the public, get a front row seat to a real live classroom, 6th grade math class. This six grade math class is learning how to divide fractions and are being taught an easy short cut to remember the steps in doing so. As the teacher continues to write problems on the board her students quickly wish to get involved in answering the problems.

Assessment: This video was shot in Winchell Elementary School in Kalamazoo, MI. It was posted on the 24th of January 2010 by 4kevans1 who has several other postings from different classroom that are all themed "Power Teaching".

Reflection: I chose this video because it really emphasizes the things an online class can't offer and thats interaction, stimulation and most importantly fun. Though the students are in class they are enjoying learning how to divide fractions and are confident in answering in class. This class room is what is typically referred to as a traditional classroom or even a face to face classroom. In my opinion, I feel a students has a better chance of remaining on task in an environment such as this.

http://www.onlineeducation.com/resources/Online-VS-Traditional.php

Summary: This article sums up the pros and cons of online schooling. It mentions topics such as cost of travel, convience, working at your own pace. This article is more pro online classing but it still points out some important details to consider when chosing traditional or online classing. The article also mentions the comfort one must have with technology before enrolling in an online class. Typically though, student K through 12 have been around computers their whole life and tend to manage.

Assessment: There is no specific author to this article, it is posted on OnlineEducation.com

Reflection: In my opinion this article was a little biased, I looked over so many articles and this was the one I best fit both subjects. The article did seem to represent more pros in the choice of online schooling and lacked to represent the pros of a face to face classroom. I understand as an online education site that is bound to happen

CONCLUSION:
As a student I have personally taken classes online as well as face to face. Ultimately, I prefer the traditional class room. I feel I am better set on track in a traditional classroom and have more of a connection with my teacher/professor. I feel that technology is great and should be used in a classroom I do not believe it should become the class room. It is important that a student acquires the social skills needed to interact with the real world, students must learn how to solve problems and face any conflicts. I also feel if a majority of students make the choice of doing online schooling it may eliminate jobs for teachers. Though I see the advantage in both sides of the argument, I believe a traditional classroom serves best when it comes to education.


SOURCES:
VIDEO 1:"Online Learning: What is Virtual School? Learn About Connections Academy." Connections       Academy. 4 May 2011. accessed 13 Feb 2012. Video. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI_racWLRUY>.

VIDEO 2:"Power Teaching: 6th Grade Math." YouTube. 24 Jan 2010. accesses 13 Feb 2012. Video. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3KtPWs4GzU>.

ARTICLE:"Online VS Traditional." Online Education. Copyright 2009-2012. Accessed 17 Feb 2012. <http://www.onlineeducation.com/resources/Online-VS-Traditional.php>.