A virtual Classroom.....good or bad?

ETT21 #150:  Barbara Brueggemann, Head of School at the GWU Online High School

Few Notes:

Full online school aimed towards 9-12^th graders

16 students

Opportunity to create a dream high school

Almost no restrictions i.e. size of class and # of students who want to take that class

Launched first cohort in January

12^th grade will work with a professor at George Washington University

9^th and 10^th just started

Self paced

Virtual classroom

Meet weekly

                I enjoy the idea of a virtual classroom but I feel it is not as useful to the students or teacher as a class held in person in a classroom.  Some virtual classrooms do not have the use of Skype so how do you know if you really have that student present?  For all the teacher knows is that is a friend helping out or if it is the student how are you sure that they have their full attention and they are not playing video games online or doing house chores during class?  For me, not being able to interact with a live person, that being the teacher, and having that personal one-to-one greeting is harmful.  Right now in schools we preach to students to not be afraid of teachers and get to know them because they are there for you and that they care.   Not getting to know your teacher or student is not a “healthy” relationship.  I feel that meeting the teacher in person they can see that you are working hard, know if you are stuck on a certain issue in the chapter, or that there is something personal about you that they understand and then can grade based on that personal trait is a huge gain for the students and the teacher.  Being able to watch a student in your class and see how they respond to the work that is given to them can help both of you in the long run being teacher experience and the ability to understand and learn the material.  In the future a virtual classroom would be a great idea if all students had a visual of a teacher, their peers, and vice versa.  Right now with technology the virtual classroom is a good idea but with so many loop holes to cover and fill I feel that the original, old school type of learning in the classroom is the best route to travel….for now!