As we are all familiar, technology is transforming
the environment within the classroom. In some ways, the classroom itself
is taking new shapes based on how and where the instruction
is actually taking place. As important as it may be that we make headway
with technology changing students' instruction, by time itself transforming the
classroom to have a more hybrid style teaching experience, where do teachers
stand on the front of education through technology and no face-face
acknowledgement?
We all have taken online classes throughout our
university and college careers, including this module. Would the success
of our education be better if conducted completely virtual at the high school
level? Various funding by major company supplied grants are being spent
for studies conducted on hybrid charter schooling for grades 6-12 to prepare
students for college readiness. Though funding can be an extremely
controversial topic when concerning schooling, does it have a place being
funded into adapting students for college readiness in grades as low as grade
6?
As future educators, we know that a blended
instruction where technology is incorporated into traditional curriculum
adaptation is providing students with educations that are constantly being redefined.
Is it necessary to take this to the next step already? In my
opinion, I can see the relevance in supplying high school students with early
preparation that is alternatively hybrid as predominantly face to face.
That being said, I cannot see that this is integrated fully taking the
place of face to face instruction. Not all high school students will
respond and benefit from this type of new instruction because teenagers are
prone to all different kinds of behaviors. Students occasionally need the
traditional framework of learning in a classroom to revolutionize the way they
will carry themselves in many future endeavors. As teachers, are we ready for
virtual instruction taking the place of all future teaching of our students?
This may be adaptable to various types of schooling, but will funding
truly make up for this difference? Will most teachers have positions when
various types of instruction can happen purely online through webinars and
other modules?
Read this Education Week article here. What do you think? Sound off with
your opinions on this intriguing future of education.
Girard, we share a lot of the same questions here. I am definitely not an advocate of full hybrid integration in schools. A blended system may prove fruitful, but I believe there would need to be regulations set. As the input-output information is being gathered, and more studies are being done, hopefully we will gather enough knowledge to know how to properly assemble these educational spheres towards their utmost capabilities. For now, I'm still hesitant on even the blended system. I'm afraid it may start as "blended" and move more globally; where we will see traditional schooling become less and less "traditional." Also, how far are we going to break apart from face to face communication?! You brought this up as well. I mean, are we going to be a generation of socially-inept individuals? People skills are a must. Students need to go through the life lessons that traditional schooling comes along with. I know it may sound silly, but they need crushes, heartbreaks, school dances, clubs, programs, friends, etc. Not to say that a blended system will not include these aspects of life, but I'm afraid much of it will be sacrificed for the sake of 'keeping up with technology.' My final statement is that most importantly, computers can't teach students life lessons. I look back on some of the most important role models in my life, those that are teachers, that gave me the right advice, at just the right moment. These experiences were crucial, and can only take place in a traditional setting. My educators taught me sympathy/care, when/how to be outgoing and ambitious. Simple as that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything that you said. We cannot rely on technology to act as the be-all, end-all aspect of education. It works well to bridge the gap between what students learn and how they may learn it and internalize it, however it has its limits. Traditional schooling helps and prepares students for the hardships that might occur within their lives. I like that you said that with full implementation, we would be socially-inept individuals. I consider this very factor every time I consign myself into something else via technology. We have to be careful the message we send by allowing technology to integrate fully in the classroom. As teachers, WE ARE the physical aspects/beings to teaching. Not everything that students can learn, either easily or in difficult fashions can be absorbed through osmosis from their hands on the keyboard and their face directed at the computer screen.
DeleteIn my personal opinion, online modules are not as successful as face to face instruction. My first experience with an online class was via several programs in my high school. They selected certain students, including myself, to pick and take particular online classes. I decided first that I'd take my language elective online, with Chine I and II. The teacher was in Honk Kong so we had a face to face video chat for one day a week. The other four days, she would merely post instructions on what I should read and what objectives to do, then post. I dud not flourish at all and she was not around enough to notice.
ReplyDeleteSomething I'm very impassioned about is writing. I've always been enthralled by the idea of creating my own characters and scenarios. Despite not enjoying my Chinese classes as much as I could, when my school offered a creative writing online curriculum, I decided the risks were worth it if they'd benefit my writing. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed to find much of the aforementioned issues again. My virtual classroom teacher would simply give us prompts to write, a due date, and leave us alone, then throw a grade in our faces. I did well, but wasn't taught anything in it that I could not find for free elsewhere. It was a waste of my time and the school's resources.
I have benefited so much more from physical instruction. At MSU, I'm a creative writing minor and I can see such vast amelioration in my writing from it. I also understood my language courses more. I am certain these issues can be ironed out, the more time schools have to scrutinize online classes, but my favorite classes are not in that vein.
Girard,
ReplyDeleteI have similar questions as you do when it comes to hybrid schooling. I really don't think non face to face school instruction would serve as a successful idea. As an english teacher, I like touching books and smelling them--you can't do that with ibooks or ebooks. While the electronic experience is nice, I know I like having books my shelf. Similarly, having a teacher on the tv screen or computer screen is nice, but talking to one in person is different. I know I'd want to see my teacher sometimes. I don't think once a week is enough, students are always growing and battling so many issues on a day to day basis, so when we remove that sort of interaction things become difficult. I think students need that live experience because that's what makes learning fun and exciting. This is my personal opinion, but I feel that hybrid school creates short term results. I wouldn't want to have a hybrid education.