What did you learn this week that struck you as particularly important in learning about virtual schools? Has your thinking changed as a result of what you learned this week?
My attention to the subject matter this week slowly drifted away from the challenges of researching online programs to really the more interesting philisophical question of "re"searching something that is relatively new by definition. We always want to compare new programs to existing programs (in this case online to f2f) but online learning is inherently a paradigm shift. It shouldn't look like a f2f program.
We need to be creative in how we even define what quality looks like. I think we do need to go back to some normed ideas of assessment scores and more commonly use measurement tools. However, I think learning should be more interesting and deep. I think with more types and modes of media and communication it can definitely be more interesting and collaborative.
However, I have to be honest that the whole movement, not just online education, but towards virtual interaction concerns me deeply. We talk from an education standpoint about the importance of inflection, timing and being able to think on your feet as an educator. If the paradigm shifts too far to favor "asynchronous" and instantaneus by brief modes of communication and learning thinking we kind of lose a human quality education and just in general.
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