Yes+to+Required+Online+Ed

 =Introduction=

In the 21st century, a new form of learning has made its way into educational world. Online Education allows for students of all ages to connect, engage and learn about many different concepts with an internet connection and a simple click of a mouse. This form of learning takes place outside the walls of the traditional classroom and allows students to move at their own pace, give flexibility in their busy schedules and choose from a wide range of subject matter that may have previously been unavailable.

While there are plenty of naysayers who would argue that online education is not a necessity, “students appear to be benefiting from” such programs. (Lips, 2010) Up to one million students are currently enrolled in an online program of some sort. In addition, 24 states offer a full-time virtual school, while “27 states offer statewide virtual schools that allow students to take a class online.” (Lips, 2010) In addition to the effectiveness of online programs, there are many other supporting arguments for this cutting edge learning experience.Students have different abilities, learn at different rates and use different methods to obtain knowledge. Allowing students the opportunity to use online learning may be exactly what they need to succeed. Consider the students who need a little extra help that the teacher can't give due to time and other factors. Online learning will allow for differentiated instruction that will help students get the extra assistance they need.

=The Benefits of Online Education=

Students today are well aware of how to navigate the Internet and find a great interest in technology. Having the opportunity to take online classes will only foster this interest into more learning. According to the Pew Internet Project, " 87% of all youth between the ages of 12 and 17 use the Internet (21 million people)." (The International Association of K-12 Online Learning, 2010) And with the high school graduation rate in the United States being 70% and the study that states that "two thirds of high school students will be bored in at least one class" (The International Association of K-12 Online Learning, 2010) the Internet only seems like the smart decision for helping to meet the interest level of students while educating the youth of America at the same time.

With the use of technology, all learning styles can be focused on. Visual learners can use a program like Wordle, which is "free resource for presenting text in a visual manner. In Wordle, a student enters text from a blog, Web site, book passage, or vocabulary list. Wordle will analyze the text and then create a "word cloud" which arranges the words in visual layout. The words that appear most frequently in the text will have a larger font and have more visual prominence than words appearing less frequently. Students can manipulate the layout, color scheme and font. This program allows students to visually see what the theme or main idea of a passage or important document. Students can also analyze their own writing using Wordle." (Tolbert, 2010)

Educators can use podcasting or Audacity, a free and easy-to-use audio editing software which lets you record and edit audio and works across multiple platforms to assist auditory learners. (Lifelong Learning Blog. 2008)

Websites like “Interactives, a site provides activities, strategies and other concepts that enhance learning skills. Interactives is aimed at grades 6 thru 12, but makes a good tool for kinesthetic learners of all ages, Google SketchUp, a free drawing software from Google that allows kinesthetic users to create, modify and share 3D models” and Education Place to allow kinesthetic learners to create free online quizzes, with time limits, to test their knowledge of any subject. (Lifelong Learning Blog 2008)

These resources are great to use in the classroom setting, however there maybe difficulty in finding time to adapt a lesson to each students’ learning style. With online learning, students have resources available to them that meet their individual needs, without the need to rush to complete a task.

Dr. Barbara Stoops, the Executive Director at Palmetto State E-cademy, gives these reasons why a student might benefit from an online high school:  Take for example, Barry, currently a 23-year-old, successful college graduate, but it was a long journey that is only possible due to the opportunity to enroll in a cyber high school. At the age of 16, Barry began a spiral downward; he started partying more and studying less. His focus became impressing his peers, and not his teachers or his parents. By the beginning of his senior year, he dropped out of school. What to do now? Not graduating was not an option for Barry’s dad, but Barry was not socially nor emotionally prepared to return to the same atmosphere which almost destroyed his future. After extensive research and discussion, Barry’s father found cyber high school to be the optimal solution. First, the flexible scheduling allowed Barry to work at his own pace, and it gave Barry’s dad the opportunity to monitor his progress. Secondly, and most importantly, the online atmosphere removed peer distraction. He graduated from high school, he attended and graduated from college, and he is well on his way to a bright future. All of this was possible because of his second chance.
 * "Students whose work or family obligations require a flexible schedule;
 * "High achievers who want to move faster than the rest of the class;
 * "Students pursuing a career in music, athletics or the arts;
 * "Students whose high schools don't offer the range of courses they need, such as Advanced Placement;
 * "Children with autism, Asperger's or ADHD, who would benefit from a calmer learning environment;
 * "Previously home-schooled students who want to continue learning with close parental involvement;
 * "Students who are tired of the disruptions and lack of personal attention in today's ever more-crowded classrooms;
 * "Students concerned about their safety in dangerous schools;
 * "Students who have been bullied or subjected to negative peer pressure." (Stoops, 2009)

Online classes also allow for all students to participate instead of being overshadowed by the "know it all student" who always has something to say. Attendance or participation can only be documented by a teacher if the student actually participates in the online discussion, thus allowing for more indepth conversations and knowledge to come from all verses that "know it all student". "Students often feel that they can actually listen to the comments made by other students. Because **everyone gets a chance to contribute**, students are less irritated with those that "over contribute" and can ask for clarification of any comments that are unclear."(Coleman, 2005)

=Online Credit Recovery=

"Credit recovery is just part of a larger devolution in the traditional 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., lecture-and-textbook high school model, which educators increasingly acknowledge fails many children." (Thevenot, 2010)

Online programs like Odyssey Compass Learning can provide credit recovery classes for students like Barry who struggle in the traditional education setting. The credit recovery classes are beneficial for students who:
 * "Are short credits for graduation
 * Are falling behind in credits
 * Have previously failed an entire course
 * Are currently at risk of failing a course or part of a course
 * Have previously failed a semester or part of a semester
 * Have missed course requirements due to illness or schedule conflicts
 * Want to accelerate their studies and earn additional credits" (Compass Learning Odyssey, 2009)

By providing a credit recovery class through a program like Compass Learning, students take a pre-test over all of the content and material. Once the pre-test is completed each student is evaluated and a targeted learning path is selected for the student. This prevents a student from completing assignments over content and material that is already mastered. Which means that two students taking the same course would each have an individualized path to complete to ensure that the skills and concepts that are needed are targeted. Does this mean that there is no teacher for the class? Absolutely not. "Teachers can set their own standards for passing based on school, district, or state requirements, and they can base learning paths on pacing charts and state standards." (Compass Learning Odyssey, 2009) Throughout the coursework students are able to repeat assignments or work on an assignment or task over several days or weeks. Once the coursework is complete, the student is assessed on a post assessment and evaluated to see if the standards for the course have been met.

Not only is Compass Learning effective for students, but it is also beneficial for school districts. "High school dropouts cost school districts millions of dollars each year. With Odyssey as a credit-recovery option, students are less likely to drop out when they know they can focus only on concepts they haven't mastered in order to recieve credit and graduate. Odyssey also helps retain FTE dollars by employing a single facilitator for all of the students using Odyssey for credit recovery." (Compass Learning Odyssey, 2010)

=Statistics =

Several studies have been conducted regarding the use of online learning in the K-12 area of education. The studies do not provide long term data, as online learning is fairly new.

The results show that students who are "naturally independent learners, like to read, can pace themselves, can follow directions, enjoy responding in writing, and have patience with technology are more apt to be successful with online learning." Also, assessments are available to determine whether or not students will be successful at online learning and can pinpoint study skills leading to success. (Digital Bridges).

"Demographic studies of students in cyber high school programs have revealed an increased rate of graduation over students in standard school environments. According to the Denair Unified School District of California, cyber school participants have a 42 percent higher graduation rate than conventional students. Included in the category of students who can benefit from cyber high school programs are "at-risk" students who might otherwise drop out." (Highland, 2010)

An 2009 analysis by the U.S. Department of Education determined that "students who took all or part of their class online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through traditional face-to-face instruction." (Means 2009). Increased instructor support and communication, detailed instruction, and specific due dates all contribute to a learning environment that can be more successful than the face-to-face environment for many students. Moreover, online students seem to have more parental involvement which contributes not only to student success online, but also in traditional classrooms.

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This video by K12 Inc. gives a brief overview of the many advantages of online learning. []

=﻿Cost Effectiveness=

With the economy in the state that it is and many states having to cut educational budgets, online classes can be a way to save money. According to David Markus in his Edutopia article "The Brave New Breakthough of Online Learning", one of the biggest benefits to offering online classes or virtual schools is cost effectiveness for the school district. "It's proving to be a viable, low-cost strategy that could substantially help overcome the huge, recession-driven deficits in education budgets across the country." (Markus, 2010)

Another example in which cost effectiveness can be seen is in rural districts. Rural districts are less likely to get a highly qualified teacher to apply for positions that can open for advanced course. "With more than a third of all K-12 educators leaving the profession due to layoffs or retirement over the next few years, online learning is emerging as the best direct solution for providing many urban and rural children with the instruction they need in already teacher-thin subjects such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and world languages." (Markus, 2010) Instead of hiring someone with inadequate teaching qualified for advanced placement courses, why not offer the course online with a highly qualified teacher? =media type="custom" key="7429753" = This video from Edutopia goes through how online learning can personalize instruction and reduce costs for schools. []

=﻿Conclusion=

Offering online classes provides positive aspects to the learning process. Students are able to learn at their own pace, obtain knowledge from different medias, recover credits and take classes that are not offered at the high school they attend all while integrating technology into the learning process and saving money at the same time. With expansions in technology, education provided online is just as good if not better than what a teacher can provide as the classroom size continues to grow larger. Online classes reach out to students who would have dropped out and provide an environment that meets the needs of the individual. Success stories like Barry's,continue to pop up over time and show that education is moving in the right direction by providing online classes to students.

=﻿References=

[]. 11/5/20. Retrieved 11/5/2010.
 * 1) Highland, James. "What are the benefits of cyber schools". eHow Contributor. (2010). [] Retrieved 11.01.10
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Tolbert, Jennifer. "Technology Resources for Visual Learners." suite101.com (2010). [] Retrieved 11.01.10
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Lifelong Learning Blog. “30 of the Best Educational Tools for Auditory, Visual, and Kinecthetic Learners” (2008) [] Retrieved 11.01.10
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|How Online Learning Is Revolutionizing K-12 Education and Benefiting Students] - Lips, Daniel, 1-12-10. Retrieved 11-1-10.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Stoops, Barbara. "Online revolution could transform high-school education<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">" The Opinion Blog from The Sun News.com @http://thesunnews.typepad.com/opinionblog/2009/01/bricksandmortar-high-schools-to-fade-into-history.html 01-2009. Retrieved 11-2-10.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Means, Barbara, Yukie Toyama, Robert Murphy, Marianne Bakia and Karla Jones. "Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practice in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies," U.S. Department of Education (May 2009). []. Retrieved 11-2-10.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The International Association for K-12 Online Learning. "Fast Facts about Online Learning." []. Retrieved 11-2-10.
 * 8) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Coleman, Stephanie. "Benefits of Online Learning." (August 2005). []. Retrieved 11-2-10
 * 9) Digital Bridges. "K-12 Online Instructions for Teaching and Learning." []. Retrieved 11-3-2010.
 * 10) Compass Learning Odyssey. "Credit, Course, and Grade Recovery." (2009) [][] Retrieved 11-4-2010
 * 11) Compass Learning Odyssey. "Credit and Grade Recovery." (2010) [][] Retrieved 11-4-2010
 * 12) "The Brave New Breakthrough of Online Learning. Edutopia." Markus, David. []. 6.29/10. Retrieved 11-4-10.
 * 13) "Can Credit Recovery Couses Cut Dropout Rates?" Thevenot, Brian and Sarah Butrymowicz. The Texas Tribune.