Journal 8

“Virtual Success: Transforming Education Through Online Learning” by Julie Young, Pam Birtolo, and Raven McElman

Using FLVS, an online high school in Florida, as an example, Julie Young, Pam Birtolo and Raven McElman argue that online education is not only innovative but in some ways more successful than the traditional classroom setting. They attribute online student success to flexible schedules, one-on-one teacher interaction and practical applications to core subjects. According to Young, Birtolo and McElman, online learning provides an environment where students can collaborate in groups for projects while working through an individualized curriculum. They cliam online learning is not a “one-size-fits-all” type of education and that a “one-size-fits-all” education is outdated.

Do you think online education at the High School level would benefit all students?

While online education is a great forum for some students, there are some students that may not thrive in this type of environment. I think the students that would benefit most from this type of learning environment are students that have a solid grasp on basic Math, English, Reading and Technology concepts. Successful students in an online atmosphere would also have to be self-motivated and inquisitive by nature. While the flexible schedule of online learning is emphasized in this article, this feature could be a recipe for disaster for a student who is prone to procrastination.

Do the pros of online education at this level outweigh the cons?

Online education, as shown in this article, could be an excellent forum for student learning in some cases. There are many positive elements to online education as presented here but I think the pros and cons of online learning must be addressed on a case by case basis to ensure each student is properly assessed in regards to their success in this type of learning environment.