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Virtual Classes Go From Optional To Mandatory
October 10, 2011
A new state law that requires Florida high school students to take a class online is causing cash-strapped school districts to spend millions on new computers.
And it’s caught the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union, which said it is calling on school districts to ensure that students who do not have Internet access at home aren’t at a disadvantage when it comes to being able to take online courses.
“We are concerned about issues of access,” said ACLU spokesman Baylor Johnson. “There is a digital divide in this country and Internet access is limited by economic means.”
The new law requires entering high school freshman beginning this year to take at least one course online prior to graduation. School districts say to meet this new requirement, it means spending money on new computer labs so that students who do not have the Internet at home are able to take online courses.
In Escambia County, school officials say they are working towards getting the word out to all entering freshman and their parents that taking an online course is now mandatory.
“It is what it is, and there are concerns, but we will work through them,” said Norm Ross, a deputy superintendent for the Escambia County School District.
Ross said there are “companies jumping for joy who want to take advantage of this.” The bill that instituted the requirement was heavily lobbied by for-profit virtual education providers.
Florida Virtual School, a state-supported virtual school program that some districts contract with to offer their own virtual classes, said its most popular high school courses include algebra, geometry, Spanish, and a health and physical education class. The school is funded by the state through student enrollment and course completion.
Virtual education companies are a fast-growing industry as more states embrace online education. It is championed by Republican lawmakers as a way to give flexibility to school districts and students.
It is also touted as a way to help students preparing for the shift in three years to online-only standardized tests.
Critics of online education say that it makes cheating on assignments and tests easier and for some students, the material is more difficult to understand when delivered over the Web.
By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida
Comments
11 Responses to “Virtual Classes Go From Optional To Mandatory”
REGARDING:
“There are also a lot of families who for religious reasons do not have internet in the home. ”
I wonder if you realize this could be a class taken during class time in the school using school resources such as computers and high speed internet connections already in place, not something which has to be done at home?
AND:
” I’ll take 3 of the 8 gig drives at $9 though if you got ‘em.”
Naw, I don’t. When I was in Wal-Mart last they were over TEN dollars!! So much money!! Nonetheless, they were listed in Sunday’s sales papers.
AND:
“I have take a hybrid class from JD in Brewton (half in class half online) and if you are gonna use dial up for those,you may as well shave your head now ’cause your hair is surely gonna fall out tryin’”
Like I said, unless it’s video intensive, it’s not a problem. If it IS video intensive, dial up would surely take a long time to download the video. I read some time back of an online course dating back to the time of 400 baud modems. That would translate to something like 50 letters per second or ten words or a million years per frame of video (exagerating here, but not by THAT much). Anyhoo, using text that translates to about 30 seconds per page of text.
No bells and whistles, just plain text. Mine runs at 56, 000 at maximum or 140 times as fast. it’s still slow by the gigabit per second goal but doable since I can’t read four pages per second.
They were still holding classes twenty or so years later.
And as I said earlier, nothing requires it be done at home on dial up, just that some courses COULD be done that way.
David contemplating the past and the future
Take the money for the sport programs. Especially if PE and Heath are classes offered on line. Where the facilities are available, the need for a hybrid education is a good experience. Spanish and math classes might not be good examples of what to take without an in place instructor to answer questions and review. History, civics and other classes students can reference outside sources would be good examples of an on-line environment. An on-line class also takes discipline, as there is no one to hand work into, and obtain daily feedback from.
A good starting point for this type of class is for the college prep courses in high schools. Students that have their sights set on college will come across these types of classes before they are finished with their degree programs. For those individuals that do not have computers at home, or internet access, time should be allotted in a student’s schedule for online classes to take place in school, if this is going to be a state requirement.
This makes me angry…and as far as Rene Bunch is concerned….we only got internet a year ago, and my child does NOT have a cell phone…and he is in high school…we are making it, but if times get tough, internet will be the first to go. There are also a lot of families who for religious reasons do not have internet in the home. These kids are already having to have more credits just to graduate, and now this…I am NOT an advocate for the ACLU, but do think this is unconstitutional…Is there no way we can fight this?
David said…”8 gig flash drives costing $9 could hold lots of lessons.”
I said…So would 32 gig flash drives costing $2 but I haven’t been able to find any of those either. I’ll take 3 of the 8 gig drives at $9 though if you got ‘em.
I have take a hybrid class from JD in Brewton (half in class half online) and if you are gonna use dial up for those,you may as well shave your head now ’cause your hair is surely gonna fall out tryin’.
REGARDING:
“we need a statewide internet company that has broadband access to every nook and cranny in the state, rural areas”
I agree with everything you said but the above. To have a virtual class in school does not require broadband access out of school. It would be nice but not required. Lessons could be downloaded at school, watched there or watched at home. 8 gig flash drives costing $9 could hold lots of lessons. For that matter, unless the classes are video intensive, simple dial up access such as I use would suffice.
AND:
“Just another way to SCAM more taxes out of people ”
Generally speaking it expands educational opportunities and costs less. For example, if you had three students wanting to take Latin to get in a particular school, you either aren’t going to serve them or you are going to take resources away from others. Using virtual school, many small groups can make up a class and be served.
I’m not sure what the rationale was for making it mandatory but making it available should result in people realizing after graduation that they can continue their educations no matter where they live, from the privacy of their own homes.
David for good education
I bet you a million dollars that some politician is getting his/her pockets bigger because of this ridiculous law.
Just another way to SCAM more taxes out of people What’s the betting they are wanting a pay rise out of it somewhere. Like most of you on here I agree there is no reason for it.
Any public library has free computer access. I used the one in Atmore when I took classes at The University of Alabama,, online,,, without setting foot in Tuscaloosa. You can find computer access several other places, too, I’m sure.
If a parent can afford to equip a child with a cell phone, then they will find the money to equip them with a computer. Most parents I know will do what they have to in order to ensure their child gets the best education possible, even if it means sacrificing because the School District is trying to put more teachers in the classroom!
This is definitely a case of companies lobbying the government to their advantage regardless of how it inpacts schools and lower income families in the middle of a recession! Yes, it would be wonderful if we all had access to computers and wifi, but the fact is, many can’t afford it and neither can the schools!
I see no reason to make these classes “Mandatory”. If the schools which these the students attend, already have computer access, then the classes should be available at that school during school hours, thus eliminating the need for a computer at home for those who simply cannot afford one. Making all tax payers foot the bill for at home computers is simply “wrong”. Our state budget is already stressed to the max. We should not be pandering to these for profit education providers. If the students simply need to learn how to do online testing then teach them that at the high schools. Have a class just for that. If the students are homeschooled then they most likely already have internet access and most likely already do their testing online or with a group.
To me, this is just another way for BIG Government to get access into everyone’s lives and tell us what to do. This is one time I am not happy with my Republican Lawmakers. Perhaps they could explain themselves?
Internet has been a household word for almost 20 years, but I can still understand how/why some homes still do not have it or a computer.
But I can not fathom our schools do not have computer capable of getting online. I think most of them can. What the state needs to do is make sure the online course being accessed is able to be viewed across multiple platforms of computers across the state. What it amounts to is a very generic and basic website.
I also think schools are going to use this to prompt for more funding out of the state to buy new computers when the computers they have are capable of doing what needs to be done. As well as computer companies trying to make a profit off the tax-payers/state buy selling computers to schools to furnish a computer lab.
It would be cheaper, for the state to buy 25-30 Asus netbooks at 200.00 a piece that the students can use in the “online class” while at school than it would be to buy all new generic desktop PC’s.
I think this is yet another stupid law by the state. If they are going to pass such a law then we need a statewide internet company that has broadband access to every nook and cranny in the state, rural areas, etc. Also to impose stricter regulations on internet companies who are down for 6 hours at a time 1-2x a week *coughfrontiercough* and treat internet access as they would phone service, by imposing stiff fines for any outage.
I’ll stop here before it turns into a rant.