All teachers have a love hate relationship with their classroom space. It is too cold or too hot. There aren't enough outlets, the board is in the wrong place, excitement over new desks, hate the old desks, bulletin board displays that you actually change... all of these things make up the physical space that teachers spend 7 hours a day in. Student learning is also impacted by the classroom space they are in or not in as the case may be. The 19th century classroom was often a one room school where all students, in all grades, were taught by one teacher. The 20th century classrooms were housed in a large building, divided by grade and subject. The 21st Century classroom has no walls and is changing the way we have to think about our classrooms. With Distance Learning technology, a classroom can be anywhere you need it to be.
I am a big fan of the Harry Potter novels. Hogswart, Harry's school, has a magical room that only appears when you really need it. And when it does appear, it takes the shape of whatever kind of room you need, in Harry's case, a place where he can teach a class in defense against the dark arts. The skills Harry needs to teach his fellow students are not covered in the Hogwarts' curriculum, so he creates a class that meets their needs. Distance Learning can provide students and schools with a virtual room of opportunity. Students can attend classes online or by using video conferencing technology.
The following info was taken from eTech Ohio: Distance Learning Clearinghouse
In June 2007, House Bill 119 of the 127th Ohio General Assembly called for the "establishment of a clearinghouse of interactive distance learning courses and other distance learning courses delivered via a computer-based method offered by school districts for sharing with other school districts and community schools."
The eTech Ohio DL Clearinghouse will be a web site bringing together distance education opportunities from Ohio school districts and community schools for Ohio learners. The clearinghouse will be managed and maintained by eTech Ohio with all course content coming from the district level. eTech Ohio will create an electronic catalog system listing the courses available, including detailed information needed by the purchasing school to determine interest. The eTech Ohio DL Clearinghouse is a web-based catalog of distance learning courses and not a virtual school.
School personnel will be able to utilize the eTech Ohio DL Clearinghouse to help expand their course offerings. Districts may also offer distance learning opportunities to help supplement their course offerings and increase the options available to students. In the end, students throughout Ohio will benefit from the sharing of courses.
This bill is the beginning of a shift in how district administrators, teachers and students need to think about structuring the course offerings of a school. Some educators may view this as a threat to staff positions. Others look at it as an opportunity to teach beyond the boundaries of their district. Administrators and guidance counselors will need to adjust the way student schedules are created to accommodate students who are taking a DL class. On the plus side, schools can create new courses that may not have been offered previously due to low enrollment numbers. Now, these courses can be made available, for a fee that will be paid to the hosting district, to any student in the state. Districts can market AP classes or classes taught by highly qualified teachers to other districts in the state that may not have access to these courses. Again, for a fee that will be paid back to the host district. DL also offers teachers the chance to team teach a course with any teacher, anywhere, combining ideas and experience to benefit all of the students involved.
Graduate programs are now available to receive special training in how to be an effective distance learning instructor. Courses cover how to structure an online course, monitor student interaction, coordinate a video conference and integrate DL technology into the curriculum. If you are interested in reading more research on DL or how to apply it in our classrooms, try the following links:
Avon Schools Calendar of Distance Learning Events - these programs that students are participating in through their DL lab
District Learning Centers throughout the US
Article about DL and Second Life - a simulation/networking site that allows colleges, schools, museums and other institutions to provide real time classes and discussions to students who can interact by using avitars. If you would like more info on Second Life, see me, I have an account and can help you learn more about it.
How DL can benefit rural schools
Listing of Virtual Schools
Research About DL applications in Education and the "Real World"
Remember, we have our own room of opportunity - it is in the high school, room 214. In this room, your students can connect to the world. Are you ready to try? See me and I will help you get started.
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