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Post by Therese Sippel on Mar 25, 2007 5:06:42 GMT 4
More and more we see virtual classrooms popping up to be used as an isolated task in the classroom or as the sole existence a subject runs under. If we look at rural and remote schools, virtual classrooms have allowed those senior students to study subjects that would be otherwise off limits due to lack of teachers and resources. For example in the one classroom under a supervising teacher, students could be studying 4 different subjects where their virtual classrooms were supported by an external provider. However are these virtual classrooms replacing quality effective teaching? For me, virtual classrooms could never replace the personalised and individualised learning programs that we offer as educators to our students. Studying online can't possibly motivate students when things are low for them and an online classroom can't possibly offer the support we do everyday to all of our students. Virtual classrooms can be great for some of the reasons I stated above but I think we should be very wary of the sole existence of virtual classrooms in teaching our students. What do others think?
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dean
Founding Member
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Post by dean on Mar 26, 2007 8:17:58 GMT 4
Hi Therese I agree with what you are saying in terms of the human interaction and support that is maintained through face to face contact. As you have said vitual classroms have provided those students in remote locations, with opportunities that they otherwise would not have had access to. I found the article i spoke about in the blog posting called "Decostructing the classroom" It raisese some interesting points about situated learning where instead of bring the world to the classroom via a computer, the student is going into the world with the computer as a tool for communication. Proponents for situated learning argue that "meaningful learning only takes place if it is embedded in the social and physical context within which it will be used" I will find the link and post it.
Dean
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dean
Founding Member
Posts: 11
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Post by dean on Mar 26, 2007 8:38:05 GMT 4
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jgriff
Founding Member
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Post by jgriff on Mar 26, 2007 22:29:03 GMT 4
Hi Therese I’m sure virtual classrooms have many advantages for well motivated students with the discipline to push themselves through each part of the material. Furthermore, they can greatly expand the range of items that can be studied – and do it at a low cost. In the training field, particularly subjects such as computing, I find they can be very effective.
However, like you, I also have reservations. Some students would probably avoid anything too difficult and just attempt the easier parts of the virtual lessons. I would like to know more about how a teacher can effectively monitor the work that has been done online.
Ideally, if a group of students are studying the same material, I would prefer the virtual classroom to be supported by some off-line teaching - if circumstances permit.
John Griffin
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Post by Therese Again on Mar 29, 2007 5:35:58 GMT 4
John, I absolutely agree with what your saying with regards to virtual classrooms being supported in an effective way. I would rather see Virtual classrooms used as a resource such as a "virtual library" than the sole existence themsleves. It's interesting to consider, are our rural and remote students being disadvantaged by the lack of face to face interaction with their classroom teacher when studying through these virtual classrooms?? But the argument is two fold as students probably wouldn't have access to these subjects if it wasn't for Virtual classrooms. Therese
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salwa
Founding Member
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Post by salwa on Mar 30, 2007 21:47:40 GMT 4
Hi Therese and all,
You said: "I would rather see Virtual classrooms used as a resource such as a "virtual library" than the sole existence themsleves."
I agree with you, and to place it in my context, I would rather see an interactive visual museum where the students may be able to move from one room to another and choose any of the paintings to study them. This might provide an interesting environment to interact with the images.
Salwa
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Post by Agent Provocateur on Apr 9, 2007 15:52:35 GMT 4
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reggie
Founding Member
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Post by reggie on Apr 17, 2007 19:50:46 GMT 4
Dear All,
I can see what you are saying about the disadvantages of the virtual classroom but let me share with you my own situation.
As an 'old-style' learner, I would have preferred, when looking around for a degree to do, to have done it by attending lectures, face to face learning, etc. However, in the UAE, there is nothing that would come up to my idea of a good university with a quality, world standard education. So I am one of those in a remote location. And, I must say, this is the only way I'll be learning in the future and I'll be learning a lot more now that I've figured out that it's available.
For me, it's the independence and flexibility. I've got a pretty busy life and quite a lot of commitments and really am not able to commit to certain afternoons per week or weekends to be able to attend 'regular' classes. Also, I like to work on my stuff and then see what others think, and at my own pace. This environment is perfect for me. I can see, though, that my motivation to learn is a big factor here and that if I didn't have that, I could become a bit lost and/or out of touch. That happens anyway, even with the best of intentions, I do drift away sometimes and it can be a while before I resurface. However, my final motivation to do well brings me back every time and I remember every time why I like learning this way.
I much prefer virtual, in summary!
Reggie
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