Learning to Change

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Online classes gaining in popularityThe North American Council for Online Learning estimates that 1 million K-12 students are enrolled in online courses, and it expects that number to grow. Students welcome the flexibility, and advocates say it gives students more family time, but some teachers say they need face time with students to monitor their progress and attitude. The Boston Globe/Los Angeles Times (2/18)

complete the homework and quizzes for each section and pass the "final exam" with a 70% or higher

adequately prepared for a college-level journalism course.

Dropout rates high, but fixes under way Survey: 9 of 10 students had passing grades when they left.

Nearly a third of high school students don't graduate on time

"The problem is solvable."

EZ English invades the classroom DelewareOnline reports that beginning this year, New Zealand high school students will be able to use "textspeak" on national exams, which means that points won't be deducted if a student types "l8" for "late," etc. Proponents of the move argue that efficiency is smart, because it allows users to communicate more ideas at a faster pace. Predictably, others are horrified at the development, claiming that it will lead to the erosion of language is spreading to the classroom, one locale where it should be the safest... http://www.delawareonline.com/ ...

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Hayden Billings, 4, put a box over his head and had fun marching into things. His sister Gaby, 9, told stories about medieval warrior women, while Sydney, 6, drank hot chocolate and played with Dylan, the baby of the family. In a traditional school setting, such free time would probably be called recess. But for Juli Walter, the children’s mother, it is “child-led learning,” something she considers the best in home schooling. “I learned early on that when I do things I’m interested in,” Ms. Walter said, “I learn so much more.” As the number of children who are home-schooled grows — an estimated 1.1 million nationwide — some parents like Ms. Walter are opting for what is perhaps the most extreme application of the movement’s ideas.

Interestingly, very few of the responses included teaching students about responsible use of online social networks

"It is important to keep in mind that just blocking access to social web sites at school is not the end of the story,"

Thirty-six percent of those polled by NSBA said students' use of MySpace and similar sites has been "disruptive" to their school district's learning environment.

"Clearly, we have not been in a mode of reducing staff and cutting expenditures, like most districts have. That pressure has been relieved."

Although interest in online education is growing, it's unlikely to replace traditional learning, said Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren.

That could help retain students who might look elsewhere under the state's open-enrollment system -- a crucial issue, because state money follows the student.