Chapter Ten: Educational Technology/ Options for Virtual Students

In the video, "Options for Virtual Students," students, parents, and teachers discuss online learning and advantages and disadvantages of the format. The advantages that the students address in the video include ease of use, excellent communication, lack of interruption from classmates, one on one communication with the instructor, more advanced studies and quality of work. If states would offer more opportunitites for online learning, more students would be able to complete the requisite classes for their education, which would enable them to learn more and go further in their studies, even if that means simply graduating high school. Online learning is a format of learning that allows students to learn from a distance but still be connected to the educator and to the rest of the class. With a simple click of the mouse, these distance learning students can be connected. Through adding more online programs, more students would have the opportunity to complete classes that would lead to better jobs and a more educated society in general. However, while online learning does have several advantages, there are disadvantages. Some disadvantages include unfamiliarity with technology as well as lack of peer interaction. While these disadvantages are serious and do pose a concern, there are ways to overcome these disadvantages. Through education, students can overcome their limitation with the technology and become more familiar with using it. Through assigning group work and encouraging discussion among peers through discussion board, chats, etc. that are available through the internet, educators can encourage students to interact with each other. This interaction is important because it can help students to better understand the lessons and develop further interest in class topics.