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Can States and School Districts Cut Costs Through Digital Learning?
January 18, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment
Digital learning represents wide-open terrain for K-12 education reform. Several states — Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Michigan and Minnesota — require students to take an online course to receive a high school degree. Twenty-seven states have established statewide full-time virtual schools since the first opened in 1997 in Florida, according to a report by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, an indication of virtual education’s growing appeal.
As with all innovations, though, there is always a question of cost for providing such new technologies, especially when states are providing less per-pupil funding.
A study released last week by the Education Center of Excellence at the Parthenon Group (commissioned by the conservative education think tank, the Fordham Institute) suggested that the costs of digital learning could be significantly less than more traditional modes. The authors cautioned that its findings must be interpreted with some caveats: costs vary across digital education platforms and different entities pursue online learning for different reasons (cost-savings versus enhanced offerings, for example).
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Getting to the national skating championships took a commitment
January 15, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment
Although virtual schooling could be isolating, Rita keeps in touch with friends she made at Chippewa Falls Middle School. She also has made new friends in Minnesota’s figure-skating circles.
Skating at her level also requires a financial commitment from her family.
Coaching costs $78 an hour, and then there is paying for ice time and sending food with Rita for the week, Arleen said.
Her mom previously made her skating outfits, but reaching the national stage warrants the $600 shimmering lime-green custom-made dress she will wear at the upcoming championships.
Both Rita and her mother said the best way to deal with living apart during the week is to not dwell on time she is away from her parents and four siblings. They keep in touch as many modern families do: by cell phone.
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WAPS proposes some virtual classes for next year
January 10, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment
Next year, students at Winona Senior High School may be able to attend some classes from the comfort of home — or anywhere with a computer and an Internet connection.
Principal Kelly Halvorsen presented the Winona Area Public Schools board Thursday with next year’s course proposals, some of which included new hybrid classes that would allow students to enroll in courses with an online component.
The classes would utilize software called Moodle — a virtual learning environment that can be used to instruct fully online classes or to enhance a traditional classroom setting, among other applications. Some high-school teachers currently use the software to engage students in discussion on online forums, Halvorsen said. So far, students have responded enthusiastically.
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