Journal #8

Virtual Schooling
By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser

In this article, Davis and Niederhausen give a detailed look at what virtual schooling is. They discuss the rising enrollment in such schooling as well the reasons for choosing virtual schooling. The article cites “the National Center for Educational Statistics reported that about one-third of public school districts had students enrolled in distance education courses during the 2002-03 school year”. Some of the reasons students are enrolling in virtual schooling include courses were unavailable in traditional setting, to access advance placement courses, credit recovery, and flexible scheduling, as well as an opportunity for students unable to attend traditional school environments. Davis and Niederhausen discuss in depth the roles in a typical VS course, such as the teacher, designer, IT coordinator, administrator and facilitator, in both VS provider and the K-12 school. They also discuss the interactions that take place in the VS classroom and responsibilities of everyone involved.

1. What is virtual schooling?
Virtual schooling is a type of distance learning that takes place online in a virtual classroom. Internet is used to deliver instruction and with the use of a learning management system allows students and teachers to interact with each other and course materials. There is extensive infrastructure and support provided by both the VS provider and the K-12 school.

2. What are some of the key roles in Virtual Schooling?
There are three main roles in virtual schooling: teacher, designer, and VS site facilitator. A support system is necessary as well and includes the principals, counselors, IT coordinators and parents or guardians. To make VS work organization is key and all of the main roles and support system must work together, at times even overlapping these roles.