Ryan
12-02-2004, 03:24 AM
I thought about asking about distance learning opportunities for high school a while ago, but I figured that most people here would not be interested unless they had children in the school system. It isn’t something that I have heard discussed very much. I read this article today:
Three dozen [Montana] districts to offer distance learning
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/12/01/build/state/53-distance-learning.inc
It seems like a great opportunity for students. However, I don’t know how much use it would be to drop outs and students with disciplinary problems like one person states in the article. You usually need a fair amount of motivation to perform well in a good distance learning class.
Excerpts:
Advanced physics and other specialty classes could be just a click away for thousands of public, private and home-schooled students next fall under a new distance learning program.
Thirty-five school districts are forming a statewide consortium that would allow students in one district to take classes taught in another over the Internet.
A meeting is planned Friday in Helena to discuss details and brainstorm possible curriculum.
...
"Children and teachers in small schools and children and teachers in large schools will benefit from this," said David Puyear, director of the Montana Rural Education Association. "What we're proposing to do is serve as a clearinghouse of information for all districts."
Smaller districts like Westby, with 65 students, hope to broaden their limited course offerings through the program. Helena, Great Falls and other larger districts, meanwhile, need more students to boost shrinking specialty class enrollment.
Three dozen [Montana] districts to offer distance learning
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/12/01/build/state/53-distance-learning.inc
It seems like a great opportunity for students. However, I don’t know how much use it would be to drop outs and students with disciplinary problems like one person states in the article. You usually need a fair amount of motivation to perform well in a good distance learning class.
Excerpts:
Advanced physics and other specialty classes could be just a click away for thousands of public, private and home-schooled students next fall under a new distance learning program.
Thirty-five school districts are forming a statewide consortium that would allow students in one district to take classes taught in another over the Internet.
A meeting is planned Friday in Helena to discuss details and brainstorm possible curriculum.
...
"Children and teachers in small schools and children and teachers in large schools will benefit from this," said David Puyear, director of the Montana Rural Education Association. "What we're proposing to do is serve as a clearinghouse of information for all districts."
Smaller districts like Westby, with 65 students, hope to broaden their limited course offerings through the program. Helena, Great Falls and other larger districts, meanwhile, need more students to boost shrinking specialty class enrollment.