Final Blog Post

Virtual schooling began approximately a decade ago, and is not going away. Districts, administrators, educators, students, and parents need to be informed of this educational opportunity. In this WSU course, I have learned a great deal of information about online education. I feel almost embarrassed to admit that I did not even realize, prior to this course, that there was an online education graduation requirement for students, and I have been teaching high school students in Michigan for 12 years.


This week, I was able to reflect on the scenarios for this blog from three different perspectives; as an educator, as a parent, and as a student. As an educator, it can be intimidating to have virtual schooling as another avenue for students, because of the possibility of districts having declined enrollment in the traditional classroom settings. Hopefully when the competition increases, teachers will rise to the occasion, and the students will reap the benefits. As a mother, I am amazed with the options that my own children will have as they go from elementary school to high school. Virtual schooling has come so far in the past ten years, it's hard to imagine what changes will take place in the next ten years! As a student myself, I love the idea of taking online courses conveniently from my own home. Having a family, a full time job, and trying to complete my Master's degree has been difficult. However, it has been a lot easier this semester not having to drive from Romeo to Detroit twice a week! I am grateful for the online education that I am receiving.


When I think of all of the different types of students within my own classroom and school, I can completely understand how virtual schooling can truly benefit some students in certain situations. Currently, in the district where I teach, students readily complete credit recovery online classes, and the district has been providing this option to students for the past 5 years. My district has also offered a select few students the opportunity to take online classes that are not offered within the district. However, I do not feel as though the district provides a lot of information to the staff, students, or parents about all of the actual virtual educational opportunities that are available to all students. If my district continues on the current path, I can imagine that they will probably continue to introduce the virtual classroom to students, but at a slow rate. Hopefully, over the upcoming years, more people will become informed, and ultimately the students will be provided with the best possible education that they can get!