By Bill Mattox, JMI Resident Fellow
Florida legislators and education officials increasingly are being asked to consider virtual schooling as an option for dealing with a variety of problems – from overcrowding in some schools to limited course offerings in other schools.
Nevertheless, virtual education continues to suffer from a perception in some circles that it is inevitably second-rate – that it can be “virtually” as good, but never quite the equal of conventional classroom schooling.
As one who has taught some in the conventional classroom – and who loves live music and stage theatre – I have a great appreciation for in-person communication, for “incarnational” education. At the same time, I’ve seen virtual technologies used in ways that no conventional classroom could rival – just as I’ve heard musical recordings and watched films that no stage performance could rival.
Thus, rather than seeing one form of instruction as inherently superior to another, Florida leaders should recognize that conventional classrooms and virtual “classrooms” each have unique strengths that can and should be tapped.
Let’s not deprive Florida students of “digitally-mastered educational iTunes” just because we dig “educational live music.” In the 21st Century, a well-rounded education ought to include both.
As someone who attended a class with Florida Virtual School in my senior year of High School, I am able to say with certainty that this is a reasonable alternative and it was truly an experience unique to virtual schooling. I completed Marine Biology at FLVS(Florida Virtual School) in addition to my 7 classes senior year, and I was impressed with the resources made available to the students via the teachers.The active interaction with the instructor was very helpful and allowed for an environment of guided study for students that are self-motivated. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, I was allowed much needed flexibility to finish the coursework during my very busy senior year. I feel this is an option that should be recognized by leaders as an option to expand Florida’s education options during a time when the course offerings are diminishing and class-sizes are expanding.
Virtual schooling is comparable to and might be better than conventional schooling, especially at higher educational levels. More courses are offered, schedules are flexible, students can get detailed online progress reports, and students often get more personal attention.