Journal #3

The New Gold Rush
Establishing Effective Online Learning Policies
by Ferdi Serim

This article discusses the good and bad features of the fastest growing form of technology- online learning. Some of the good things about online learning are that it is student-centered, available 24-7, and available at any pace. A bad feature of online learning is that it can replace highly qualified and skilled people to teach the material. A society that thrives on cost savings and consumerism wants to move to this more automated form of learning. The article suggests that the best form of teaching technology with an online system would be to offer an integrated face-to-face program with online tutorials and enhancement. The article uses Taos, New Mexico as an example of how incorporating technology with learning can be an exhaustive yet very beneficial tool. A school district there needed a building to house their computer lab but didn't have the funds to do it. The students and parents came together and hand constructed bricks to build the building with. It was a very collaborative effort that payed off for the whole community.

1.) What could I do to incorporate online learning into my lesson plan?
Answer: I could set up a class blog with a link to an online tutorial called ALEK, which the students could get extra credit for participating in.

2.) What could I do if I worked for a school that needed to house a computer lab but didn't have a building for it?
Answer: As in New Mexico, I could set up various fund raising efforts, but most importantly I could take ideas from my students. When you empower students to take this issue into their hands, they feel mature, responsible, and effective. It could be a great way to teach community service, volunteerism and collaborative learning.