Will online education reduce the amount of teachers in the public school system

Will online education reduce the amount of teachers in the public school system?

I have come to the conclusion that a majority of the teachers in the public school system do not have a clue as to the amount of online education companies that are trying to position themselves within the k-12 and higher education system. The old guard feels that direct teaching is the only way to educate the masses and allow creativity to occur in the classroom. Their thinking could be compared to a doctor using a bottle of whiskey and a butcher knife to perform an operation. They need to accept the fact that technology can increase teacher productivity, streamline assessments, create effective media presentations, and produce diagnostic reports that analyze the modalities of student learning.

In the past twenty years, doctors have had to be trained on new medical equipment that has been instrumental in saving lives through effective data analysis, patient monitoring, and faster diagnostics. Did we lose more doctors because of the technology? How can we compare this technology curve to the one we are seeing in the educational field?

Technology can increase productivity and be more effective at analyzing more data within a given time frame. For example, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt have developed an online program that creates an all inclusive online program called pinpoint   http://www.hmhco.com/content/forsyth-county-schools-chooses-houghton-mifflin-harcourt%E2%80%99s-pinpoint-suite-transform-teaching.

A few districts in the state of Georgia have signed on to various pilot programs that can be tested in their district. Pinpoint is offering an easier format for creating an individual programs for students. Teachers can’t offer the same type of instruction that HMH is offering.  They don’t have the time or the skills to develop an individualized learning management system.

So what does this mean about the number of teachers that the system will need in the future? In my opinion, those teacher's that are willing to learn the technology, and develop their skills in a new format, will continue to have a viable position within the teaching field.

Voice Thread on Charter Schools

http://voicethread.com/share/1228753/ 

This is an excellent voice thread on charter schools. Please view this and make a comment on the voice thread.

Charter Schools

1/13/2012


Charter Schools

What is the difference between charter schools and the regular public schools? Why would a community decide to develop a charter school? These questions resonate throughout the educational community, and cause frustration within many groups that have different philosophies about education.

The points that are raised fall within the parameters of academics, classroom management, and discipline. The priorities of theses parameters are different within the communities that are identified as middle class, poor and the elite. They have their reasons for choosing a so called true objective for establishing their schools, and thrusting forward with their true intentions.

In some public schools, the tail wags the dog as to that which is important, and that which needs to be eliminated. A few people can cause enough havoc within the system that benefits them, instead of compromising with the majority. This can cause turmoil and descent within the educational system. There must be a consensus with the educational community in order to move forward. This unification drives the cooperation amongst the stakeholders and public school administrators.

Cyber Charter Schools

Besides regular charter schools, there are other options that need to be evaluated. One of these options is the development of virtual charter schools. In my opinion, the first striking difference is the elimination of discipline problems within the system. Having an online format can reduce management problems within the virtual school. What would a teacher have to deal with during the course of a day? The main priority would be the academic content and consistency of feedback from the teacher.

Georgia Cyber Academy concentrates producing an online program for students in every county in Georgia. They have approximately 4500 students in their system. The students do not pay tuition for the cyber academy; the money comes from their base school in the county they live in. The Georgia Cyber School obtained their charter from the state. According to the Supreme Court ruling, charter schools have to obtain their license from the county rather than the state. The Georgia Cyber Academy received this approval before they changed the law.



What are the advantages of having a cyber school?

Would a cyber School cost less than a cyber school?

Home Schooling Online

Are you looking for a unique home schooling program?

It is free for parents living in California and Arizona.


http://www.mercuryed.com/faqs/

Online Math Video Content

 This web site has every video that you could imagine for math and science. This is an excellent site for blending video into your online courses, or using them for remediation work in the classroom. Let me know if you like this site. Please comment.



http://www.khanacademy.org/

Blended Learning

http://clive-shepherd.blogspot.com/2011/04/talking-about-blended-learning-part-1.html