I am working on my final paper for EDFI 6400 at Bowling Green State University and it focuses on online learning. In a previous class, I read a book titled Learning Theory and Online Learning by Linda Harasim. Harasim discusses how online learning has developed three distinct models over the years. The models developed are Online Collaborative Learning, Online Distance Education, and Online Courseware. As I work on writing this final paper (Actually…I am writing this blog post instead of writing the paper) I had a thought that led to this blog post.
Ohio currently has seven (7) statewide eschools currently in existence and three (3) new eschools approved for 2013 – 2014 along with other eschools that operate within a geographic restriction. These schools account for roughly 40,000 students across the K-12 spectrum. My thoughts quickly drifted to how these schools choose to deliver their curriculum and how it fits within the three (3) models I listed previously. I went one step further and wondered to myself as I often do, does the delivery method they select to have an impact on their state report cards? Does one model of curriculum delivery yield a more positive result? Then my mind went further and said should we include a school like the Nexus Academy of Cleveland and Columbus in this mix as they use a form of blended learning?
Many thoughts floating around in my mind right now on this and how I could answer these questions and tie them into my project.
