I think that the teaching profession's days are numbered. What do you think?

Question

According to Clayten Christensen, 50 percent to 80 percent of high school courses will be taught online. What does that mean. Does that mean that 50-80 percent will be at home doing home schooled virtual schooling or that most of the high school courses will have a hybrid or online alternative?

Answer 1

I think traditional schools will be around for awhile yet.. kids learn so much more about society and social interaction when they are with others, rather than on the computer at home.

Answer 2

I sure hope not, because online courses and homeschooling are not for everyone. Students will miss out on the socialization and interaction which they need badly.

Answer 3

My state, Illinois, is one of at least 17 states with accredited virtual high schools online.  I think that the major strength of this type of class is providing curriculum  for a student whose local school cannot, or whose schedule precludes enrollment in a course at a certain time.  For example, one of my retired colleagues teaches Latin online.  Many of her students had course conflicts but wanted to continue with Latin, or attend schools without Latin programs.

As many posters have stated, it takes self-discipline to study successfully online.  Addressing different student learning styles and the benefits of face-to-face student and teacher interaction are among the advantages of on site schools.  In my own second language classes, I have online practice components for my students.  Many of them like this feature and find it suits their learning styles, but it can't replace everything I do in the classroom and the need for on site interaction.

Answer 4

Some students may do well being taught online, especially older, more responsible ones, but it is not practical for most (as their only method of schooling), and would still require teachers to design curriculum and interact with students to answer questions and so on.

Who would supervise all these teenagers getting their schooling online?

Answer 5

I think online courses are overrated.  They are not as good as a traditional face-to-face way of learning, in my opinion.  They are cheaper, so they are attractive to a school, but I doubt that they will ever replace all classroom classes.

Answer 6

You are way ahead!  Many students still need the visuals, motivation and energy that classrooms bring.  Doing school online means that you usually have to figure things on your own.

Answer 7

Try thinking about this question from another angle for a minute.  As workers of both genders devote more and more time to their jobs, they are going to continue to need someplace to store their offspring while they work.  Take away public education and substitute it with what:  kids staying home on the internet?  Personally, I'd just as soon leave a child in the middle of any city in the middle of the night than leave them alone with a computer online.  So, until we figure out a way for kids to stay with their parents, schools are going to continue to be an integral part of life as we know it.

Answer 8

This correct for all schools. The best kidergarten art teacher will be teaching all the kids of the nation. Locals will be mere graders and teaching assistants.

The schools brought this on themselves by caving in to lawyers, and their clients, delinquents destroying the place, rich entitle parents emptying the coffers to give their handicapped children gold plated, worthless education, and teacher's union that refuse to increase their productivity or the quality of the worst education in the developed world.

California has criminalized any criticism of disruptive behavior. It has mandated that vast amounts be wasted on the education of defective students who will never be productive. This markedly raises costs, so that rent seeking incompetent teachers can keep their jobs. California should be avoided by anyone productive, except by the parasites, until it goes bankrupt.

Answer 9

Thats just silly, and written with someone with a vested interest.

We teach all kids  - our infrastructure with all its warts is set up to do so- notice that in the article it didnt even approach the issue of equity. there is HUGE caselaw on equity - federal and state - to say (like the article does) that half of all schooling will be done in another form within 11 years shows that the author does not know his law.

Here is what my state mandates:

"200.  It is the policy of the State of California to afford all

persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. The purpose of this chapter is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies therefor."

all persons - equal rights and opportunities. A student who lives at night in the shelter has equal opportunity in my classroom. until we can solve some societal ills, to go to an extreme change like suggested will never happen.

Finally, to extrapolate from a current 1% use is ridiculous.

Answer 10

That is a bit over simplistic.  

Perhaps basic courses will be taught on line, however, essays will still need to be graded by live human beings.  Writing skills are being highly emphasized now and computers cannot, as of yet, make constructive comments on essays.

I do agree that the future will be taught by "virtual schools" but they will still be run by beings with a pulse.

Answer 11

I think online programs can serve as another method of teaching or a form of enrichment.  I have created an online program myself.  However,  I do not see virtual schooling as replacing live teachers.  Academics are only part of one's education. There are social and emotional aspects that are only learned in group settings.  I also agree with one of the other answerers about monitoring student work.   A student can log in and a friend or parent can do his or her work.  it's so easy.   Papers written by others are already available online for students to copy as their own.  

We also know that some students learn well alone, but others prefer group settings (See Dunn and Dunn on learning styles).  

I believe that web-based learning will enhance education considerably, but should never replace actual teachers in a classroom.