There's never been a point in history where education is more accessible than it is today. Access to the Internet enables students to instantly communicate with teachers and other students, research and read educational content, and perform online assessments. These technological advancements open possibilities to students who, for various reasons, may struggle getting access to quality education.
It's in our nature as teachers to want, no demand, 100 percent attendance in school. However, reality is much different. A few years ago I had a student in my class that didn't spend a single day in my classroom. His leukemia treatments prevented him from doing so. At first, my interactions with him were at scheduled times at his home. It wasn't long before we realized that wasn't working out well. Either I was delayed because of meetings or practices at school, or he was too worn out from treatments earlier in the day and had trouble relaxing. It was then I understood the advantages of online education. Soon, I was blending our occasional meetings with interactions online. I provided assessments, practices, and research opportunities. We kept in contact through emails and on the phone. By the end of the year, he was one of my best students despite never seeing the inside of my classroom.
His story is just one example of thousands of students across America that have limited or no access to a traditional school. Students may suffer from a disease or injury that prevents them from traveling to school. Some may live in extreme rural locations that don't have reliable access to quality education. Some students may be gifted enough to play sports that keeps them from being at school during traditional hours. While brick and mortar schools are in no danger of going extinct, it's simply not feasible for all students to attend school.
The advantages of online learning don't just apply to students that can't attend schools. Since our school started integrating technology into the classroom, I've seen a general rise in overall student achievement. A classroom of 20 students might have 20 different learning styles. Online and blending learning allows a teacher to use multiple styles in one lesson. No longer do I have to teach spelling in a traditional fashion. Now I can supplement what I do in the classroom with websites like Spelling City and Quizlet.
Sure, you could argue that there disadvantages to all this integration. Web safety and over-reliance on technology come to mind. This can be combated by giving educators the training they need to help properly facilitate a safe and productive online learning environment. By doing that, the negatives can be lessened while repeating the numerous benefits of online learning. Technology has forever changed the landscape of interaction around the world. It's time education jumps into the fray and embraces the change as well.
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