Chapter 8

There are many different models of online learning. There is a noninteractive model, where the students do not interact with an instructor and must complete assignments and tests completely online.There is an interactive, asynchronous model where students can meet with and interact with the instructor and other students through a learning management system. Another model is an interactive model with synchronous events that includes real time class meetings online. One last model is a MOOC model ( Massive Open Online Course) where anyone in the world can register for the class. Each of thee models serves its own purpose depending on the needs of the learner. Online classes can be used for learning that leads to a required certification, college credits or for the purpose of learning something new.
The online courses need to be managed by a system to ensure that they run smoothly. This will be important to provide a place to save assignments, have discussions, and ensure that there wont be any technological glitches that interfere with learning.With online classes, academic honesty becomes a large concern.  The best way to combat these concerns is to set up an online honor code, and provide students with information about what plagiarism is and how how to avoid it. Providing links to helpful websites to cite information can be a good plagiarism deterrent.
The development of the class needs to be done correctly as to provide students with easy navigation of the course. Too many tabs and hidden links can hinder student performance. The students need to be able to find the information and complete activities to demonstrate understanding. The learning process can be facilitated through 'virtual office hours' for the instructor and having a forum where the students can discuss the class, questions they may have, and the material. The communication between students becomes an important factor in learning. In a traditional classroom, there is always discussion. In online classes, this can be difficult because students work at different times. A forum that can have a running conversation over time can support this discussion that supports learning.
To avoid confusion, assignments need to be explained thoroughly so students can complete all aspects of each assignment. This includes rubrics, roles in group assignments, and monitoring group discussions to ensure they are on the right track for the assignment,
Virtual k-12 schools have become more popular as an alternative to elementary school. The teachers of these schools are certified teachers and the curriculum is aligned to state and local standards. These schools usually have less than half of the student gradate on time when compared to the national average. Many of these schools do not meet annual yearly progress and students struggle with social interaction skills.
One way to have learning become more interactive both online and in class can be through virtual reality. This can include virtual manipulatives, virtual field trips, and 3D models, to name a few. This technology can be helpful to show students large and hard to understand concepts, such as other countries, the universe, and events of the past.
Online courses and activities have become an integral part of learning. There are many different ways to integrate different technologies into classrooms to support learning at different levels.