Is your child a candidate for state-governed virtual schooling?
Virtual schooling in Tennessee, although done at home, is not homeschooling as defined by state law. The new virtual schools approved in the last legislative session must meet state-approved curricular, attendance, testing and other requirements, unlike most homeschooling. As the Tennessee Home Education Association advises, virtual school is a state-sanctioned, public school option.
In a physical sense, at any rate, virtual school is schooling at home. If you’re contemplating the virtual school option, take time to reflect on the educational needs and learning styles of each child individually to get a sense of how successful he or she might be using this computer-based approach. Consider whether your child is a good candidate. Is your child:
- intrinsically self-motivated?
- competent and comfortable with the virtual world and technology?
- happy to work alone?
- able to prioritize tasks, set goals and manage a schedule?
- eager to accelerate in one or more academic subjects?
- a visual learner?
- bored with current schooling?
Even students with learning disabilities, reading deficits or other challenges could benefit from the virtual learning approach if the curriculum has appropriate help and review functions built in. From the gifted to the struggling, the key to successful virtual schooling is that students get the individual attention and support they need to start and stay on task until they master the required content and concepts. Sitting in front of a computer can be a very isolating learning environment that neither engages nor inspires a young learner.
Here at the Learning Lab we’re developing ways to provide a “blended” option to meet the needs of parents and students interested in trying public virtual school. By supplementing alone-time spent in virtual school with individual and small-group tutorials and teacher support, students will get the direction and the encouragement they need. A “non-virtual” professional educator will help ensure students reach their educational goals, while supporting them and holding them accountable for their “virtual” work. We think, for some students, this could be the best of both worlds.
Contact Pat Elkins at pelkins@mylearnlab.com or 615-377-2929.
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Posted by admin on February 16, 2012
