Is the use of learning management systems and blended learning environments a testament to the quality of a school’s education system? How important is keeping up with cutting edge technology?
The private high school I attended was certainly not known for its facilities. Our computer lab was a small, anciently-equipped place, and there was certainly no online courseware to be found. But times are changing, and with a faltering economy affecting families’ pockets, private schools are marketing themselves more competitively.
Avonbourne Business and Enterprise College, for example, now boasts a high-tech virtual reality studio. The studio includes a video conferencing center, a projection room, a laptop suite for online courseware, and various virtual learning experiences. Using 3D glasses, students can explore a virtual Tudor town or study the movements of a volcano. "The world is changing," says one Avonbourne educator, "and we need to respond in how we’re educating our children today."
Of course, the implementation of online tools should never be haphazard, forced without educators’ understanding and/or desire for it, or done for novelty’s sake, as a shiny new toy for a school. Nor should it be, in my opinion, a last resort.
To instill the next generation of Americans with 21st century skills and the ability to thrive in an increasingly tech-savvy and collaborative world, the integration of online tools must cater to the uniqueness of each student. The trend has to move away from bulk-produced, one-size-fits-all instruction and toward more customized teaching strategies. And first, they need to be embraced by educators themselves.
Most educators understand that every student is unique and has something special to offer. Using learning management systems to track student progress and deliver curriculum has the power to save educators a great amount of time, and therefore the means to efficiently provide each student with learning systems that work for them.
Online tools provide the opportunity for students to obtain a tailored education that caters to their unique learning styles, skills, abilities and interests. Using smart and structured blended learning, students can be engaged in a variety of instructional modes, including teacher-led instruction, one-on-one tutoring, self-paced and independent learning, collaborative projects and virtual tutors.
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