The use of online learning, or distance education, is increasing in K-12 schools. The transition from face-to-face (F2F) teaching to online teaching takes time for F2F teachers to transition from their set, learned ways of teaching F2F to teaching online.
Many teachers start small, perhaps simply putting some static information (e.g., course outline or syllabus) online. Gradually, as teachers become more accustomed, secure, confident, and competent working online over time, they put more of their teaching online. Many/most teachers start with a blended, or hybrid, approach to online learning in which they still do most/all their teaching, in the physical classroom, but start putting materials and information online. Gradually, baby step by baby step, teachers experiment/try teaching in the online environment, maybe by having an online discussion. And maybe those first online discussions are closely monitored by allowing students access only while the whole class is in a computer room.
Today, online is not replacing F2F teaching/learning in our K-12 schools. However, it is an increasingly viable, and used, adjunct to traditional classroom teaching. Educators – teachers and administrators – would be well served to investigate its potential use in their schools.
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