By Gregg Weinlein, Albany Times Union
Many schools are utilizing technology to enhance the learning experience in high school. But there are also schools that are assembly-lining students on virtual learning programs as a quick fix to remediate failures. In 2010, credit recovery accounted for an estimated $500 million of the $2 billion online education industry, and the number has been growing for more than a decade. It’s now estimated that half of the 1.5 million students enrolled in online coursework are involved in the recovery of credits for failed classes. These statistics raise red flags. It’s certainly suspicious that students cannot pass classes taught by a certified teacher, despite the typical remedial assistance available in schools, yet suddenly, and often in a very short period of “screen” time, earn the failed credit in an online class. Several states are investigating the utilization of online classes for credit recovery and the connection between inflated graduation rates and this industry.
http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Real-learning-or-online-scam-3725484.php
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