Part 1
My Doctoral Dissertation was titled: Examining if a difference exists between online and traditional college students. Though my dissertation concerned College students, many of the same principles apply to High School and Elementary School. The major issue is the quality of education difference between the two forms of pedagogy [ped-uh-goh-jee, -goj-ee] noun, which is defined as; the function or work of a teacher; teaching the art or science of teaching and educational/instructional methodology.
Even though my bio lists my degree’s, I wanted to supply my experience with the American School System. I spent my first 5 of 17 years in matriculation in a classroom format. The instruction, teacher support and on campus support was excellent; even though I was 52 years old when I started classes in 2000. I was amazed by the reception I received from the younger students in my classes. Because I was older my fellow students wanted to know what I thought they should do and not do, concerning their choices of, not only classes but often life choices.
This is an axiom of all students whether they are college, high school or elementary level. While these students, especially when they reach their teens, and (think their parents are idiots), they will listen to an outside adult influence. Hence, my advice to parents is to first find an adult who values an education and ask them to be your 2nd teacher. If the child is versed early in what the true meaning and possibilities for their future are, (at an early age), they will learn that taking time to research and consider risk management in their decisions, will produce better choices for them in that future!
I would like to expand on my statement concerning my matriculation in a classroom format. Not only does the student receive face-to-face instruction, but more importantly they can receive the instructions when the subject does not make any sense to the student. Face-to-Face instruction allows the teacher to spend QUALITY time with the student, where he/she can understand the student and adjust their curriculum to accommodate the students emotional and physical Adagio [e-‘da-j(e-)o] noun, defined as; at a slow tempo or pace!
As pointed out numerous times over many years, additional benefits occur from social interaction and student bonding. The advantage of our children getting exercise and learning sportsmanship and fair play have been highly underestimated by our local, state and especially federal governments. This is proven by the cuts to social and sports activities funding. This has created a Milieu [meel-YOO] noun, defined as; a surrounding culture and environment, where true education has taken a back seat to funding of military weapons to our police. Hence, a cut in pay for schoolteachers and our local school districts.
Many parents today consider elementary and high school teachers to be nothing more than well-educated babysitters and do not take advantage of the opportunities afforded them to have a voice in what happens in their child’s education. This is evident by the many jokes made about “parent, teacher conferences”. It is my opinion that all parents (or at least one parent) should be required to attend these opportunities to control what and how our students should learn.
Over the next several weeks I will be reviewing the Amalgam [e-MAL-gem] defined as; a mixture or combination – of brick and mortar educational opportunities compared to online learning. Next week I will discuss the Obfuscation [ob·fus·cat·ing] verb, defined as; to make obscure or unclear, the advantages (small) to the disadvantages (large) of total online educational formats, instruction, teacher support and campus support.
Dr. Edward J. Files, AGS, AAS, BSM, Emba, Ed.D. (dual concentrations in Organizational and Leadership Development)