Virtual Schools, Online Learning & CourseCarts

The integration of technology into teaching and learning is rapidly demonstrating that major education reform is possible when linked to effective use of a variety of technology tools in the classroom.

One of the most popular technology applications during this decade is the emergence of the online virtual school. These online schools are one of the strategies offered through the charter school movement in most states.

Charter schools provide a new and significant opportunity for movement away from traditional, factory-model, 20th-century teaching and learning. These "charter" public schools are freed, by the state that charters them, from many of the traditional regulations that tend to preserve the status quo in most public schools. Online charter schools are given freedom from regulation in exchange for proven results in increasing student achievement over a fixed time period.

Online learning has definite advantages over face-to-face instruction when it comes to teaching and learning, according to a new meta-analysis released June 30 by the U.S. Department of Education. The study (link) found that students who took all or part of their instruction online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through face-to-face instruction.

Further, those who took "blended" courses—those that combine elements of online learning and face-to-face instruction—appeared to do best of all.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan urged educators to consider the report's findings. "This new report reinforces that effective teachers need to incorporate digital content into everyday classes and consider open-source learning management systems, which have proven cost effective in school districts and colleges nationwide," he said.

Assign students to open a special BookCart learning activity: Online Virtual Schools.

BookCart learning activities provide a one-stop solution for teachers and students to research any topic/issue. Teachers can copy this ProQuest model and edit it quickly to (a) add a more current or local resource, (b) edit existing student directions, (c) list print resources, (d) add an optional quiz, and (e) add or substitute existing essential questions for critical thinking for students to address.

Teachers or librarians can copy and adapt this BookCart model (details) and hundreds of other educator-created models from our ProQuest Carts collection:

• Logon to the eLibrary Teacher Edition.
• Click the BookCart Admin link at the top-right of the Teacher Edition.
• Click the ProQuest Carts tab.
• Type Online Virtual Schools in the Search box to locate it quickly.
• Click the Copy icon in the Actions column to the right of this title.
• Click Return to My Local Carts.

This BookCart already includes all the information that a student needs to complete the assignment. But, teachers can edit it to tailor it for their students.

To edit each Cart for your students to use:

• Click the new BookCart Title; it will have the prefix "Copy of."
• Delete "Copy of" and then type your name in the AUTHOR boxes and your email.
• Optional: Edit the existing directions or add learning standard benchmarks for your students in the DESCRIPTION box.
• Scroll down and click Save.
• Return to My Local Carts.

Assign students a report of at least 150 words or a presentation of at least seven slides. Students should cite at least four resources that address the following essential questions for critical thinking (you should add or substitute others):

• Why are virtual online schools appealing to students and parents?
• How do most teachers view online schooling and why?
• What are the disadvantages of online schools?
• What are the advantages of online schools for taxpayers?
• Would you like to attend online schools: Why or why not?

Type Virtual Online Schools in the Search box.

Use our custom ProQuest models for written or PowerPoint reports written and PowerPoint-style reports.

ProQuest CourseCarts are free collections of eLibrary BookCarts that address the major topics and issues found in popular high school courses.

ProQuest introduced our first collection of model BookCarts last Fall, which address specific courses and textbooks used to teach each course: U.S. Government and Civics.

ProQuest calls this collection CourseCarts. Here's the list of CourseCarts for U.S. Government & Civics in Microsoft Excel (XLS) format.

Here's another opportunity for librarians and teachers to add these CourseCarts to the local school collection and edit them for use:

• Logon to eLibrary Teacher Edition to access BookCart Editor.
• Click the BookCart Admin link at the top-right of the Teacher Edition.
• Click the ProQuest Carts tab.
• Scroll down list of Folders on the left, then click U.S. Government & Civics CourseCarts.
• Click the Copy icon in the Actions column for the first CourseCart.
• Click Return to My Local Carts.
• Repeat the process until all CourseCarts are copied.

With editing, each CourseCart can include information that students can use to complete the assignment. (Write a report of at least 150 words that cites at least three resources and addresses each of the essential questions listed, etc.)

To edit each CourseCart for your students to use:

• Click the first new BookCart Title with the prefix "Copy of."
• Delete "Copy of" and then type your first and last name in the Author boxes.
• Type your email address in the email box.
• Type any brief STUDENT DIRECTIONS for the assignment in the DESCRIPTION box.
• Scroll down and click Save.
• Click the My Local Carts tab to return to your collection.
• Repeat the process until all CourseCarts are edited.

Once you copy and edit these to your local collection, you can use and share these for U.S. Government/Civics CourseCarts each school year with some minimal editing.

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