For those who keep up with my blog, I am not a big fan of much of the new technology that has surfaced in the past decade. At the tender age of 22, I the generation of the internet, the hybrid car and on-demand porn. All these things are fine and wonderful, and to each his own. But when it comes to achieving a proper education, let's keep the internet to Wikipedia and YouTube references only.
Case in point- ECOT, the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow. This is an online school for kids in high school that conducts online lessons for math, english, science, social studies and even phys ed. Now I earned my high school diploma the normal way- you know, the shitty one. Waking up at 7 am to get a parking spot, showing up late for government and sleeping in study hall like everyone else. I learned calculus on the chalkboard, being able to raise my hand and ask direct questions as often as I wanted (which was basically never). The point being- I had the option to learn and ask questions the way people are supposed to- in reality.
ECOT in entirely online. Page after page of lessons are expected to teach students everything from social justice to trigonometry. If a student has a question, they send an email to their teacher and hope for a response back in enough time to complete the assignment. If something goes misunderstood, just read the webpage again, of course!
I am passionately against ECOT. I currently tutor a young high school boy with cerebral palsy, who though working at home would be better. If it weren't for me being there- as in someone who has learned this stuff already- it would be nearly impossible to understand the lessons. Not for the reason that his disability would hinder him, but quite literally, it is impossible to learn trigonometry by reading words on a screen. Subjects need specific instructions, and necessary one on one time. Teachers log on once a day and hopefully have time to respond to the inevitable barrage of questions weighing down their mailbox. If a student doesn't understand, he or she is quite literally shit out of luck.
It sounds like every student's dream- working from home, not having to even change out of pajamas. But the learning process isn't there. ECOT is a half-ass attempt at teaching students, and in all cases, require a teacher or tutor there and handy to assist.
I'm very sorry to hear about your experience so far with ECOT and your perception about online learning in general.
ReplyDeleteECOT's teachers are required to regularly engage all of their students through our live online teaching tools or via telephone.
If this is not happening, then we would like to know about it.
In fact, in a recent survey, our students and parents said that one-on-one attention from their teachers is what they loved most about the school, and that they received even more attention than in their previous school.
ECOT has been providing education online for over 10 years to students in Ohio. Most major universities have embraced e-learning as a viable alternative to traditional education. It's definitely not for everyone, though. Like you mentioned, many students need the tangible "pen and pencil", brick and mortar experience.
Since you are an extremely valuable part of the education of the student that you referenced as a tutor, we would love for you to talk with our teachers or principals, or even come into our offices to see what we can do to help. Or, we can even come to you. Please contact us.
Nick Wilson
ECOT
1-888-326-8395
I am currently an ECOT senior, graduating in June. I love ECOT, I have a disorder (P.O.T.S) that prevents me from sitting in a classroom for 6-7 hours a day. I tried K-12 in 6th grade, and I didn't like it. I never got to talk to my teachers. I always hated public school. I was always bullied. Schools nowadays are so bad, you're fortunate if you get to go home without a bloody nose, and you feel like you have to thank God for keeping you safe. ECOT gives me a chance to be in an enviorment that I can control, I can flexible with my education, have doctor appointments on the weekdays, and learn at my own pace. The teachers are just like the students, busy. They always seem to make time for their students though, weather they are handling three kids or fighting a sickness themselves. In today's economy, it's hard to make time. It seems like your always busy. ECOT helps kids to get a basic education and prepares them for what they want to do afterwards.
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