Journal+Review

Home

**Journal Review **

Technology Education Professional Journal Review Christina Melton Campbell University

In Florida, starting this school year, all ninth graders will be required to take at least one online class in order to meet graduation requirements. They are only required to take one class but students can take as many as they please. Students can choose from a wide variety of subjects and classes to take online. This is a very helpful option for those students who struggle sitting in a classroom day after day listening to a teacher. Students can do their schoolwork wherever they please and wherever they are the most comfortable; on their bed, at the table, on the floor, etc. This is a great way for students who are behind in school to catch up. They can take classes online, if this is how they learn more effectively, to boost their GPA and earn better grades. The state thinks this is a great way to better prepare students for college and for their future in the work place because of the integration of technology. Also, the state is saving 23 percent less when a student is enrolled in online classes rather than traditional classes.

The author remains fairly neutral throughout the article. He states both positive and negative attributes about the topic. However, I feel that the author favors the mandate of online classes because he states more positive things than negative. When he describes the negative attributes he starts by saying, “Critics say,” or, “Critics argue.” When he talks about the positive attributes he states them as facts and does not say things such as, “Those who agree with the mandate believe…” The author uses various resources and teachers to back up the state mandate, but also includes a few that do not support the mandate. The author tries to remain neutral but I believe that he supports the state mandate of online classes in order for high school students to graduate.

Personally, I believe that the mandate could be very successful in helping students stay in tune with technology while learning at the same time. There is still a 25:1 student-to-teacher ratio so students still get one-on-one attention throughout the week and they still have the help of a teacher whenever they need it. As long as the “virtual teachers” continually check-up on their students and stay in contact with them as they are supposed to I think the online classes will be successful. Another important factor is whether or not the students are actually learning the targeted material in the online classes and if the classes are challenging enough for the students. If these two factors are present then I believe mandating these classes will be successful for the student, the school, and the state.

Resources [] __** Reflection **__ In doing this project I learned about a new mandate that the state of Florida is starting this year. I learned a few positive and negative aspects of the mandate. In addtion, I learned where to find professional articles. I was also able to find a website full of education-related articles that will really help me stay in the loop and keep me updated with what is going on in the educational world outside of the state or county that I will work in. Lastly, I had to form an opinion on the article I was reading so I had to decide whether I thought the mandate was a good thing or a bad thing. This forced me to put myself in this situation and I thought about how I would feel if it were affecting me.