Distance Education Blog

5 Pros to Virtual Schools:
1. Convenient/can do it right out of home
2. Students work at their own pace
3. Students get practice incorporating technology early on
4. You can work with the best teachers from around the world
5. Work with mentors/teachers more on a one-to-one basis (even though there’s less interaction)

5 Cons to Virtual Schools:
1. Less teacher-to-student interaction
2. Less peer interaction
3. Less bodily-kinesthetic/social activities
4. Can easily get behind if not keeping up with work
5. Can get expensive (cost money)

I would determine the readiness of students to participate in distance delivery by assessing their technological skills. Another aspect of the students that would be important to measure would be their maturity level. Students have to be mature enough to get their work done and determined enough that they will sit down and make themselves do it.

To teach in a virtual school, you would need to be able to come up with innovative ideas to incorporate students. The activities and lessons you present would have to be in more creative ways so students can really grasp the concepts without actually seeing the teacher.