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Computer classroom new at Wolcott High

August 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

WOLCOTT —For all of the distractions, temptations and misinformation on the Web, there’s at least one place where computers serve only educational needs: Wolcott High School’s new “virtual learning lab.”

The classroom, which is equipped with 22 computers and is next to the Library Media Center, will house two sections of students who are taking online courses. It’s one of the new technology-based teaching tools students will find when the town’s public schools open Monday.

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Torrington school committee to study future of online courses

August 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

TORRINGTON — The school district took the first step Wednesday toward establishing opportunities for students to learn online.

Administrators said a new state law requires districts to offer online courses for “credit recovery,” or students who have failed the in-class version of a course.

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Board of Education eyes virtual learning for suspended students

July 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

SOUTHINGTON — Even though the number of middle and high school students expelled declined from 30 to 13 during the 2009-10 school year, this situation still poses a significant cost to the district.

With that in mind, the Board of Education has decided to use a new Virtual Learning Academy, an online program which will save money and allow expelled students to keep up with their classmates.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph Erardi Jr. said the district must still educate that student and the use of a tutor who provides 10 hours of instruction a week costs $11,400 for the school year. The Virtual Learning Academy costs $1,250 per student per year and teaches five courses, he said.

The board tested the program on six expelled students who all had computers at home and all kept up with their classwork.

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Students find variety at good ol’ Virtual High

July 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Online courses have proliferated in higher education, too. Nearly 4,200 online courses were offered on Connecticut college campuses in 2009, twice the number offered three years earlier, according to the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium. Enrollment in those courses also has nearly doubled since 2006, reaching about 65,000 last year.

The consortium also manages the Connecticut Virtual Learning Center offering online courses to high school students, but that program has not grown as fast as college level programs, said Diane Goldsmith, the consortium’s executive director.

“My prediction is, it’s going to grow,” she said. “I’m talking to superintendents. They’re laying off people. . . . I think increasingly schools have to look at online as a solution. It’s the cheapest solution. There’s not a building. You don’t have to hire staff. . . . You can have a computer lab [and] have 25 students taking 25 different courses.”

How well does online education work?

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