Allie on learning circles & VHS Datum: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 22:57:51 -0700
A Good Use of Technology
I think the VHS classroom is the perfect example of preparing students for global communication, especially our class, Writing and Telecommunications, because of our unique Learning Circle. A Learning Circle is a group of students from different schools and different countries, all taking the same class and exchanging work with each other. This allows students to meet and work with students from not only across the country but also across the world.
The Learning Circle is a vital component of Writing and Telecommunications, and the writing proposals we exchange with international students will help to create a global community by helping us to understand the cultures of students in different countries. This exchange of writing in friendly, intellectual format enhances our understanding of the way life is for students just like us in other countries, and this understanding of culture will be an advantage to us in the global working community. Even without the Learning Circle component of Writing and Telecommunications, VHS classes still help to build at least a national community and teach students to form relationships and work effectively with people whom they may never get to see in person. This is a very important skill for students to have in the continuing technological working community of the future. We learn how to communicate with people from different states and towns in a virtual environment, teaching us the rules of Netiquette, helping us form respectful relationships. Also, working in dyads and commenting on each other's work helps VHS students to learn how to interact in a functional, working relationship with people from different places and different cultures. VHS, and especially the Learning Circle, is a good use of technology to teach students to interact and form effective working relationships with students from a national and even global community.
Allison Richmond
Westborough High School
Westborough, Massachusetts // USA // Virtual High School // www.govhs.org // October 30, 2005
Courtney's thoughts on Learning Circles
Becoming More Effective Writers
What do you think of when you hear the words “Learning Circle”? What came to mind? Did the words international communication come to mind? How about endless opportunities? Or maybe even once in a lifetime experience? Well, that is what the Learning Circle at VHS is all about!
Nowadays technology is becoming more and more familiar to the general public. People use computers at work, in school, and at home. Internet access is available, and in many places it is provided. Why not use technology as a form of learning? There are an infinite amount of things that one can do on a computer, and using the computer as an instrument for learning has many advantages. If one is taking an online class and does not finish his or her homework during the school day, they can log in on their computer in the comfort of their own home and finish up. They can even go to the public library and complete it all right there. Obviously, using computers as a tool for learning has its many conveniences.
At VHS (Virtual High School) students participate in what are called “Learning Circles.” Students at VHS are from all over the world- From the US, to China, to Brazil. VHS provides students with many classes to choose from, and they are provided with qualified teachers and challenging assignments. These assignments are to be individually completed in some situations, but in most, there is a group involved. This creates an environment in which people can learn not only the objectives of the assignments but also about the people in their gro up. They communicate effectively and create relationships from afar. These students also become more responsible and more accountable for their own work. A teacher is not always there to guide them if they have a problem, so they are required to work through it themselves to try and solve the issue.
In Writing and Telecommunications we concentrate directly on the real thing. We write as if we have an audience present, which helps our communicating skills. We have a syllabus set for us every week with an array of lessons. These lessons include anything from our weekly journal entry to working in a group to create powerful essays involving schools from other countries.
Contacting our teacher is simple; we just click on our private thread and send away! In our discussions area, we are able to post completed assignments or comments on others’. In this class, there are obviously vast opportunities to learn, opportunities that we are lucky to have, and that others should be able to have. We concentrate on things such as “FCs” which are focused corrections, “WP’s” which are writing proposals, and “dyads” or our working groups. We use all of these online to communicate and to become more effective writers.
Courtney Taylor
Coventry High School
Coventry, Connecticut
USA
Virtual High School
www.govhs.org
October 30, 2005
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