tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post6962303867011070175..comments2024-03-29T04:34:05.185-04:00Comments on CURMUDGUCATION: FL: Path Opens To Killing Public SchoolsPeter Greenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16511193640285760299noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-87417338615596571792020-05-18T06:31:43.404-04:002020-05-18T06:31:43.404-04:00I started teaching online Environmental Science cl...I started teaching online Environmental Science classes to 80+ students about 5 years ago. Cheating is part of remote/distance/virtual/online learning. No doubt about it. We just don't know how much, because it's not measured. Online courses are a great money-earner. More students fail or drop out, so have to pay more tuition. <br /><br />About FLVS: My daughter took four FLVS classes. The first was a middle school summer photography for fun. She took Algebra II to transition from private MS to public HS (with tutoring from her MS math teacher). She took HOPE (Health and PE) online to fulfill a HS PE requirement, and the required HS Economics class. She learned enough from Algebra to pass the state test. Photography was pretty fun, but the others were less worthwhile. FLVS is not supported any better than other public schools. Teachers aren't compensated better, nor do they have smaller class sizes. Teachers check in with parents to let them know how their kids are doing, but the conversation is always about attendance and test scores. I don't believe the teachers know who their students are. It's not a bad gig for teachers who need to work from home. They cover each others' classes when they need to be away during the school year. It's flexible, but in no way superior.<br /><br />Spending more on technology isn't going to fix the fundamental problem with FLVS and all other FL public schools: teachers need smaller class sizes, less emphasis on standardized tests, less state micromanagement in curriculum, and higher pay to attract and retain the most capable candidates. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05665620679850684857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-43546255926043259502020-04-03T10:48:27.667-04:002020-04-03T10:48:27.667-04:00I taught in FL for 10 years. The dirty secret abou...I taught in FL for 10 years. The dirty secret about FLVS that no one wants to admit is that the kids cheat. I had students paying other students to take their courses (and obviously students making bank taking other students' courses) ALL THE TIME. Using it for credit recovery was a joke - so much easier than sitting in a class, taking tests, and having to work to earn that passing grade (especially if you can pay someone else to take the class for you). And teachers are expected to be available to students almost 24/7, and spend most of their time calling kids who are falling behind to get them back on track. That's not teaching (the pre-prepared module does all that) but multiply the phone calls and availability by 160+ students, and it's a sure way to break the teacher.Kim Forgeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05021621241395555249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-56592575096880321062020-04-02T16:40:45.887-04:002020-04-02T16:40:45.887-04:00Is there a correlation between states getting on b...Is there a correlation between states getting on board with Florida Virtual School and not embracing social distancing?Thomas Ulticanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14347503503072251716noreply@blogger.com