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21st Century Tutor
Study Foresees Rise in Virtual Schooling
Educators at the Hoover Institute, a conservative think tank at Stanford University,
Backyard Campout
predict that by 2019, half of courses in grades 9 to 12 will be delivered online
National Wildlife Federation
to homeschools and virtual classrooms. Everything from books and microscopes
Makes Fun Easy
to radish seeds will arrive via brown trucks. Last
“I never knew spending the whole day
year, enrollment in online classes reached the one
outside could be so fun,” declared one
million mark, 22 times the level of 2000, accord-
gleeful 7-year-old daughter, hugging her
ing to the North American Council for Online
dad. Families across the country have
Learning.
been gathering to pitch a tent, take a
Online learning is proving more efficient than
hike, spot wildlife and roast marshmal-
traditional schooling, enabling teachers to rely on
lows around the campfire, topped off
computers for lecturing, so that they can better
by a group stargaze. Getting ready to
attend to students’ individual tutoring, mentoring
camp out is half the fun. And the Na-
and motivational needs. Most states mandate a
tional Wildlife Federation puts everyone
minimum quantity of hours of instruction. Qual-
in touch with every tip they need.
ity could be better tracked, proponents admit,
Browsing the organization’s web-
perhaps by tracking course materials completed.
site turns up tips for packing, camping
At Idaho Virtual Academy, for instance,
with kids, erecting a tent, building a
teachers monitor student progress by tracking their
campfire and planning the menu. Sug-
performance on quizzes after new lessons. “It’s
gested games and activities even extend
not overly absurd for a kid to show up in a bricks-
to campfire songs. Options include
and-mortar school and do practically nothing,”
signing up to join a larger group at a
comments Cody Claver, head of the academy. “In
favorite campsite.
our school, it is out of the realm of possibility.”
Find everything at
NWF.org/Backyard-
Source: The Christian Science Monitor
Campout; click on Ready to Camp.
20 Collier / Lee Counties
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