University of Florida News

Online learning video

Supers: Gainesville, FL
Catherine Cavanaugh/UF Associate Professor of Educational
Technology

KINDERGARTNERS COULD SOON BE SPENDING MORE TIME AT THEIR HOME COMPUTER THAN IN A CLASSROOM… AND YET STILL BE IN SCHOOL.

A NEW UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDY SUGGESTS THAT VIRTUAL SCHOOLING IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 COULD SAVE SCHOOLS MONEY. STUDENTS LEARNING VIA COMPUTER DON’T NEED A BUS OR A CLASSROOM. RESULTS SUGGEST VIRTUAL LEARNING WILL BECOME MORE A PART OF CONTEMPORARY EDUCATION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS… IN SOME CASES COMBINING WITH TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS.

Catherine Cavanaugh/UF Associate Professor of Educational
Technology: “All of the time students spend in school is actually
working on the work of their classes. So, they can maximize the
learning that they get out of the time they spend. And, they’re
able to work with a teacher at specifically the times and on the
tasks and questions they have the most difficulty.”

MOREOVER, RESEARCHERS SAY VIRTUAL SCHOOLING CAN PROVIDE AN EDUCATION SPECIFICALLY GEARED TO STUDENTS’ LEARNING ABILITIES.

Catherine Cavanaugh/UF Associate Professor of Educational
Technology: “The student can work independently and have an
individualized experience. In particular for the growing numbers
of students who may not have achieved in a regular classroom,
we’re talking a lot now about closing the achievement gap through
the use of virtual courses.”

RESEARCHERS SAY THAT COULD MEAN HIGHER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES… AND IT CERTAINLY MEANS IMPROVED COMPUTER SKILLS FOR ALL THOSE STUDENTS. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, I’M MERISSA RICHMOND.

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