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Virtual schools and tutors offer students new opportunities

arstechnica.com — As more and more people gain high-speed access to the Internet, opportunities arise that weren't possible before. One such opportunity is the idea of virtual education. More and more students are finding new opportunities for learning that involve reaching out over a TCP/IP connection.

Who dugg this? Made popular Sep 29, 2006

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  • ampledismantle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Ya but can I flirt with the virtual girl sitting next to me?
  • slant, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Hah, no joke. Maybe this is where actual education and Second Life (http://www.secondlife.com/) could be merged.
  • Zero456, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The problem remains, however, if these courses are any good. This year, my high school decided to try Cisco Systems' Java Academy and, after using for a month, my teacher decided to go back to the book. The lessons seemed sloppy, having hardly any examples, and forgoing a lot of explanation when it was needed.

    Hell, they had us using BlueJ and didn't even bother explaining how to input data other than as arguments in the beginning of a program!
  • bonzooznob, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1For computer & technology courses, these schools are great. Best of all, you can do all your work in your PJ's!
  • crilen007, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If they ever invent such a thing, the human race will change a lot. Finally everyone will share the same understandings for the most part. Not to mention everyone would beable to contribute to society. Learning how to do a heart transplant in 5 seconds instead 10 years.


    How would a society place value on those who excel at things, if everyone can excel at it?
    Would we turn into a more communist society? Would it be utopia? Or would it infact be our downfall?

    How would we learn new things? If everyone has gained knowledge the easy way, who will take the time to learn new things?
  • dagonweb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yep, in Second Life you can.
  • Dhalgren, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I think lots of kids get virtual education these days. Just like virtual reality, it isn't real...
  • sharpteacher, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0There are quite a few educational institutions that are beginning to realize the potential of virtual education using such programs as Second Life and ActiveWorlds. In fact, ActiveWorlds has an educational universe (AWEDU) at http://www.activeworlds.com/edu/awedu.asp. Harvard has even created a world through ActiveWorlds named River City (http://muve.gse.harvard.edu/rivercityproject/index.html) that helps students develop scientific inquiry.

    I'm actually involved in a master's class in which we work entirely in ActiveWorlds. It is a wonderful experience.
  • crilen007, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2No different than home schooling, at least the kids have a real teacher and not mommy.
  • slant, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Awesome, now I just need to get my Matrix neural-jack-thingy (yes, that is the technical term) installed. Then I can learn to fly helicopters within seconds! w00t!!
  • wurzelgummage, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1No mention of the Open University?

    http://www.open.ac.uk/

  • nephish, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Yeah, I am a home school dad / geek trying to bring the open source ideals to home school education with my new project, The Open School
    ( but mine is free ) www.theopenschool.com

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