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| Photo: Julie Young |
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| Photo: Via Pioneer Institute |
Looking at such metrics as research and development; concentration of science, technology, engineering, and math employment; and numbers of science degrees, it’s no wonder that the commonwealth placed first.
But it’s not just postsecondary education that makes Massachusetts a leader in innovation. Its K-12 public schools also boast some of the most dynamic and thoughtful approaches to brick-and-mortar education, providing a model for the rest of the country.
Despite these successes, Massachusetts struggles to keep pace with innovative online educational offerings that have helped students thrive throughout the nation. The commonwealth is home to digital learning experts Paul Peterson, Clayton Christensen, Michael Horn, and John Flores, yet it has been unable to establish a strong virtual learning ecosystem.
Several years ago, Massachusetts passed virtual school legislation. Susan Patrick, president and CEO of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, advised the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on regulations to accompany the new law. She recalls making three basic recommendations: don’t put any geographic restrictions on the schools, don’t impose an enrollment cap on them, and let the money follow the student. Unfortunately, the department largely ignored her advice.
I know why those recommendations were not followed. Massachusetts knows what good brick-and-mortar schools look like, and they look different than good online schools. Liberating education from schoolhouse walls takes boldness — the willingness to mingle with the gray areas of learning, to refocus on the student of 2017. It’s hard to take a chance on digital learning when what you’ve got is working.
When implemented well, digital learning helps students in much the same way as other pioneering educational models do. More and more families are seeking educational opportunities beyond their local school; they’re looking for a school of one, always with an eye toward what’s best for their child.
For some families and students, it’s best to learn at a pace and time that works for them. Some students seek a head start on college, others need to revisit concepts for mastery. Digital education handles both of these students with ease, without holding one back academically or pushing the other ahead before foundational concepts can cement.
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Source: Wicked Local Medfield
