Michigan Online Learning Requirement: Dumb?
Ars Technica recently put up an article about Michigan’s new “online learning” requirement.
In addition to requiring that all high school students complete courses in advanced algebra, chemistry, and even foreign languages, legislation signed into law by the governor will also see that all students take a least one “online learning course” or participate in an “online learning experience.”
The intent seems to be to ensure kids are versed in navigating the information space online, but I think the legislatures aren’t quite grasping how to accomplish this. Ars quotes the supporters of the bill:
The importance of requiring all students to take an online course today can be compared to the efforts to teach young people how to use print resources in a public library 50 years ago,” said Michael Flanagan, State Superintendent of Public Instruction and member of the Michigan Virtual University (MVU) Board of Directors.
Now, I’m all for an attempt to do a better job teaching kids how to use the web. There’s a skill to doing thorough and effective web searching and effectively collaborating online. I appreciate that the legislators are at least acknowledging this important skill set. However, I think what they require is unlikely in any way to really teach those skills. What is an “online learning experience” anyway?
April 28th, 2006 at 8:29 pm
This sounds like a cheap way for the legislature to make it look like it’s taking proactive steps to improve education in Michigan without doing anything like, oh, raising taxes to supplement teachers’ salaries, etc.
April 28th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
It’s true. Not every “cheap” action a legisalture can take is a bad one. Though I think in this case they will probably not accomplish their intent, so in this case it’s futile and shallow.