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Emerging Technology Position Paper
Technology Tools for Teachers, TE886-01
March 8, 2015

Of the five technology trends in education we have discussed thus far in

Technology Tools for Teachers, including: Game-Based Learning, Flipped Classroom,

Virtual Classroom, BYOD, and 1:1 Programming, the trend I believe will be the most
dominant in the K-12 classroom in the next five years is the Virtual Classroom. With
an ever-changing world of technology, and a continuously growing interest from
students to take courses online, I surmise the Virtual Classroom to be a topic of
great discussion and undertaking by schools, administrators, teachers, and all who
are stakeholders in the world of education.

According to Allen and Seaman (2013), The number of students taking at

least one online course increased by over 570,000 to a new total of 6.7 million, in a
research study done in 2013. Allen and Seaman (2013) also state that, The number
of additional students taking at least one online course grew as much in 2013 as it
did in 2012. In the same study done by Allen and Seaman in 2014, Allen and
Seaman (2014) report, The number of students taking at least one online course
increased by over 411,000 to a new total of 7.1 million, in 2014. Given these
staggering statistics, there seems to be a genuine desire to learn online. What makes
learning online so desirable?

For many students, online classes mean flexibility, plain and simple. The

ability to work when a student has the time, or chooses to work when he finds it
most convenient clearly intrigues many learners. Some students just cant seem to
manage their time well in a regular education environment, or have personalities
that conflict with the structured, regimented scheduling of schools. Online classes
allow students to work when they are at their best; thus, their performance should

also be at their best. As a full-time teacher mom of two, with a busy home to care for,
and daily school work to do myself, I find taking online courses to complete my
Masters Degree the best, most logical option for me. I just dont have the time to
attend regular classes on a campus while working full-time. Furthermore, when
researching universities that offered the degree I wanted to obtain, I found that
many courses required for the degree were offered during the day. No teacher I
know has permission to leave school, attend a class, and then return to work after
the class has ended. Online courses just make sense for those of us in such a
situation. For other students, online classes may be about more than flexibility.
Wood (2013) states, Most [students] take an online class to have access to classes
not offered at their school, to gain a competitive edge for college, or to accommodate
an otherwise jammed schedule. The convenience of online classes is truly apparent
and embraceable; however, what are the supporting, viable theories behind the
implementation and use of the Virtual Classroom?

According to The Framework for 21st Century Learning, there are a set of

vital skills, knowledge, and expertise all students should know and be able to utilize
in order to be successful in the world of work, and in life in general. Some of these
skills, knowledge sets, or areas of expertise include: Innovation; Self-Direction;
Collaboration; Information, Communication, and Technology Literacy; Critical
Thinking and Problem Solving; and Global Awareness/Understanding. Honestly,
among all these skills, is there a single one not achievable via the Virtual Classroom?
Given an appropriate, effective design of the Virtual Classroom, students can easily
and quickly attain each of these 21st Century skills. In and of itself, the Virtual

Classroom requires students to be self-motivated and self-directed due to the

independent nature of its work. Depending on the format of the Virtual Classroom,
students may be required to create real-life products found in businesses
throughout the world, and to sell the ideas behind these products to others; Perhaps
the development of these products is a group effort, and requires collaboration with
other students from other parts of the country or world; Maybe the products
created do not meet buyer standards, and must be re-invented to satisfy customer
needs; Perhaps the customer is in another country, which would require some
knowledge and understanding of cultural and/or business practices acceptable
within that given country. Each of these scenarios addresses one, if not more, of the
21st Century Learning skills, sets of knowledge, or areas of expertise and would
provide an expansive learning experience for the learner of an online class.

As a foreign language teacher, one of the most important skills I believe a

student needs is global awareness, or multicultural literacy. The Virtual Classroom

provides a means of learning beyond borders, beyond stereotypes, beyond
differences in cultures. Students are able to move beyond the restrictions of the
classroom environment, and into the world at hand. Each student shares his own
personality, knowledge, and insight to help each other grow. What better way to
learn? With avid Virtual Classroom supporters like Bill Gates, too, the yearn for the
success of the Virtual Classroom will likely continue not only into the next five years,
but into the years following as well.
Its very clear that five years from now, on the web, for freeyou will be able to find
the greatest lectures in the world on the web, Bill Gates.

References
Allen, E. I., & Seaman, J. (2013). Changing course: Ten years of tracking online

education in the United States. Retrieved from:

http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/changingcourse.pdf

Allen, E. I. & Seaman, J. (2014). Grade change: Tracking online education in the United

States. Retrieved from

http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/gradechange.pdf

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2011). Framework for 21st century learning

[Data file]. Retrieved from

http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/1.__p21_framework_2-pager.pdf

Wood, C. (2013). The virtual classroom redefines education. Retrieved from:

www.edutopia.org/high-school-dot-com