E-learning has a long and storied history which seems to have culminated in online homeschooling technology. It remains to be seen where e-learning technology can take us, but it's sure to be a logical progression from the traditional public school learning experience. Perhaps the primary advantage of online homeschooling is its ability to deliver content asynchronously. This means that students of all learning styles and speeds are able to learn at their own pace.
The first e-learning system was called the PLATO System. By 2003, over 1.0 million students were enrolled in online learning programs in colleges alone. Nearly all public universities offer online correspondence courses. About half of private higher learning institutions offer similar online learning opportunities.
The growth of K-12 online homeschooling programs has also grown significantly in the last few years. Growing at rates as high as 25% per year, online learning technologies are allowing students to learn at home with excellent results. A variety of media are used in the online learning mix including palm pilots, MP3 players, online learning management systems, CD-ROMs, websites, e-mail, blogs, open-source software, educational games, and more.
Some e-learning programs, like The MorningStar Academy allow students to learn in a homeschool setting. All that is needed is a computer and an internet connection. Teachers assist students throughout the school day, while the curriculum is available on a 24/7 basis. Trained staff are provided to assist children in their learning experience.
What does the future hold for e-learning? Perhaps we will one day see virtual homeschool classroom environments that are rendered in full 3D? This technology is not too far off. Young people may yet see in their lifetime the dissolution of the traditional public school system in favor of an e-learning format.
About the Author:Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, author, children's rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of almost 3 decades reside with their 8 children in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. because "our current system of education has broken its promise..." Learning By Grace, Inc. delivers Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children in the United States and throughout the world.
Rothschild has authored a number of books about education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Home Education News Blog contains feature stories on alternatives in education.
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