Extend the conversation on technology and the future 21st students.

I was watching House on Monday, and the patient on that episode would Blog all the time.  She could not make her own decisions in her life without consenting to her Blog.  I have mentioned about Virtual Schools and Distance Education.  All of which are done on computers, through a network.  There is NO physical classroom, and in most all cases the student is never visually seen.  The questions that I ask about these forms of schooling are how are the student's personalities going to develop and change?  Is interaction really available for them?  What will happen?  I can play both ways these questions, and become the "Devil's advocate".

The Bad:

• Students can be seen as having issues being able to communicate to one another face-to-face.
• There is no way to see the body language of the students and the teachers.
• The students will get fat and lazy.
• The teachers will lose their jobs!
• Technology costs so much $$

Devil's Advocate:

• Since time is changing so is the way we are all communicating.  You can now call a hotline to dump your lover, or text them, or just change your Facebook and other social networking sites from married/in a relationship to single status.  What is seen as rude now, might seem as an okay way in years to come.  We show our feelings in our posts and in our IMs, we show the most important feeling, empathy, this way. 
• Studens will get fat, is a not a good reason of why Virtual Edcation is bad, first off many schools are canceling there physical education (PE) program due to FUNDING.  There could be a more productive way for students to be phyically fit, by for example using a Wii fit.  The students get together online and exercise or play sports.  Also, schools are not really as nutrious as they should be, not yet at least!
• The teachers still need to teach the Virtual and Distance Ed classes.  They will have to become more tech savvy, and just do not have to go into work!
• Operation costs are expenseive for school.  Paper is a HUGE $$ waste.  It will save schools $$.

I say this......"We do not know if something will fail or work unless we try it. We cannot just assume it will fail or work.  There has to be strategic planning involved!  We can only come up with the IFs and COULDs, but cannot establish the what WILL happen unless it is done.  I support Virtual Education, just as long as the people are trained correctly and the technology is available.  Virtual Education and Distance Learning is a visual learning playground, where communication thrives.  It can be transformed into something productive and educating, or could go the total opposite. What an adventure!