Confession: My husband and I love maps.
“You are the only people I know who actually sit and read maps!” My sister has stated this on several occasions. Like we have a bizarre condition. In this age of travel by GPS, perhaps our affinity for maps is a bit odd. But what can I say? We love maps!
I guess we love maps for the plain and simple reason that we like looking at where we’ve been, imagining where we’ll go next and planning what we’ll see along the way. It’s a wonderful combination of having the big picture and the details, too.
A map is a good metaphor for online learning. When the curriculum is a good fit, you can clearly see where you’ve been, where you’re heading and what you might expect to see along the way.
Where You’ve Been
Everyone should have a clear sense of the learning progress being made. Parents and teachers need this information to better assist the student. They can see where the student needs to be encouraged to spend more time and effort and where success comes readily. When students are aware of their progress, they can take ownership of their learning. Seeing for themselves what they have accomplished spurs them on. A good online curriculum is one that the student can easily navigate and see at a glance the progress they have made.
Where You’re Headed
The best of online curricula begins with a pretest or some sort of initial assessment and prescribes a plan accordingly. After all, why spend time and effort covering concepts and skills the student already knows? Having a clear picture of where they’re headed helps all types of students. It prevents the excelling student from becoming bored (they will not have to revisit material they’ve already mastered) and the student requiring more support from becoming frustrated (they will not be expected to begin at a level beyond their prior knowledge). For all learners, having a sense of direction and learning efficiency helps to keep students motivated and moving forward.
What You Might See Along the Way
The beauty of online curriculum is that the possibilities are endless! Instruction can include audio and video formats as well as interactive platforms. Material can be easily updated to include the most recent research or findings. The sheer number of high school electives available online means that anyone can learn anything!
All the best on your educational journey! Oh, and don’t forget your map!
To see online curriculum in action, go to www.globalstudentnetwork.com. GSN offers many types of online programs from one site. You can view demos and see the qualities mentioned above. Go ahead and explore!