Education Innovation: Embracing Online K-12 Schools and Universities

One of the waves of innovation sweeping across the country and around the world is the emergence of Online Education Institutions. As far back as 2013, Time magazine found that only a minority of 23% of academic leaders said online learning was inferior to face-to-face learning. Since then, the trend towards online education has slowly but steadily increased across the US and around the world. We all need to pay more attention. 

The following are links to selected online high school and university web sites that you might want to check out, especially during these trying times during the pandemic of 2020-2022


Online Elementary & High Schools

• Best Online High Schools - Consumer Affairs provides information and guidance about the rising number of high quality accredited online high schools.
• Citizen's High School - An accredited online independent study high school providing an education program leading to a high school diploma.
• National High School - A regionally accredited private high school offering an online education program leading to a high school diploma.
• International Virtual Learning Academy - A year-round, grades 3-12 diploma-granting online private school.
• SC Odyssey Online Learning - An online, tuition-free public charter school for South Carolina high school students.
• South Carolina Online Virtual Charter Schools - A listing of approved online virtual public schools in South Carolina. Also see K¹² online curriculum
• South Carolina ETV Online Education Courses for K-12 Teachers
  

Online Colleges & Universities

• Accredited Online Colleges - A web-based directory for finding the accredited online college that best meets your needs.
• Guide to Online Colleges & Universities - A web site providing information on the rising number of accredited online higher education programs.
• American Public University System - A leader in distance education, this accredited online university offers over 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
• DeVry University - An accredited university having more than 90 locations, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs, many of them online.
• South Carolina Online Colleges - Listing of colleges and universities in South Carolina offering online programs.
• University of Phoenix -The largest private university in North America today, with students studying at more than 200 locations across the U.S. and around the world.
• Western Governor's University - Founded by the Governor's of 19 U.S. states, it currently provides online, competency-based degree programs to more than 30,000 students across the U.S.

'Open' Schools, Universities, Courses & Online Adult Education

• Academic Earth - Providing the opportunity to earn a world-class education by offering free online classes and online learning tools.
• Udacity -Offering free online college courses leading to certification in key professions or subject areas.
• Khan Academy - An online school providing a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.
• Open Education Database - Source for free, online courses offered by various universities and education organizations.
• University of South Carolina - Offering online classes, continuing education & adult education courses.
• Clemson University Online -  Clemson continues transitioning to online learning.

The move towards online education can cut costs for students and reduce tax dollars spent to maintain state run colleges. South Carolina needs to further embrace this approach to education. The current pandemic reinforces the need to further expand online education.

If you or your children have attended an online K-12 School or University, especially here in Summerton S.C., please share your experience with our readers. 

Time to Seriously Consider Innovative 'Open' Education Solutions in S.C.

Maybe its time we started doing some serious 'out of the box' thinking about our state funded higher education system?

Many states and local communities are struggling with tightening budgets and are looking closely at the public education system as an area where cuts can be made. As we've seen in the news, some Governors think they can save money by cutting teacher pay or taking away their collective bargaining rights. Other states looking at increasing class size, cutting school programs, consolidating schools, and other ways to reduce costs. These approaches may help reduce the budget to some degree, but at what cost to the students and our future.

Many other industries are being dramatically overhauled as new 21^st century information technologies (IT) and business models are being put in place. Witness what is happening to the newspaper industry, the music industry, the growing online retail industry, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and other sectors in this 21^st century global economy.

The education sector is not immune to the massive changes that are currently underway. Online universities are a reality and are starting to challenge traditional 'brick and mortar' universities of the past. In West Virginia, for example, the state funded West Virginia University (WVU) system is no longer the largest university system. The private, online American Public University System (APUS) now has over 200,000 registered students, more than than the state supported WVU system.

Well known, fully accredited online universities are taking hold all across the country. Witness such well known examples as the University of Phoenix, DeVry University, Capella University, Kaplan University, Walden University, and many more. They offer Associate, Bachelor, and Masters degree programs at prices comparable to state run institutions. Students of all ages can attend classes online even as they hold down jobs in the workforce or are stationed overseas in the military.

There are sound arguments 'pro and con' for maintaining the existing state funded higher education system. Across the state, many of us would take up arms to defend our beloved Clemson Tigers or Carolina Gamecocks. BUT... Bottom line – we may need to have our state government start scaling back its involvement in running state-owned community colleges and universities that operate at a deficit and constantly are asking for more funding from tax payers.

What about taking the first steps to turn over the state-funded education industry to the private sector? Is it past time to do some serious 'out of the box' thinking. The state could partner or contract out to private, for-profit online university systems to offer courses to students across the state, thereby lowering operating costs, reducing state university employee payrolls and retirement programs, and cutting back on expensive projects to build new facilities.

The argument for use of modern information technology and solutions even extends to K-12 state run public schools. Online courses could be offered to students who want to accelerate their education, finish school earlier, and maybe even take online college courses in the junior or senior years to get a jump on their education. Online courses would allow students over 16 years of age, who are hard pressed financially, to work part-time and continue their education and graduate. Online education programs work and are being successfully tested across the country – check out some of these Online Schools.

Aside from privatizing state-funded education systems and moving more towards online education, what about using new information technology (IT) and tool like iPads or Kindle systems to lower the cost of purchasing 'paper' text books. Why not go digital? Even providing these tools for free to students of families that can't afford them will save money. What about having teachers and students using the growing number of free and open source courseware, lesson plans, and many other types of learning and classroom tools. To learn more about them go to the non-profit COSI Open Education web site.

What do you think? Do you have other innovative, 'out of the box' ideas to save costs and improve our state education system? Share them with us.

Education Innovation: Online K-12 Schools & Universities

One of the waves of innovation sweeping across the country and around the world is the emergence of Online Education Institutions. According to Time magazine, as of 2013 "only 23% of leaders in academia say online learning is inferior to face-to-face learning." The following are links to selected online high school and university web sites that you might want to check out -

Online Elementary & High Schools

• Best Online High Schools - Consumer Affairs provides information and guidance about the rising number of high quality accredited online high schools.
• Citizen's High School - An accredited online independent study high school providing an education program leading to a high school diploma.
• National High School - A regionally accredited private high school offering an online education program leading to a high school diploma.
• International Virtual Learning Academy - A year-round, grades 3-12 diploma-granting online private school.
• SC Odyssey Online Learning - An online, tuition-free public charter school for South Carolina high school students.
• South Carolina Online Virtual Charter Schools - A listing of approved online virtual public schools in South Carolina. Also see K¹² online curriculum

Online Colleges & Universities

• Accredited Online Colleges - A web-based directory for finding the accredited online college that best meets your needs.
• Guide to Online Colleges & Universities - A web site providing information on the rising number of accredited online higher education programs.
• American Public University System - A leader in distance education, this accredited online university offers over 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
• DeVry University - An accredited university having more than 90 locations, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs, many of them online.
• South Carolina Online Colleges - Listing of colleges and universities in South Carolina offering online programs.
• University of Phoenix -The largest private university in North America today, with students studying at more than 200 locations across the U.S. and around the world.
• Western Governor's University - Founded by the Governor's of 19 U.S. states, it currently provides online, competency-based degree programs to more than 30,000 students across the U.S.

'Open' Schools, Universities, Courses & Online Adult Education

• Academic Earth - Providing the opportunity to earn a world-class education by offering free online classes and online learning tools.
• Udacity -Offering free online college courses leading to certification in key professions or subject areas.
• Khan Academy - An online school providing a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.
• Open Education Database - Source for free, online courses offered by various universities and education organizations.
• University of South Carolina - Offering online continuing education & adult education courses.

If you or your children have attended an online K-12 School or University, especially here in Summerton S.C., please share your experience with our readers.