NECESSITY: The increase in hybrid classes is the best choice given the current state of our educational system.
By Matthew Saenz, Staff Writer
Before the advent of the computer and the internet, the only way to obtain an education was to physically attend a school. However, over the past decade, increasingly sophisticated technology has allowed for virtual learning to become a distinct possibility for education. The 2015-2016 school year will mark the first year of online, hybrid classes at Poly: Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. History, AP Art History and an Expository Literature course for seniors. An online, hybrid class is a class geared towards students who wish to take these courses but wouldn’t be able to do so in a regular classroom setting due to a variety of circumstances. Students will complete the coursework over the internet and report to the teacher once a week to discuss any questions or concerns. Based on recent interviews, both prospective and former students are receptive to these classes, and ultimately, the practical need for these classes is too great to ignore.
According to the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, the United States spent $809.6 billion on education in 2011. Encompassing primary and secondary education, this is the largest amount spent in the world, according to Breitbart.com. However, according to education technology company, Knewton, funding of education in the United States is poised to decrease in the coming years, prompting people nationwide to find new methods of learning that are cheaper to fund. Even U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan remarked that the “new normal” in education is attempting to accomplish more with less. As this funding in education decreases, some form of an online program is necessary. Clayton M. Christensen, the Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, declared that “by 2019, 50 percent of all high school courses will be delivered online.” Perhaps the most indicative sign of a shift towards alternative learning lies in a survey conducted by the Pew Learning Center, which found that 77 percent of the 1055 presidents of colleges and universities surveyed said that they now offer at least one online course, which rises to 89 percent when focused solely on public institutions. These online programs are becoming increasingly prevalent, and these online, hybrid courses would serve to lessen the burden of many schools.
Perhaps the most often asked question amongst people who disagree with these new courses lies in what the students lose with the large absence of human interaction and whether or not the material would be taught to a full extent. In response to these concerns, Ms. Kelly Poelstra, the teacher who will be teaching the online, hybrid classes at Poly, remarks that “the course material is identical to those learned in a 100 percent classroom setting, and the students will still meet with a teacher once per week to address any issues.” Poelstra does agree that this teaching method is “creative,” but that it does not stop substantial learning from taking place. In fact, in some cases, these online, hybrid schools have proved to be highly successful—even more successful than a regular classroom setting. Carpe Diem Collegiate High School (CDCHS), a small school located in Yuma, Arizona, employed this method of hybrid courses to great success. Students rotate between periods of online and human instruction, and the results are hard to dispute: CDCHS reported its county’s highest reading and mathematics scores and was even recognized as one of the top high schools in the entire country by the U.S. News & World Report. Though detractors believe that the decrease in human interaction is alarming, students are (and eventually will have to) adapt to these new conditions.
For the students, online, hybrid courses, more than anything else, offer unique flexibility and availability. At Poly, these hybrid classes will be offered for zero period, making them the ideal choice for students with hectic schedules who do not have the time to sit in a class for a certain amount of time every day. These classes allow students to customize their schedule how they see fit, and as a current student, this freedom would serve me well when I need extra time for other activities. Additionally, these students will have 24/7 access to course material, as opposed to remembering exactly what was said in class.
I understand why many people are skeptical of these new courses—they are completely out of the norm for education. However, these new online classes will allow students to balance their learning with their busy schedules, which is a luxury most students do not have. For Poly students, online, hybrid classes are ideal for hardworking students who would benefit from flexibility.