Distance Online Learning - It's Much More than Putting a Middleschool or High School Student in Front of a Computer

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

Kids studying academically via the Internet seem to be getting a lot of bad rap from both students and parents lately.  In fact, misconceptions all around about what distance learning is and what its benefits are continue to persist even as computer-based learning is increasing in popularity.

As a homeschooling mom of four gifted students (triplets going into 8th and big brother going to 10th grade), this lack of understanding frustrates me because my own kids have benefited greatly from computer-based classes both offered through their public school independent study program and through Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.  Not only are they doing well in this multi-media high tech school arrangement, they are also proving to be happy and well-adjusted as well as equally adept at socializing compared to their peers studying in traditional school environments.

The impressive findings from a recent survey should be enlightening to those who may still be biased against learning in front of a computer screen.  In this study, it was found that compared to traditional learning environments, online learning is proving to be an effective way in teaching today's "iGeneration" who live in a world of customized and instant feedback.

More specifically the results of the study found

• 72% of online students spend three or more hours on homework per week vs. 56% of students in traditional schooling.
• 54% of online students get more challenges when they are doing well in school vs. 49% of students in traditional schooling.
• 58% of online students get more help when they fall behind vs. 40% of students in traditional schooling.
• 78% vs. 67% of online students have more interest in attending a four year college after graduation than students in traditional schooling.

With statistics like those, school administrators, teachers, students, and parents would all be wise to reconsider and become more open minded about everything online learning has to offer -- whether we are talking about a charter school, virtual learning academy, or traditional classroom looking to augment its curriculum cost-effectively.  Among other providers offering such services is KC Distance Learning (KCDL) .  This organization is one example of an online interactive academic program which offers online learning options to fit all types of students and learning situations, whether looking to expand educational opportunities by offering a wide range of AP courses to advanced learners, helping at-risk students catch up with credit recovery and/or accommodating students' unique scheduling needs without adding the expense or infrastructure of additional staff or classrooms.

Computers and technology aren't going to go away, they're in our kids' lives for good.  Why shouldn't we help the world's future leaders leverage the Internet now so that they will be better prepared for tomorrow?

Are you pro or con the virtual learning concept?  MommyBlogExpert encourages you to leave your comment and explain why you feel the way you do. 

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FREE Eli's Cheesecake THIS SATURDAY June 26, 2010 - 30th Birthday Celebration

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com 
Wishes Eli's Cheesecake a Very Special 30th Birthday!!!

The Band from TV, along with other personas, will be helping celebrate the 30th anniversary of Eli's Cheesecake THIS WEEKEND in Chicago and they're inviting the public to help celebrate.  

I wish I could be there to celebrate myself, but unfortunately I'll be on the West Coast.  What I can do is tell you how delicious Eli's specialty desserts are because my family and I have tasted these on numerous occasions and I've blogged about the brand before here and here. 

My kids (triplets plus one more born within a year) and I visited the factory some summers ago and we each tried a slice in a different cheesecake flavor after the tour, plus Eli's very nice president, Marc Schulman, sent us home on the plane with a huge chocolate and peanut butter cheese cake packed in dry ice.  So I can say that every kind we tried related to that trip was just awesome.  I still can't find the family photos from that visit, but I do intend to write an entire blogpost about that experience when I do.

If you're local to the corporate office in Chicago this weekend, be sure to visit Eli's on Saturday at Buckingham Fountain, 1:00pm, for a FREE slice of their mouthwatering 2,000 lb. cheesecake!  

Pictured above is Eli's Candy Crazy Cheesecake Sampler.  It's a good thing they sell all their cakes online and air ship with dry ice to customers so even those of you who've never been to Chicago can still experience it first-hand.  My own family hasn't tried this particular variety ourselves yet, but it looks absolutely scrumptious and I have no doubt it will taste even better.

Helping celebrate the company's milestone this Saturday are some very special guest cake cutters from  The Band From TV

• James Denton (ABC's "Desperate Housewives")
• Greg Grunberg (NBC's "Heroes" and "Love Bites")
• Jessie Spencer (Fox's "House") 
  
• Bob Guiney ("The Bachelor" and daily host of GSN)
• Adrian Pasdar ("Heroes", "Desperate Housewives")
• Scott Grimes ("American Dad", "ER" and "Robin Hood")

All these celebrities will join Eli’s son and company President, Marc Schulman, as well as other VIPs in a round of “Happy Birthday” and will be on hand to cut the super-sized treat which will be served FREE to the public.

Eli's Cheesecake

Chicago, Illinois

Saturday, June 26, 1:00pm
Buckingham Fountain
(southeast corner)
FREE Event

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11 Ideas to Keep Young Minds Active During Summer Months - Enriching Children

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com Guestpost 

Text by Dr. Mary Zurn, Primrose Schools

Photos by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert

1. Boredom Buster Jar  At the beginning of summer, sit down with your family and brainstorm a list of activities that can be done alone or together.  Encourage children to share their own ideas and help you decorate and label a simple jar  Next, write everyone's ideas down on paper and as a group decide which ones go in the jar.  Then, when the summertime blues appear, kids can pull an idea out of this Boredom Buster Jar.

2. Stories Alive  It sounds too simple, but reading is one of the most important ways to keep young minds engaged during the summer.  Make reading more fun by finding ways to bring the stories to life.  For example, in the book Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, children create a make-believe town in the desert out of rocks, boxes, and their imaginations.  Read the book with your children and then challenge

them to create their own town with materials they find in the yard.

3. Art Start Box  Gather basic art supplies-child safe scissors, glue, markers, tape and construction paper. Put them in a special box along with empty oatmeal boxes and paper towel rolls, colorful magazines and bits of aluminum foil. Occasionally add a special surprise like chalk, stickers, or stamp pads so there's always something new for the children to discover. 

4. Family Performances  Break out old clothes, costumes, and unwanted fashion accessories, as well as pots and pans and other household objects to use as musical instruments, and encourage children to make up characters and create a play to act out or have a parade.  Record or video the performances, and enjoy the replay together.  You'll also be capturing a bit of family history everyone will enjoy for years to come.

5. Family Dance Party  Crank up the music and encourage your entire family to boogie down.  Dancing not only expends pent-up energy, it  gives children a great outlet for self-expression through their own motion and helps build self-esteem. It also enhances motor and coordination by incorporating skills like jumping, landing and leaping.  Best of all, dancing is a great activity that can involve the whole family and doesn't take very much

preparation.

6. Fort Building  Children love to build all kinds of structures--from small towns to large towers.  Constructing forts or tents is an activity that can keep children focused and problem solving for hours.  All the items you need can be found around the house -- some chairs, cushions, blankets, and of course adult supervision.

7. Cookbook Fun  Have you ever shared your favorite cookbook with your children?  Take it out and ask your children to choose a recipe to try.  Measuring can be a

fun and easy way to keep math skills fresh.  Remember, to include adult supervision whenever kids are in the kitchen.

8. Summer Scrapbook  All you need for this project is a spiral notebook.  Encourage

everyone in the family to draw pictures of favorite activities and collect mementos from special events all summer. Children love to go back through scrapbooks to recall their memories.  They will also be building their storytelling skills at the same time.

9. Listening Game  Lie down in the backyard, in the den or at the park and listen.  What do you hear?  Do you hear what I hear?  Can you imitate the sound?  This is similar to watching the clouds and naming the shapes, and it encourages everyone to slow down and focus on listening.

10. Camping Out  Pretend to camp out in the backyard. Plan a meal, pack a backpack and set up a campsite. You might even decide to spend the night!

11. Scavenger Hunt  Make a list or picture cards of common household items and have your children find the items on the list.  Invite friends or neighbors to join in the fun to make it a competition.

For more info on Dr. Zurn visit www.drzandme.com 

and Primrose Schools www.primroseschools.com

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.   No monetary exchange took place. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.