Student Teaching Online, Well, Online

UCF Newsroom

"The University of Central Florida and Florida Virtual School made history today when they announced a groundbreaking program that promises to enrich student education.

For the first time, college students will train to become educators by interning with teachers at the Florida Virtual School (FLVS). In the 2007-2008 school year, the virtual school served more than 63,000 students in grades six through 12, harnessing the power of the Internet.

Six UCF education majors will be immersed in the virtual school environment and gain experience teaching online. During the internship, they will work closely with FLVS teachers, providing direct instruction via webinars and meeting with middle- or high-school students and their families via conference calls. The interns also will interact with other online teachers and teaching teams at FLVS and grade student work.

Comparing Synchronous Technology

This is a very nice summary of the use of tools in online education.  Hrastinski summarizes the pros and cons well.

Asynchronous and Synchronous E-Learning (EDUCAUSE Quarterly) | EDUCAUSE
CONNECT  EDUCAUSE Quarterly, vol. 31, no. 4 (October–December 2008)

When, Why, and How to Use Asynchronous vs. Synchronous E-Learning
	Asynchronous E-Learning	Synchronous E-Learning
When?	Reflecting on complex issues n When synchronous meetings cannot be scheduled because of work, family, and other commitments	Discussing less complex issues Getting acquainted Planning tasks
Why?	Students have more time to reflect because the sender does not expect an immediate answer.	Students become more committed and motivated because a quick response is expected.
How?	Use asynchronous means such as e-mail, discussion boards, and blogs.	Use synchronous means such as videoconferencing, instant messaging and chat, and complement with face-to-face meetings.
Examples	Students expected to reflect individually on course topics may be asked to maintain a blog. Students expected to share reflections regarding course topics and critically assess their peers’ ideas may be asked to participate in online discussions on a discussion board.	Students expected to work in groups may be advised to use instant messaging as support for getting to know each other, exchanging ideas, and planning tasks. A teacher who wants to present concepts from the literature in a simplified way might give an online lecture by videoconferencing.