School district investigates e-learning options

A school district in the US is looking into e-learning in a bid to improve the range of education options it can provide to the students who sign up for classes.

The Council Rock School District is setting up a partnership with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in order to examine whether or not online learning courses should be offered.

Barry Desko, Council Rock's director of secondary education, confirmed that a presentation on e-learning has been given to the Council Rock School Board, reports Patch.com.

He explained the move towards offering online learning courses is being taken "cautiously", with a wide range of options being looked into by the district before it makes a final decision.

Mr Desko noted one teacher at both of Council Rock's high schools will be in charge of e-learning classes next year, although there are several issues that need to be dealt with before the switch to online learning can take place at the institutions.

"We just think it's the right thing to do at the right time," he said, adding it is the aim of the district to build a programme that protects academic integrity at the schools involved in the project.

However, board member Patti Sexton is one of those who remains sceptical about the benefits of e-learning and she claimed it is not in the best interests of the student body.

"I have a natural aversion to online learning," she said, pointing out it contains none of the "joy" that can be provided through face-to-face interaction between a teacher and a pupil.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Anant Agarwal, director of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, will be taking charge of a new e-learning initiative at the institution, reported BBC News.