on-line learning and plato

I currently use Plato but will more then likely not continue with it next year. The History is not better then having the students read material from a book. No interaction - very dull. I lexile my materials to make sure that they are delivered at the optimal learning level for each of my students. Plato is not lexiled and their LA materials are not always aligned to the grade they are representing.

The content of any of the Plato programs have no rigor to them. The students are not tasked to perform any high order thinking skills, its all skill and drill until they get the right answer to the question, the program does not even scramble the answer choice. Its a matter of simple elimination. Its a program for administrators to keep the state education agency off their back about drop out rates. Its fiscal sound, but not pedagogically sound. It does not prepare the student to take the high stakes state assessment exams.

Check out Class.com there program is as rigorous as you want it to be and seems to answer all the questions posed here by online education. This program is designed to be teacher tailored and led!

Hi Joe,
Just a quick query about Class.com - how do they allow for teacher tailored approaches? In other words, I guess I am asking about the features that Class.com have that makes you such a fan.

Keith.

I was wondering if anyone had strategies to teach students when taking an on-line assessment.

Hi Sean,
What exactly do you mean? Do you mean strategies to teach students to effectively take online assessments, like quizzes and tests? Or do you mean pedagogical strategies for fully online courses? I've got a few ideas for each of those, but if you tell me which direction you're headed in, I'll be able to provide a little more help.
Keith.