Abstract
Cyber charter schools often have as their motto a version of the slogan “any pace, any place, any time.” This is because cyber charter schools offer flexibility to the families who enroll in this publicly-funded form of instruction. Students can learn from their homes at a time that meets their needs and choose from a large variety of courses. The classes are delivered via a computer and the Internet, and the students’ work and assessments are guided by a teacher.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Brick and Mortar Schools: This is the traditional public school model of curriculum and instruction. In this setting, students typically spend a set amount of time during the day being educated face-to-face by their teachers in a school building.
Charter Schools: Charter schools are considered to be independent nonprofit public schools that are established and operated under a charter. They operate under the constraints of a board of directors, must follow the law regarding accountability, and are publicly funded.
Cyber Charter Schools: These schools follow the same restrictions of charter schools. The curricula and instruction are delivered via computers and the Internet. Students can learn at their own pace, in a variety of sites (typically the home environment), and can engage in many classes at any time of day.
Asynchronous Classes: These online courses are at the student’s pace and can be accessed at anytime because the students do not meet all at the same time. One tool for this type of learning model would be a discussion board on which the students post responses to a question.
Synchronous Classes: These online classes meet at a previously selected time, and the students are guided through the instruction by a teacher often heard on headphones as well as communicating by typing online. A tool for this type of learning model could be a virtual blackboard where the teacher could explain in writing and then circle important parts or create symbols to guide the student through the lesson.
Brick and Cyber Schools: This is a newer model of learning that fuses the curricular choices of the cyber school presented through a computer with the benefits of face-to-face teaching in a building if the student desires this for all or particular subjects.