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Online learning a virtual success

Growing demand is a concern for teachers says union

With more than 1,700 students this year and one of the highest course completion rates in B.C., successful is a pretty good word to describe the Richmond Virtual School.

Still, there are concerns over the direction modern education is heading.

RVS presented a report to trustees at last night's board of education meeting, which outlined the program's achievements and challenges - such as its mushrooming enrollment that has increased by 335 per cent in the RVS's four years of existence.

More students are looking for courses to take on the Internet, and the Richmond School District wants to ensure they stay here, said Ray Jung, director of instruction, technology and communication services.

"We want to make sure this is locally-focused on Richmond students," he said, unlike other online learning networks in the province that freely take applicants from all over.

Most high school students (currently, the program is only available to student Grades 10 through 12) have one or two class-es of their eight-course load through RVS.

It's been a hit with websavvy students with busy schedules, as well as those with social issues like shyness, said Jung.

"Sometimes there are social pressures in the classroom for some students that can be a distraction in terms of learning, (which are avoided) when they're online."

The growing popularity of virtual education is a cause of concern to the Richmond Teachers Association, said president Al Klassen, who said problems may arise if people start shopping outside of the school district for distance classes.

"We don't get funding for students who take the course (elsewhere)," said Klassen.

"It affects our bottom line. We're still providing what we call the bricks and mortar, with fewer students using it. We get less money to take care of the needs of the system."

An estimated 600 Richmond students are currently registered with other districts according to the report.

There is also an issue with making sure teachers stay local, but Jung said all but one of the instruc-tors participating in RVS also teach in area high schools.

The trick, then, is finding a way to pay for and balance the imminent expansion of e-learning while continuing to meet the needs of traditional classroom education.

That said, Klassen doesn't discount the value of the relatively new program.

"We recognize it is a way to learn and some students need that kind of thing," he said.

"We understand that demand is there."