| While millions of students and professionals | | | | coordinator for the Missouri Department of |
| pursuing post secondary degrees have taken | | | | Elementary and Secondary Education, said the |
| advantage of the convenience offered by online | | | | repository gives the state a "unique offering" that |
| courses, industry innovations will now allow | | | | will help it "serve a broad base of needs." Fuchs |
| educators to reap these benefits. | | | | explained the new course options are intended to |
| To date, nearly 4 million college students take at | | | | improve the educational process through "tutoring |
| least one class online, Reuters reports. The media | | | | or one-on-one instruction, or as individual learning |
| outlet estimates the industry is expected to | | | | objects for a teacher." |
| expand by 18 percent over the next year as | | | | Integrating online education early in children's lives |
| online opportunities will be extended to secondary | | | | may help them more adequately prepare for post |
| students and educators. | | | | secondary opportunities, as 15 percent of children |
| For example, the state of Missouri plans to | | | | currently in grades K-12 may be educated online in |
| increase the offerings of the Missouri Virtual | | | | the next two years, according to Reuters. |
| Instruction Program (MoVIP), which provides online | | | | The growth of online programs used as |
| courses for public school students, teachers and | | | | professional development tools for teachers has |
| administrators statewide, THE Journal reports. | | | | extended into the early childhood education sector |
| The program, now entering its second year of | | | | as well. For example, Reuters reports that the |
| operation, allows public school students to take | | | | ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) - which offers |
| courses online, whether they wish to supplement | | | | online training and certification programs for |
| their current schedules with additional classes or | | | | childhood care providers - has announced the |
| are unable to attend school. Educators are also | | | | addition of more courses to its roster. |
| able to take online courses for professional | | | | New classes in subjects such as tray tasking or |
| development training. | | | | environmental and functional print aim to "offer |
| MoVIP has joined the National Repository of | | | | early childhood professionals new and innovative |
| Online Courses (NROC), according to the | | | | ways to enhance learning" in their classrooms, |
| publication. The database includes courses in | | | | Maria Taylor, CCEI president and CEO, told the |
| subjects such as algebra, calculus, physics, | | | | media outlet. |
| chemistry, biology, history, government and social | | | | Increased online course offerings may help |
| science at the advanced placement, college | | | | teachers stay abreast of trends in education and |
| preparatory and high school foundational levels. | | | | help their students better prepare for higher |
| Curt Fuchs, educational support services | | | | learning. |