This project I will focus on the following learning environments: Virtual Education, STEM-based and Classroom-based learning environments. I will look into how are they similar and different and identify some positive and negative aspects of each.

1. Learning Environments
A Comparative Analysis
by: Morina Ricablanca

2. Virtual Learning
Environment
Negative:
1. Lack of face-to-face interaction.
2. Availability of technology
3. How will the needs of students
with disability be addressed?
1. Technology driven
2. Increasing need to
collaborate and create.
1 . G e a r e d to w a r d s 2 1 st
Century education.
2 . S o m e w h at u s e o f
Negative: Technology
1. Teachers spend more time 3. Goal: College and Career
addressing negative behavior Ready Learners Negative
of students. 1. The need to close the learning
2. Sometimes there is gap between subgroups (race, sex,
lack of materials 1. Focus not just the mental economic status etc.)
3. Teachers are held accountable aspect of educating a child 2. Budget and continuous need of
on their students’ learning. but also emotional and social professional development.
2 . Face - to - Face st u d e nt- 3. STEM qualified teachers leave
teacher education due to low salary.
Traditional Classroom-Based STEM-Focused
Learning Environment Learning Environment

3. Traditional Classroom
Learning Environment
Face-to-face interaction
Questions are addressed
right away
Whole Child Development
(mental, emotional, social
and physical is addressed)

4. STEM-Focused
Learning Environment
Part icipat io n in Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics hands-on and
rigorous activities.
Students create and program their own robot.
Fa c e - to - f a c e le a r n i n g
environment
Student centered learning
environment
Students make and test their bottle rockets.

5. Virtual Classroom
Learning Environment
Provides flexibility to
learners.
Allows learners to engage
and collaborate with other
students from different
parts of the world who are
online.
Teachers are facilitators

6. Negative Aspects
Traditional
STEM-Focused Virtual Classroom
Classroom
1. The need to close the
1. Teachers spend more learning 1. Lack of face-to-
time gap between subgroups face interaction.
a d d r e s s i n g n e g at i v e (race, sex,
behavior economic status etc.)
2 . Availability of
of students. 2. Budget and continuous technology
2. Sometimes there is need of 3. H o w w i ll t h e
lack of materials professional development.
3. Te ac h e r s a r e h e l d 3. STEM qualified teachers needs of students
accountable leave with disability be
on their students’ learning. e d u cat i o n d u e to lo w addressed?
salary.

7. Reference
"21st Century Learning Environments." Ww.k12hsn.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2012.
<ww.k12hsn.org/files/research/Technology/le_white_paper-1.pdf>.
Brindley, Jane E., Christin Walti, and Lisa M. Blaschke. "Creating Effective Collaborative
Learning Groups in an Online Environment." Http:/ /www.irrodl.org. N.p., June 2009. Web. 28
Oct. 2012. <http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/675/1271>.
"STEM-Focused Schools: Designed to Support Higher Levels of Math and Science
Achievement." The Opportunity Equation. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://
opportunityequation.org/school-and-system-design/stem-focused-schools-designed-
support>.
"The STEM Workforce: An Occupational Overview." Dpeaflcio.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct.
2012. <dpeaflcio.org/wp-content/uploads/The-STEM-workforce-2012.pdf>.
Image Virtual Learning Environment: http://www.gaia-tech.com/wp-content/uploads/
2011/05/VLE.jpg