Attending China school from home

by Iowa Future

January 31, 2012

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Some Michigan students will be attending school in China next year without leaving home.

The 4,600-student Oxford Community School District, which has its own international school in China, is arranging a virtual foreign exchange program, described in an Education Week article.

The report is part of a new Education Week overview of the Virtual World of Learning, being published this week. (Some coverage is available to subscribers only.)

The virtual foreign exchange program is not just one class, but a complete experience. Students will attend full time at regular class times from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

“A lot of American students choose not to do exchange programs because they don’t want to leave their peer group,” says William Skilling, superintendent, in the article. This alternative will allow those students to have a virtual international experience from home.

The Oxford district takes international education very seriously.

“The global market is changing 24-7,” says Skilling. “We feel it is mission-critical for every student to become fluent in a world language and fluent in multiple world cultures.”