VOA慢速英语-Education Report - Book Predicts Jump in High School

Authors of ''Disrupting Class'' say computer-based learning makes it easier to individualize lessons. First of two parts. Transcript¹ of radio broadcast
18 June 2008

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

Computers have been used in teaching for more than twenty years. But a new book says that only now are they changing education. And it predicts that a lot more is about to happen.
　

Alex Torres of Caldwell, Idaho, shown at his computer at home, plans to enroll2 at the iSucceed Virtual High School this fall

The book is called "Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns."

"Disruptive innovation" is a theory developed by lead author Clayton Christensen, a professor at the Harvard Business School. He says organizations almost always use new, creative technology only to continue what they already do.

New technology should change organizations, he says, disrupt them in a good way. They should use the technology to do things differently -- for example, to serve more needs.

The new book says the needed disruptive force in education is computer-based learning.

Michael Horn, another author of "Disrupting Class," told us about a Boston public school that he visited. Every student at Lilla G. Frederick Middle School in Dorchester, Massachusetts, has a laptop computer.

One class was learning about storms. Michael Horn says the laptops made it possible to truly individualize the lessons, to divide materials by ability level and learning style. At the end, the students all took part in a discussion led by the teacher.

Computer-based learning offers a way for students to take advanced courses not offered at their school, or to retake classes they failed. It also serves those who cannot physically³ attend school, and students who receive home schooling⁴ or need tutoring.

Computer-based learning includes online courses. Enrollments in online courses have grown sharply. In two thousand seven, the United States had about one million enrollments, not including college courses. Students could be enrolled⁵ in more than one course, through schools or education companies.

High school students make up about seventy percent of the enrollments. Still, nationally, only about one percent of all high school courses last year were taught online.

But the authors of "Disrupting Class" predict it will be ten percent in about six years. And their research suggests that the number will be about fifty percent by twenty nineteen. And Michael Horn says the future of online learning could be even greater in developing countries.

We’ll talk more about online learning next week.

And that's the VOA Special English Education Report, written by Nancy Steinbach. Our reports are online with transcripts⁶ and MP3s at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 enroll   

v.招收；登记；入学；参军；成为会员（英)enrol

参考例句：

• I should like to enroll all my children in the swimming class.我愿意让我的孩子们都参加游泳班。
• They enroll him as a member of the club.他们吸收他为俱乐部会员。

3 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

4 schooling   

n.教育；正规学校教育

参考例句：

• A child's access to schooling varies greatly from area to area.孩子获得学校教育的机会因地区不同而大相径庭。
• Backward children need a special kind of schooling.天赋差的孩子需要特殊的教育。

5 enrolled   

adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起，他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句